The weekly Thibodaux sentinel and journal of the 8th Senatorial District. [volume] (Thibodaux, Lna. [i.e. La.]) 1875-1898, 1896-11-14
WASHINGTON LETTER.
from our regular Correspondent
WASHINGTON, Nov. 6, 1886.

{ITOHt CNF fpuHiU3 U'jeopOHNS"
WASHINGTON. Nov. 6, 1886.
The democrats are up against the
hard wall of defeat again. True, the
]efeat isn't us overwhelming as the
McKinleyites tried to make the coun-
trv believe it was, but still it is defeat.
Democrats do rot like defeat any
better now than in the past nor any
better than the republicans did four
years ago, but there are numerous
reasons which. serve to make the de-
feat of Bryan especially a~ggravating,
not the least of which is the kn0wl-
edge that his election would have
been so easy had the gold democrats
given him as loyal support as the sill
yer democrats gave to Cleveland in
his three campaigns. Still, there is
very little bitterness expressed by
democrats. They made their fight
against the greatest odds any party
ever fought against and came so near
winning that they frightened some of
the other fellows almost to death, and
being good citizens and thorough be-
levers i'm the rule of the majority, they
are generally disposed to accept the
result poilosopAicai,y and to wait for
time to even mp ~tlsings. as it generally
does, III politics aitl in everything
else.
Although it is too early. owing to
the absence IF full authentic returns.
to pass fall Judgment on the extent Of
defeat, it is known that a majority Of
Mckinley electors have been elected
and prnho hio that ~ pnainrity Of fho
popular vote has been registered
against the free coinage of silver it is
ser,ain that a majority of the next
He use will be anti-silver republicans,
and enough Senators to wipe ont the
silver majority in the Senate and give
ffat body over to the control OF the
nti-si!ver republicans. Granting
that these probabilities will all turn
ont to be facts, they are not 10 terrible
from a democratic point Of view, as
they at first appear to be. In fact, if
the democrats could not have the
Presidency and both branches of Con-
gress it is much better for the future
of the party-let 1t not be forgotten
that the democratic party is the one
deathless political party that this
country has knOwn-that the republic
cans should have them all. With the
executive and legislative branches of
the government in their hands there
can be no sinking of responsibilities
on the part of the republicans. They
have promised the country a renewal
OF prosperity, If they were restored to
power. Now that is exactly what the
country stands most in need of aud
what the democratic party hoped to
accomplish. A majority Of the voters
of the country have decided that the
republicans should have another trial.
All right let them 60 ahead and give
us prosperity as soon as possible. II
they do it, the voters Will be sure to
give them full credit tor it, and they
may be sure the democrats will be too
anxious after their long period OF
s.liard times" under previous republic
can legislation aud policy to get a
little of that prosperity for themselves
to raise any obstacle to prevent it's
coming on to drive 1T away after it ar
rives. 1t they fail, as they have done
before, the voters will see their mis-
take and will give the democratic par
ty a chance to see what it do to-
wards making the country permanent
" prosperous, instead Of spasmodical-
~ prosperous with long intervals of
s'hard times" between.
Many things might be said about
the methods pursued to secure McKin-
ley $ election, bnt as the case is anal !
ognts to that Of some Of our unscru-
pulOus rich men who have no hesitation
about violating moral laws to get
money but are almighty careful not to
Ola the criminal laws, it is probab-
" best to let them go without COM
ment.
Since the election there has been
considerable talk about a reorganiza-
ton OF the democratic party upon
some basis which will bring together
in n organization all those who be-
lieve in the fundamental principles of
the party. Such a movement proper
~ conducted is worthy of all common
datioD, but ii it is intended merely as
a means Of restoring To leadership the
men who failed the party in it's hour
OF need it viii be certain to receive
the condemnation it deserves, from
the rank and file Of the party-the men
who bore the bIunt of the battle Just
lost. There may he two opinions as
tae need Of a reorganization OF the
democratic party, but it is certain, to
my mind, and / think to that of the
most OF those who are familiar with
the workings of the campaign Just
ended, that the democratic party needs
organization yery badly in many
States. That is n of the few things
that tie party might find that il would
be advantageous to copy after its OPP