New-York tribune., 1896-12-02
THE RESULT IN ILLINOIS.

Ii will be interesting 10 ascertain why Bryan
did not carry Illinois. He made desperate ef-
fort. and although the majority against his party
at the Congressional election Of 1894 was very
heavy. about 134. 900. nevertheless he and his
chief supporters were really confident they could
carry the State Altgeld made desperate eff
fort. and the shrewdcst political managers who
supported him showed the utmost confidence that
they would he able to overcome the heavy Re
publican maiorites of 1894. On the contrary.
the State went more heavily against them than
in the Congressional election. and the decision
of Illinois made the election Of Bryan impOs-
sibe.
As the defeat in the Congressional election Of
1894 was phenomenal. the comparison may well
he made with the returns of that year. The Re
publlcans then had an overwhelming majority
IN favor of the Protective policy. and, although
the Populists east 63. 900 votes. the Republican
majority above Democrats and Populists COM
bined was over II 900 In Cook County alone.
which includes the city Of Chicago. the Repub-
licans had $1,000 plurality. though there were
about $4,000 Populist votes. and the majority
over the combined forces was only 17,000. But
this year the Republicans had about 10000 ma
jority in that one county. and IN the seven Con
c.resslonal districts which include Cook and Lake
counties the Republican majority was 1920.
against J31OO over Democrats alone two years
ago.
Its an interesting fact that Republicans gained
in every northern district. and almost every
county in she northern part of the State They
lost about o100 in the XINth. or Peoria Dis
,rlct while gaining 1000 ia the ZVth. the river
district west Of IT, and 200 in the Champaign
District east Of IT, and 900 in the WillVermilIon
District further east and lying along the Indi-
ana border These districts embrace some of
the most productive counties in the State. and
particularly the heaviest corn growing belt. But
In every district south Of these the Republicans
sustained losses, while in every district north
Of these they made gains. They gained about
20 600 in Chicago and In Lake County, and 10 800
more In the With and IXth districts lying along
the Wisconsin line little In the Nth. which lies
partly against the Mississippi River. and about
100 each In the Nth. which includes La Sale
and Bureau counties. and the XIlth. already
mentioned which lies on the Indiana border.
But they lost in two Of the five counties of the
XIIlth. near the centre Of the State. and in
every district south OF that. They lost five
congressman in the XVlth XvIIIth. XIXth.
XXth and XXIst districts and also lost heavily
In the XvIlth and XXIId. although not enough
to overcome their big maj0ritles in 1894
The richest and most productive farming coun-
ties were Republican. The big manufacturing
counties gave Republican gains. The big wool
growing counties ana the central corn and
wheat growing counties gave Republican gains.
Even the appeal Of Altgeld 10 German voters
failed In the counties most largely settled by
Germans. Where the silver cause gained was
IN The section settled largely from the South.
The counties settled by Northern immigrants
Were Republican. The counties bnilt up by di.
versified Industries Were Republican. But where
the Southern blood had most influence Altgeld