The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1899-11-20
CAUSE OF Defeat
Had the Democrats Been
United They Gould
Have Won.
BRYANISM BRINGS
Republicans Struggling to
Divide the Spells in the
Legislature.

~ 49, 0-L4
TRENTON Nov. 20, aS99.-The aftermath
of the election has elated the Republicans
and they are In a very happy mood indeed
More than ever before the result OF the
election has demonstrated the futihty Of
the Democrats in making q contest with
their powerful enemy while their RANKS
are divided and the leadership without
conference or stability. This unfortunate
condition or affairs in the minority party
was amply illustrated in the counties OF
Monmouth and Somerset, where there Was
an opportunity to make winning hgnts
had the Democratic leaders been united
in the eommon cause. In Monmouth
county 1t is not denied that the Irienas
of Mr.. Blodgett knitted the ticket simply
for the reason that it had been dominated
mainly through the influence of David ,.
Crater. the recognized Democratic leader
of the county. AS an illustration ocean
hownshiu. which should have given a
Democratic majority of at least 500, went
ttat many the other way. Long Branch,
the home of Mr.. Blodgett. is in that town
ship.
In Somerset county there is a general
belief that former Congressman Clarke
and his friends did not support the
ticket of their party, and hence the great
victory which Senator Reed achieved IN
his reelection. Owing to Democratic
dissensions in Middlesex the entire Re
publican ticket was elected despite the
fact that the county is normally Deno-
cratic. 1t is very apparent that the re-
tirement of Miles Ross from active poll
tics had a most depressing effect on the
Democratic voters in that county on cleo
ton day. "A house divided against itself
must fall" That was the condition OF the
Democratic party during the recent con-
test. and no wonder then that it has met
with another telling disaster. On the
other hand. under the peculiar leadership
of General Sewell, Governor voorhees, ana
Senator Kean, the Republican forces
were united throughout the State, and
presenting a solid phalanx, their con-
quest of the scattered and denoralized
army of Democrats was comparatively
easy. That tells the tale and explains
the result. Really the only earnest fight
made by the Democrats was in Gloucester
and Salem counties, and that was under
the inspiration of Allan McDermott.
The divisions in the Democratic party
over the money question still continue,
and will exist as long as Organism is a
lNiUG ISSUE.
the Democracy will remain as
long as the Bryan leaders control the
party. And should the National silver
leader again be nominated for President,
New Jersey will most certainly record a
verdict similar to h a Of three years
ago. While the voters of the State may
be nearly equally divided On the tarlH
ouestion-which, however, seems to be q
=. = --L a. So rrorU evident
that a large majority stand for the gold
standard and territoriaa expansion. Many
Democrats have left their party, owing to
its policy on those Issues, and the behef
is expressed that they will never return
to the fold. Then there is a gloomy pros
pect for the hitherto redoubtaple old
Democracy, the victor on so many pat
tlefelds In the days Of yore, when It's
nominations for Governor and other hign
offices were considered and turnedsout 70
be equivalent to an election. 1t is safe 70
predict that the Democrats will be una
BILE to retrieve their losses insten years TO
come.
That there are divisions among the
subordinate leaders of the Republican
party is a plain matter of fact. The cleo
tion of a Sheriff and County Clerk by the
democrats III NumpeTidHu tOuHAy vas
brought about by a detection in the Re-
publican ranks. There are two or three
rival factions in the Republican party
throughout the State. notably in some Of
the counties of South Jersey and in Hud-
son. There seems no hope at all for a re-
Cancellation of the fighting elan in Hud-
son, and hence Democrats have things all
their own way. In South Jersey, however,
owing to the masterful leadership of
General Sewell, the factions there can be
persuaded to bury the Ratchet at import
ant State elections, and when more than
county offices are at stake. The recent
defeat of part of the Republican ticket in
Cumberland was permitted merely as a
diversion, and anyhow General Sewell has
made it a rule never to interfere in con-
tests of a strictly local character. Among
the big leaders of the party, of course,
there Is a clash once in a while as to can
didates for Office, but on the great ques-
tions of the day, such as tariff. finance
and expansion, they are always har-
monious, and hence their ability to win
-. .