Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1901-02-28
THE DECADENT PARTY.
Figures which show to What Depths
the Democracy Has
Fallen.

\ few weeks ago the eGlobe-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 77,740
votes and Mckinley 39,503, democrat
is plurality of 3s,237. Bryan's plural
ity in Missouri was 1880 and Dock
ery's 30, f46 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
slander the state. But the state in gen
eral needs no defense, for in the last
decade its gain in population was 425,-
S74. 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. 1t 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-
tion 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 matter they 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 mum
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 go else
where, sick of bourbo=ism and its 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 labeled
| 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 expansions:
the are for Tagals and against the
United States; they send representa-
tives to Jefferson City to pass cheating
election laws: and as their young men
grow up they get disgusted with it and
strike out for places where the true
| progressive American spirit prevails
| St. Louis Globe-Democrat.