The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1910-11-17
THE DEMOCRATIC LANDSLIDE.
ITS MEANING AND THE AFTER
MATH.

Since the result OF the election has
been definitely known. not only in
North Carolina but over the whole
country. there has been no end OF
speculation as to the cause-if there
ia one real cauge-or 10 the many
causes for the same.
II is An historical fact. and not
matter open for controversy, that al
ter every general revision OF the Ia
riff there has been a general reaction
from one end OF the country to the
other against the party In power.
When William Mckinley. the leader
of his party In the lower House OF
Congress, took the lead In drafting
and passing the great Mckinley tarin
bill, II was thought that a measure
of such broad craftsmanship and uni
versal equity and prosperity produe-
ing qualities had been brought forth,
that the usual reaction at the next
election would not occur. Every one
knows that following the enactment
of that great tariff law that there
was one OF the greatest political land
slides against the Republican party
ever before seen IN the history OF
the Republic.
So great was the reaction that
William Mckinley, himself represent
ing one OF the strongest Republican
Congressional Districts in Ohio or in
the nation, was defeated for re-elec-
ton and was succeeded by a Demo
crat so unknown and obscure that to-
day there is not one man in ten thou
sand living who can call his name.
But what followed? At the next cleo
ton, William Mckinley was prevent
ed from accepting a denomination for
Congress in his district by the uni
versal demand of the people of Ohio
that he should accept the Republican
nomination for Governor OF that
great Commonwealth. He was elect
ed by tremendous majority and his
Congressional District redeemed by
the Republican nominee for Congress.
So great was the prosperity follow
ing the workings Of the Mckinley
tariff law when once it got fairly into
operation, that William Mckinley
was practically the unanimous choice
of his party for nominee for Presi-
dent and was elected by tremendous
majority. The opening of the mines
and the starting up of the mills that
followed the operations of the Nc
Kinley law, and which were later
augmented by the election Of McKin-
ley for President, are matters Of his
tory and we'll known to-day to even
the school children Of the nation.
No student of history could have
expected a different result following
the general revision of the tariff by
the last Congress. The conditions
attending the last revision of the ia
riff were indeed more unfavorable
to the Republicans, and therefore
more favorable to general political
revulsicn than ever before. In all
former tariff revisions the fight on
the Republican policy of protection
and the methods for adjusting the
same by revision had been led by
Democrats. The people Of the Unit.
ed States have long since ceased tc
take the Democratic opposition to the
great American idea of protection Sc
riously, and since the Democratic
monstrosity under Cleveland's admin
istration the people have looked up
on the Democratic policy, not only al
one that was unsound and unsafe, blu
as one that was an actual menace t.
labor and all productive industries
1o wen oS ~ d4A pSOp1C VIM OIOdSs
wealth and make an honest Twin,
by the sweat of their brow.
Indeed, the Democratic party as
constructive party had fallen to sucl
low estate that its leaders did not at
tempt in the last Congress to attacl
the Republican tariff policy and pro
gram, and had it not been for tn
honest rivalry and contentious be
tween the Republicans themselves
there would have been no discussion
Of the tariff during the pending O
the last revision bill worthy OF tn
name. There did arise, however,
serious contention between what wa
known as the Regular" Republican
and the ''Insurgent" Republicans a
to the proper way to revise the tart