The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1904-08-02
BOU
iVI0CRAT
ELECTIONS

=
REASON ON 1T. ANY OLD Way
VOC PLEASE, IS POOR
HOPE FOR DEMOCRATIC
SUCCESS.
Il wise observer once said that
many pretty corn--tossel turns out
to be a4nnbbin in the fall, says the
ittsburg Times. The results OF
much careful u observation are set
IN this homely statement. 1t
would be wen for those ardent Demo
cratic seers of things political to pom
der overt Just now we hear moth
3 ing from that source save predictions
Of certain Democratic victory at the
polls in November Some of the more
nthusiastica reckless would have
the publ believe that Judge Parkers
q election IS little more than casting
up Of the electoral returns. Others,
with a pretense of candor, place
States In the so-called doubtful list
81 whose adherence to the eRpublican
q cause is almost proverbial. but the
general result of their curing is that
the Democrats are certain to win.
this is, to a great extent moth
ing less than nonsense and wind. In
order to- elect its National ticket the
SsDemocracy must Of very necessity
carry States which for at least len
years have been rolling up Republi-
can najorities, and those majorities
large enough to appall ordinarily
n those who viii have to overcome them
s%In order to win the Presidencri in this
contest It is true, but only on rare
occasions, that issues do arise which
work great revulsion in popular feel
ing and throw States out of tie party
1ignment which they have held for
many years. Experience has shown
that these Issues are of two kinds,
and differ Ideally from each other.
One kinds sudden and sporadic, car
rying many away on the impulse of
the moment, but only temporary in its
efects. The other is based upon a
sounder and deeper public sentiment.
usually Of slow growth, and. from
Sthosesyery reasons, stable and per1na-
nent as to results
Coming to recent manifestations OF
these two sorts of issues, it may be
said that the cry for tariff reform, ac-
centuated and vitalized by the I'M
fortunate labor troubles at Home
stead, and which elected Grover
1892, was markedly one
ssof the first named It died out almost
Immediately after the election, and
had t1not been for the injection of
another issue of the same kind, the
Tree and unlimited coinage OF silver
at the ratio of S16 to Il into the cam
paign of "a 500, William Mckinley
would have had amuch easier victory,
although the electoral vote would
not have been apportioned between
he*tWos candidates in. the way it was
i hatsyear- Free silver is now SO dead
that At stinketh, and, had conserva-
+ tive Democrats had their way at St
Louis, tariff reform would also have
been relocated quietly to the limbo of
things overplayed.
Turning to issues which have, work
ed permanent results in the political
alignment of States, it is barely nee
sessary to point to that of aati-slavery.
That appealed to the conscience of
men, and made former Democratic
States almost inalienably Republican.
sTh e tariff issue appealed to material
Interests, and its workings have heen
sits complete vindication. There is
not sIn the United States Democrat
outside of that hidebound Bourbon ell
sement which never thinks, who, were
he sconvinced that his vote would |
wholly overthrow the protective pol
icy now in force, would cast it to that
end Sound money is another perma-
snent issue, not one evolved from the
brain OF some fanatic. but y principle
3esta blished by the wisdom and eHpe-
rience3of men in all time. and the cleo
lions Of 1896 and 1900 showed how
Democrats refused to be beguiled
from it by merely partisan considera-
ton Nothing save Judge Parller's
announcement that he will stand by
the gold standard now influences the
Democrats who repudiated bryan to
declare allegiance to the present Dem
socratic candidate.
On the other hand we have. the Re.
publican party, recanting nothing, re-
zpueiiating nothing, explaining nothing
and apolosizing for nothing in its
principles or it's record Whatever il