Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1897-04-15
THURSDAY, APRIL 10, 1897.
WHAT WE THINK OF 1T.

VIVA VIZ ihINK Ut IL.
Some of our Democratic friends, in their
elation over Democratic victories in the
recent municipal elections in Chicago,
Cincinnati and other Western cities, have
asked us what we think about it. In all
candor, we do not think it has one parti-
Gle of political significance, so far as ma
tional politics or questions are concerned.
Mr.. Bryan seems to have different i'm
preston, and in a telegram to Hon. Car
ter Harrison, who was elected mayor Of
Chicago on the Democratic ticket, has said:
''The elections in Chicago, Cincinnati, De-
troit and other cities indicate decided
change in public sentiment since Noyem-
ber." If this be true, what is the mean
ing of St. Louis going largely Republican
on the same Cay that Chicago went Demo
cratic? Does it indicate decided change
in public sentiment in the free silver State
of Missouri, the home of Dick Bland?
This conclusion is Just as reasonable as the
one reached by Mr.. Bryan.
1t is also fact that while Harrison was
elected by plurality of some 10, 900 votes,
he polled 5000 votes less than Mr., Bryan
received in Chicago as the Presidential
candidate of the Democracy.
1t is very unreasonable, in our judgment,
to claim, as does Mr.. Bryan, that these cleo
tons indicate that decided change has
taken place in public sentiment since last
November If this assumption be true, then
the American public is very unjust and
foolishly tickle. What has the Republican
party or President Mckinley done to have
wrought such radicalchange in sentiment?
Only about four weeks have passed since the
Republicans have taken charge of the gov
eminent. They have been industriously
and earnestly at work since the 18th Of
March trying to effect legislation that will
relieve the government from financial en-
barassment and restore prosperity to all
the business interests Of the county. Its
doing precisely what it promised the peo-
pie to do before the late election, and at
tempting to carry out the policy which the
people endorsed by great popular major
ity at the polls. The Republican party
was restored to power to undo what a
Democratic administration had done How
few Democrats there are who viii now say
anything in defense of Mr.. Cleveland's adj
ministration. They admit it was failure,
and a great disaster to the material inter.
ests of the country. How absurd then 10
claim that the people are in revolt against
the Republican party, when it is faithfully
carrying out its pledges, and before an op-
portunity has been offered to test the merit
of the Republican policy. The Norfolk
Pilot, Democratic paper, seems 10 hold
the same vie VS. that we express. Referring
to the Democratic victories in the Western
cities, itsays:
eyes: the Democrats are great hands to
carry elections East, West and North both
before and after Presidential elections.
They are sweeping Ohio now, and are like
new broom elsewhere; yet we fear that in
1900 the goldites and Republicans will wipe
up the floor everywhere with them"
The Cincinnati Enquirer, the great Dem
ocratic newspaper which led the fight
against the rule Of Geo. Cox, the Republi,
can boss of the city, had this to say of the
result of the municipal election:
'The vote yesterday was on the ques-
tons which the ring had refused to submit
to the people at the proper times, and it
was deeply significant. The taxpayers have
carried the day against the taxeaters, and
to achieve this victory, the voters confined
themselves to the real dangers that con-
fronted them, and TO the only cures that
could relieve them from the evils which af-
flicted them. State and national politics
have very little to do at any time with
municipal election; this time they cut no
figure at all. The conduct Of the affairs of
a great city is the kind of government that
is nearest the people, and safe rule is to
put the best men in office, regardless of
their party affiliations"
This shows that local interests were alone
involved in Cincinnati, and the same may
be said of Chicago.