Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-11-04
YESTERDAYS ELECTIONS.

The returns that we publish this morn
ing from the country at large point
10 the election Of Mckinley and Hobart.
True. the kilograms are chiefly from the
cities and towns. while "the back
woods" are yet to be heard from, but it
can hardly be hoped that the enormous
majorities given at the centres where cor
porate influence was successfully exert
ed can be overcome. The election
It would seem has been lost to us. and
mainly through the efforts put forth by
the great corporations of the land, backed
by the boiling Democrats
As was charged all along. the Palmer
and Buckner ticket was but a decoy. put
forth first to lure Democrats from their
party. and then to make their support
Of Mckinley and Hobart easy. The vote
given to Palmer and Buckner was in
consequential. but we are bound TO award
to those gentlemen and to their party
organization the credit or discredit,
rather, Of having played very successful
ly into the hands Of the Republicans.
If. as seems too probable. Mckinley has
been elected. we should not wonder If the
Republicans have a majority in the
United States House of Representatives.
The immense losses that our party has
met with in New York and New Jersey,
10 say nothing Of losses elsewhere, fore
shadow this result. However at this
moment we can only indulge in conjec-
ture, for, as we have said, the figures are
not yet at hand upon which TO form an
exact opinion. Nor until the smoke Of
battle has cleared away can we undertake
10 advise what should be the future course
Of the Democratic party. But certain it
is that we who have followed Bryan can
not but be proud of our leader and Of the
fight that we have made Defeat. if that
be our fortune. brings no more shame to
us than surrender brought to the ragged
veterans of Lee. who yielded to the over
whelming numbers and resources of
Grant. In this contest Mckinley ana
Hanna had the numbers and resources
with them; nor did he and Hanna scruple
10 use them.
Virginia. thank Heaven, IS safe for
Bryan by a very handsome majority. The
returns from the corporation centres. as
might have been expected, show con-
siderable Democratic losses. but the
greater part Of these viii be made UP by
the country vote. which though it may be
a little slow In coming in. will show what
stalwart Democrats are our tnlers of the
soil.
Richmond is TO be congratulated upon
having kept out OF the clutch OF the com
bined forces Of the Boilers and Republi-
cans. Considering what we had 10 con
tend with. and the mint Of money"
spent here to defeat us, our triumph is
in every way signal and noteworthy.
Nowhere In Virginia did the Democrats
fight against greater odds than we did I'm
Richmond. and our victory IS therefore
all the sweeter. And but for the money
lavishly spent here particularly on yes
terday and the day before. we might
easily have secured a majority Of nearly
"a thousand more. However. we have no
thing but praise for the scores Of volun-
teers who came TO the polls and stayed
on duty there all day and contended
against the highly paid agents OF the Goa
litionists They deserve well Of their
party and State. We only wish that they
could have the pleasure to-day Of cele-
bratng the election Of Bryan. instead as
IS more likely, Of hearing the hurrahs for
Mckinley.