Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-12-01
f,ssulat'9n fSsnins 9e15sfdsy sssis 1862
Coming Back Like a Boomerang

Coming Back Like boor'eians-
Political observers Of mature years and
with long memories will recall the season
immediately following the Presidential
election of 1892 with great deal Of inter
est. Democratic partisans among them
POSSIBLY with considerable satisfaction.
That was twenty-eight years sgo-nearly
three decades-and great deal has hap
rened since then, political and otherwise,
but IT is not far stretch for the magma
ticu of the man of fifty years or older to
look back upon with unimpaired memory.
The election of 1892 resulted in the sue
cess of Grover Cleveland, who was chosen
President in 1884, defeated for reelection
IN 1885. and for third time chosen as the
national leader of the Democratic party
,jasnite his reverse four years previous,
G,,e entirely to Tammany Halls
treachery in New York, which traded the
Presidency for the success Of Tanmany
governor. Mr.. Cieveland's triumph at the
1902 election was somewhat extraordinary,
he having carried the country by large
majority of the popular vote and the kiec-
toral College.
People in this section win well remem-
l~e- how "the next day il showed, the
80 sher having so changed during cleo
tor night a. TO be decidedly chilly, with a
l,--sl sprinhing Of snow. Also, it viii be
rec.iIed how almost Immediately there be-
ra7 q succession Of business and financial
rr-erses. Banks failed numerously and
: iustrial depression fell upon the c0un-
t-- 80 that in a short time thousands Of
iale men were found vainly looking for
vcrk. The distress was keen, and natur-
aiv. the leaders Of the Democratic party
suffered agonies. For partisan enemies
immediately ascribed these unfortunate
and distressing conditions TO the great
triumph Of the Democratic party.
We now know this was not true The
situation was brought about by the sill
yer legislation Of the Republican party
during its previous control Of Congress,
which was bringing the country to a
dangerous condition of imitation. It was
stopped by the prompt action Of the
Democratic Congress N repeallng tins
vicious legislation, and Immediately there
was visible Improvement. But the par
tisan vituperation continued, and the
Democratic administration was denounc-
ed most savagely and most uniustly. The
Wilson Tariff lsp, enacted soon after
wards. also was blamed for unfavorable
conditions, although it had no more to do
with the disturbances than the man II the
moon. But al was grist 70 Ii , Republican
partisan mill during the entire period Of
the Cleveland administration, 30 that
there wae en- immediate revulsion Of
r'-llic sentiment, leading 10 Republican
supremacy in the country that did not
end until the Republican party defeated
itself by factional division In the campaign
Of 1912.
In view Of this record Of past political
history, Republican partisans now have
nc Just cause Of complaint about the avid
+ Nth which many partisan Democrats
are seizing upon present unfavorable con-
ditians IN industry and business and set
ting them down as direct result of the
overwhelming Republican triumph at the
election en- November 2. And, indeed, it
does appear that the crash began with
that notable event and has continued
eyer since There is just as much pro-
conditions to the result Of the recent
election as there was in ascribing the
temporary financial panic Of 1928 to the
election Of President Cleveland. But it
must be said TO the credit of Democratic |
partisans at this time that they are not /
going to the extreme Of Misrepresentation |
and denunciation that made the period |
following the election Of 1892 |
80 remarkable.
II is not to be set down as fact that the |
fate of our government depends absolutely |
upon the success of one political party or |
another. II has gone through many |
changes Of administrative policy. some Of |
them very radical, and has survived all Of |
them 1t viii survive the present change,
and should it promise continued evil, will |
rid itself of the incubus at the first oppor-
tunity- The great bulk of our people are
citizens frst and partisans afterwards. |
But all the same, the Republican poll
ticians will have to bear the sting Of Dem
ocratic denunciation for business and in
dustrial conditions that are not as assuring !
rs they might be, with the best grace they |
may be able 10 command. They set a pre-
oedent which Democratic opponents sure
~ will take advantage of.
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