Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1901-02-20
THE DECADENT PARTY.
Figures Which Show to What Depths
the Democracy Has
Fallen

A few weeks ago the Globe-Democrat
published a table of % Of the heaviest
democratic counties in Missouri whose
net gain in population in the last ten
years was only 1,610. These counties at
the recent election gave Bryan 77,74G
votes and Mckinley 1903, democrat
ic plurality of 38,237. Bryan's plural
| ity in Missouri was 1880 and Dock
ery's 32,146. Outside of the % demo-
cratic counties referred to the state
went republican last November. No
sooner were these significant facts pre-
scented than democratic papers in Mis-
souri, tried to break their force by vari-
Gus excuses and special pleas. They in
sisted that to print them at all is to
| SANDER the state. But the state in gen.
eral needs no defense, for in the last
decade it's gain in population was 1885,
874. The decadent democratic coun-
ties stand apart and are unquestion-
ably subject to some special influence
that prevents their growth in popula-
ton in spite of favorable birth rate.
They are losing, not gaining, in the
number of adult inhabitants. It is
characteristic of the bourbon editor
that he would hide the fact, and abuse
those who mention it, rather than seek
the cause of the trouble and the rem
edy.
Now it happens that a similar situa-
ton exists in Maryland and is exciting
comment throughout the state The re-
publican counties in Maryland, espe
cially those adjacent to republican
West Virginia, are the ones that are
growing. The old democratic coun-
ties can think of nothing better than to
challenge the accuracy of the census
The declining or stationary counties
are democratic. The progressive cOun-
ties are republican. If democratic pa
pers refer to this mattersthey avoid the
rule and pick out the exceptions. But
it is to be remarked that both in Mis-
souri, and Maryland the democrats are
Matching up schemes of disfranchise-
ment to retain their grip. In Maryland
the game in hand is to disfranchise
colored illiterates; in Missouri it is to
pollute the ballot itself with Nesbit
laws and police forces organized to do
party work. The party of decadence
and Goebelism, two names for the same
thing, squarely resort to cheating at
the polls to overcome their dwindling
numbers and vanishing support.
1t is said that certain agricultural
counties in numerous states are losing
population. AS far as Missouri is con-
cerned 10 counties lost population be-
tween 1890 and 1900, and II of the num-
Der are democratic, so the agricultural
excuse fails to explain. Almost with
out exception the counties in this state
that are democratic by two or three or
four to one are drying up in population.
Their young men of enterprise 60 else
where, sick of bourbonism and it's pet
rifying environment, with the same old
political rings running public affairs
from generation to generation, voting
unscratched tickets under all circum-
stances, swallowing everything abeled
democratic without a second thought,
and stagnating while the world around
moves onward. The bourbon counties
of Missouri are against a sound cur
rency; they are against expansion;
the are for Tagals and against the
United States; they send representa-
tives to Jefferson City to pass cheating
election laws; ard as their young men
grow up they get disguised with it and
strike out for places where the true
progressive American spirit prevails
St. Louis GlobeDemocrat