Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1895-04-27
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WEST VIRGINIA PRINTING COMPANY,
HISTORY REPEATING ITSELF.
PUBLIsHERs AND PROPRIEToRs.

HISTORY REPEATING ITSELF
A shrewd and well posted CORE
spondent Of the Charleston Gazette
notes the delightful complacency with
which Republican newspapers and
party leaders assume that the Demo-
cratic party will not be in the fight
next year. and that the triumph and
success Of the Republican party in the
State and nation is certain and as
sured. and remarks that so confident
are they that the Republican bosses
are at work making up the roll OF
those who are to share in the spoils OF
Office, and hold the places Of honor and
profit. To a casual observer, unac-
Quainted with the political history Of
the country, the result of the elections
last year and the events Of the past
six months would seem TO justify the
confidence and assurance Of the Repub-
Hcan rank and file; but TO the man
familiar with political history, the
claims Of the Republican leaders and
politicians are taken cum grano sails.
"A little investigation will show
that. with three exceptions-these be
ing the two terms of President Lincoln
and the first term of President Cleve-
land-the second year of every nation
al administration has shown an appa-
rent rebuke and reputation OF its
policy" The writer quotes history as
follows:
Beginning half a century ago. General
HarrisouS election I'm 1870 was Whirl-
wind that apparently swept the Demo
Gratis from power forever But ~ lN4-'
only $50 Wings found their way back into
Folks administration. by all odds the
most fruitful and promising that the
country had ever known SO FAR as aCQui-
siuous of territory and other great ma
terial results so, was reuulillel IN 1910
and very nearly the usual overturu oc-
CURED I'm the Congressional elections
I'm ISIS. which was supposed 90 pe the
hic1 water mark OF tHe ~ NE power, DO
being EreduN aided 10y the help of the
Free Sellers. who formed am alliance with
IT, had an outlook THAT was never equal
led Boz promise. Two years later, how
ever. the Democrats elected lu Congress
Iu 1852. Franklin Pierce received "a
electoral votes and General Scott only ~.
Yet iu the next election, the Democrats
had only 3 members of the lower branch
OF Congress 90 l5l against them.
I'm 1905. very nearly Che same changes
were brought about President Buchanan
being opposed iu l>lN ly the new Ameri-
can party. I'm addition 20 the just born
AS was said 8t first. the two terms Of
Lincoln form am exception 90 the sweep
ing changes that had occurred before. be-
cause the conditions we wholly differ
eut. Although .u the second year of each
term there was slight reaction against
him.
Tn 1870 the Democrats increased their
representation lu Congress- about SD per
cent above what it was when Gen. Grant
came iu. while iu lNlt two Years after his
second term began, his party was abSo-
Ol course 20 rs talr o. add that The panic
OF 1888 helped iu the tremendous over
turn just as was done nF that OF lssS
that came upon the country exactly %
years later Almost The whole North
went aeaiust the party tn power NasSa-
CnUSettS lu that flftful iNtt which had
gwen Grant 10000 iu l>l2 on small vote
elected o. Democrat Governor by nearly
Na'u Even Maine wohuled iD her walk
The House of Representatives was
changed from ly- majority 20 ti against
I'M 1876 which was almost the same as
Democratic triumph .u the public mind
President HAYES did not receive major
lty of the popular vote. and had therefore
less % lose than his predecessors. and Vet
the "oU year programme was enacted
over again, as the elections of 1873 album
dainty show. The second year. also. of
the Gardelj-Arthur administration gave
the Democrats gaiu of fI CoUEressrueu
and q majority iu the House of o.
lu 1855 President Cleveland suffered only
small loss of popularity. and The PARTY
Kept its control of CouEress. though with
"a small working majority.
lu the second year of Harrisou's admin
iStrauon the Republican party in Con-
grcss was cvt almost exactly I'm two
their total strength being only ~ votes.
1T viii be seen, says the Gazette
correspondent. that the Democratic
reverse Of the past year is in line With
the political history Of the country for
more than fifty years To was more
severe than ordinary, because of the
money panic and great strike Hay-
Ing survived other defeats. it will re-
vive from it's present depression and.
with Unbroken front i'm 1896. meet its
Old foe the Republican party. now
made arrogant and insoleut by its tenn
pOrary success.
To this end let us hope that wisdom
and moderation will mark the councils