Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1895-11-15
OIL On TROUBLED WATERS.
Our Correspondent Seas the GIim-
mer of HaPe Amid the Dark
Clouds of Defeat Diplomatic
Language for confederation OF
.sSOre.headS.,,


Language for COn.ideratiom OF
sSOre.heads.''
From our Regular Correspondent.
WASHINGTON, ID. c., Nov. Sth. 1898.
Political defeat is Il part and portion
OF the history OF every political party
and amounts to little when the mem
bers of the defeated party have the
sense and the courage to profit bv the
lesson which can always be learned
from defeat. The lesson of the defeat
by which the Democratic party this
week lost the States Of New York, New
Jersey, Maryland and Kentucky, which
are naturally Democratic, and allowed
the Republicans to pile up abnormal
off-year majorities in other States. is
so plain that he who runs may read it
and he can run great deal faster than
some OF the Democratic candidates did
in the States named, too. If the rank
and file OF the party displays the sense
and courage to profit by this lesson the
Democratic party has still good fight.
ing chance to elect the President and
majority OF the House next year-there
is no chance to regain control of the
Senate before 1899 or later; if not. its
chance for doing either may be con-
sidered infinitesimal.
Everybody knows the cause of the
Democratic defeat this week, as well as
that at last years Congressional cleo.
tons. 1t is because there are not
enough Democrats to win when they
are divided into administration and
anti-administration Democrats. In
1892 when the party was united il
won a great victory, capturing at one
time Presidency and the control of
both branches of Congress. Barring
the control of the Senate, that victory
can be duplicated in 1896, provided
that the Cleveland Democrats and
the anti-Cleveland Democrats can be
made TO become just plain Democrats.
and so stop cutting each others Threats.
A good start might be made in that d.
rection by those-this is no time for
elimination and recrimination, there
fore no names need be calIed-who ex-
cuse their opposition. both open and
secret, to the regular Democratic
nominees in several States on the
ground that it was an otf-year and de-
feat would have no effect upon the
Presidential contest. Let them come
out like men and say whether they are
Democrats from principle, or only
Democrats when they can name the
psrty's nominees, and having declared
themselves let them live up to their
declarations.
In this same connection there is also
duty devolving upon the men who
have manipulated the party machine
A little consideration will convince
them that they are not blameless. Had
they been less arrogant in displaying
their power to force Objectionable
nominations, in some instances for no
better reason than desire to force OBJ
lecting Democrats to eat dish of crow.
by voting and working for those
nominees, the party would have made
better showing. Let these men for
get the injury done and endeavor to
conciliate the kicking Democrats and
tn get the party united once more.
One OF the principle reasons why a
united Democracy will stand an ex-
cellent chance of winning next wear
is found in the present condition of
the Republican party, which. re-
CARDS its winning next wear as
such certainty that its member.
have already began to fight for the
control of the spoils OF victory, and by
the time they succeed in nominating
Presidential ticket they are likely TO
be hopelessly split up into fighing fac
tons. II the Democratic party re-
mains as it now is il will be in no con-
dition to take advantage OF such state
OF affairs. 1t is only question of
whether Democrats prefer following up
personal grudges and "getting even"
with Democrats against whom they are
held and losing, to subordinating their
personal feelings for the success of the
party and winning.
Hon. Lawrence Gardner, Secretary
OF the Democratic National Commit.
tee, speaking OF the elections said: al
do not think that our defeat means
that we have no hope for '96. 1t was
not against the principles of the
Democracy that the people voted. and
ex-Representative Coombs. of N. Y. |
gave an explanation of the result in
his State after saying that he had none
to give. by adding: "But we must
get together in New York. The way
the Democracy is divided there is as.
tonishing."
President Cleveland and all the
members of his Cabinet are setting a
good example for other Democrats by
declining to express for publication
their opinions of the party's defeat.
This is all the more creditable to them
because they could, if so disposed.
truthfully call attention to the fact
that the most crushing defeats have
occurred in the States in which the
campaigns were personally managed
by anti-administration Democratic
Senators. President Cleveland, as
we'll as the members of his Cabinet.
have some decided opinions on this
subject is certain, but it is fortunate
for the party that they have the good
Judgment to keep them to them
selves at this time, when the rank and
file OF the party, who not neither
responsible for nor have taken anv
part in the chickering's, are smarting
under defeat which they believe to
be undeserved. 1t is a matter that