The Columbus journal., 1898-11-23
Bring the Spaniards to
time Promptly.



The complete returns Of the election
in NebeaGka afford IN interesting study
in political arithmetic. Viewed from an
entirely unbiased standpoint they con.
tain Q wholesome lesson for politicians
Of Ill parties. In many respects tho hg'
ures arc full OF surprises. even to those
Who constantly move in tho political at.
mosphsrs.
Whilsexpsrisnce had taught that pres
ideotial elections create tho most wide.
spread interest and draw out tho largest
number Of voters it was confidently ex'
pected that tho battle Of 1893. involving
the election Of . United States senator
and full congressional and state ticket
would almost rival in popular interest
tho contest Of six years ago, il not oi
two years ago. Tho returns show an un.
precedented drop. The total vote polled
in 1892 WAS 2lOyOOO; in 1885 it VA
$4,000; in 1897, when there were only
ono Supreme judge and two regents te
elect, it was 100000. This year the
total vote will fall nearly 10000 below
that Of 1897.
The total vote polled for tho republi.
can and fusion candidates for supreme
judge last year was 19l, ,837, while the
total vote polled in 1893 for the repub.
lican and fusion candidates for governor
is in round numbers only 10000 With
q steady growing population there haa
been . decrease in the total vote OF Ovel
10000 a. compared with last year, when
the election involved comparatively nc
momentous issue. Manifestly this
marked contrast in the total vote must
be ascribed to popular indifference and
disafection.
Where this disafection is most pro
nounced can be readily judged by com
pairing the vote on governor in 1886 and
1893. In 1886 Holcomb, ~ fusion can
didate for governor, received 116, ,415
votes, while in 1888 Poynter, fusion can
didate, received only 96,7O8 In Other
words tho fusionists cast nearly 10000
less votes for governor this year than
they did two years ago.
In 1886 MacColl, the republican can.
didate for governor, received 81 LIE
votes out of a total of 2l1, ,l38 votes cast
for the fusion and republican candidates
for governor. while Hayward this yea
polled 9S,28l out Of q total Of 169,96l
for the fusion and republican candidates
for governor. The vote Of MacColl OK.
ceeds that of Hayward by only 1,402
while the vote Of Poynter falls 1915
below that of Holcomb. Compared with
last year, the vote for Hayward exceeds
that Of Judge Post by 1872, while the
vote Of Poynter falls below that ol
Judge Sullivan 6,125.
In q nutshell, the fusionist detection
was nearly 10000 from their high wste,
mark of 1886 and 6,125 from their record
of 1897. The republican loss was only
1,402, as compared with 1896 and their
positive gain over last year 4272 In the
shrinkage OF votes Detwseu 1880 and 1905
the absolute loss of the fusionists to the
republicans was 2S70, while their loss
through the stay-at- home vote equalled
1924
Whether these disaffected voters can
even be again rallied to the fusion
standard under any circumstances will
depend upon the course pursued by the
republican party from now on. II the
republicans hew to the line, live up to
their pledges, confer honors only upon
men OF integrity and ability in touch
with the people, the complete redemption
OF Nebraska to republicanism in 1900 ID
Omaha Bee.