New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-03-04
THE REACTION OF 1890.
A PHENOMENAL DEMOCRATIC VICTORY
IN THE CONGRESS ELECTIONS.

so:.E or THE CAUSES THAT LED PEOPLE 10 VOTE
FOR 4 c1IA&GE-sTORNT SCENES N THE
HOUSE IMPORTANT LEGISLATION -
sHrPpIxG ELECTIONS AND SILVER
In the Congress and State elections Of 1888
the Republicans Of the United States were
overwhelmed with phenomenal disaster. In a
feW States they barely saved the day by reduced
uajorities In Ohio they elected Major William
Mckinley as Governor. But Massachusetts,
Illinois Michigan and various other old-tiFne f+-
publican strongholis gave Democratic MAORI
ties Rhode Island astonshed the country oy
eiect!rg Democratic Congressman. The close
States and the solid South went Democratic IN
drove. Among the Republican candidates foi
Congress the slaughter was unprecedented IN the
history 81 the country.
This extraordinary revolution in politics took
place a month after the adjournment Of session
Of Congress in which the Republican party had
shown capacity Of the highest order, had ieSlS-
lated solely FOR the people and had added to It's
glorious record by the enactmen; Of laws OF sur
passing Importance 10 the whole people and mad
redeemed every promise made 20 the country.
CAUSES OF THE ovERTURS.
Several causes contributed to this surprising
result
Constructive craftsmanship Is attended by dan
gers as serious as legislation Of the destructive
order. The Republican party had moved for
ward in advance Of public opinion, and 1t was re-
warded in 1890 with indifference by its friends
and abOminable Misrepresentation BY its enc
mics and the very constituencies whose inter
ests IL had been sought to promote turned upon
the party and compassed its destruction.
The Silver Purchase Act Of 1890 had arrested
the contraction Of the currency arising from the
withdrawal Of National bank circulation. and
had In fact led 10 a slight silver imitation. This
had been followed by better prices throughout
the country and improved activity in business.
These higher prices were promptly ascribed by
the Democrats to the operations Of the Mckinley
bill regardless Of the fact that the rise in prices
most complained Of had taken place upon many
articles not in the least affected by the Mckin-
ley bill upon other articles upon which the duty
had been actually lowered. and upon some from
which the duty had been taken of entirely. The
higher cost Of living gave the Democrats an ar
gument which they used promptly. DANGEROUSLY.
and with telling effect among all classes Of the
people.
The Mckinley bill had started into activity
all the shops and factories Of the United States
and led to the projecting Of scores Of new enter
prses. 1t had given employment to thousands
Of idle men and women helped sustain wages
and benefited the growers Of various agricultural
products But the workingmen. whom the Law
had benefited, went roaming after strange gods
In this campaign. They listened only to Demo-
cratic agitators who told them that high wages
were due to trades unions not to protection In
the West farmers divided by the Farmers
Alliance. which calling for Government
loans TO the people at 2 per cent interest and for
Government warehouses in which farmers could
store their surplus crops and receive Treasury
certificates thereon.
A further influence was the fact that the Nc
Kinley bill had enraged the importers Of foreign
goods. while the restraint Of trusts had won the
enmity OF corporations a large sum Of money
was subscribed by importers and trusts. and was
effectively used to aid the Democratic campaign
and punish Republican members of Congress-
The Democratic managers had, in fact, ample
means at their command. while the Republicans.
cut of from assessments on ofiiceholders by their
own pubc-sp!ritcd legislation could scarcely
muster money enough to make respectable
campaign.
Another fact was that in distributing the Of
fees President Harrison had found ii impossi-
BILE as President Cleveland had before him. to
satisfy the demands Of all applicants for pub
lie places. Tens OF thousands Of applications
had been received in excess OF the places at
the Presidents command Disappointed men in
every city and county in the Union used their
Influence to lessen the Republican vote.
Republican dissatisfaction. with inefficient To-
cal leaders Of the professional type. contributed
In many localities To the fatal apathy which
paralyzed the energies Of the party in the cam
paign OF 1880.
The second session Of the List Congress met
December !. 1890 and adjourned sine die March
}. 1891. The roll
Senate-Republicans 81: Democrats 81. To-
Ial ~
HOuse-ThOmas r. Reed CRep., Me-, Speaker:
Republicans. 1I6: Democrats 10: Independent.
|. Total. 3D.
Idaho and Wyoming were for the first time