Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1904-11-11
Tuesdays Election.

While Tuesdays election turned out
very much as everybody in the south
expected, except little more so, there
will be no end of speculation as to the
causes of Mr.. Roosevelt's overwhelming
victory, and much hesitation and doubt
as to what the party should next do.
Already attention Is being called to
the fact that Parker failed to carry as
many states as Bryan, and this Is be-
ing used as the basis of an argument
that Bryan is the strongest Of the two,
and that the leadership Of Bryan
should be promptly restored. On Its
face the argument seems reasonable,
but a really thoughtful analysis of the
situation will not bear 1t out.
Look at 1t as we will, and whether
the idea be pleasant to us or not the
Republican party is now doing busi-
ness on Democratic credit. 1t was
Grover Cleveland who brought order
out of chaos and laid the foundation
for the prosperity that followed his
last administration, and which still
abides.
The Democrats lost the fruits Of
their work by pickering among them
selves. Cleveland's guiding star was
truth and honesty in all things. He not
only had the wisdom to see the right;
but the courage to stand by it. Politi-
cal leaders who were unable to swerVe
him from his cause for their own
selfish purposes, became miffed, re-
sorted to demagogy, raised dissensions
in the ranks of the party and secured
the abandonment Of the principles that
had brought success.
Profiting by quick realization OF
the mistake into which the Democrats
had fallen, the Republicans were not
slow to take up the principles that
their opponents had abandoned. MI.
Bryan, a great and good man was NOM
mated on a platform that did not ap-
peal to the best judgment Of the coun-
try and the result was an overwhelm-
ing victory for the Republicans. The
same conditions existed four years Ia
ter. and the verdict Of the country was
even more emphatic than before.
There is nothing remarkable about
the defeat Of Judge Parker last Tues
day. His platform was all right. II
was based on original principles. But
there is reason to believe that the
country suspects the integrity Of many
of his lieutenants. If the judge had
been elected, he would have been sur
rounded by advisers who never have
commanded the confidence Of the
country and who from their character
records and dispositions, never can
command that confidence. That the
country would have been glad to make
a change, we do not doubt; but that
it preferred to accept men 1t knows
reasonably we'll rather than men 1t has
reason to distrust Is not surprising.
However, all is not lost. If the Dem
ocratic party will only keep a level
head it will yet succeed. Although
lacking much Of being the man Grover
Cleveland was, Roosevelt will soon be
confronted with. the same difficulties.
Excess of power will cause rivalry IN
the Republican party and this rivalry
will soon lead to dissension and bicker-
ing just as it did in the Democratic
party. This will soon bring an op-
portunity for success. If the Democrat
ic party returns to the socialistic ten
dencies SO manifest in the old Kansas
City platform. it will never again win
success. II on the other hand, 1T con-
tinues faithful to the principles It
professed at st. Louis. its chances tor
victory four years from now will be
exceedingly bright.