New-York tribune., 1870-10-18

that there something going on now making II worth
their while to votc they will not display much zeal on
election day If there is anything calculated to produce
apathy It Is the reeration of the idea that the history OF
the party has been glorious Supposng it has beenis
that any reason why farmer should harness up his
team rainy day. aud drive five miles to vote On
the contrary better in the estimation Of
the average human intelligence why he should sit by HIS
reside and contemplate the gories Of the party his
tory Several thousand Republican votersn Indiana seem
to have been this conempatve mood on election day
We would not say that Mr. Colfax speech contributed
TO get them into that state Of mental atlsacton but
they inclined to beforehand his speech was yery
little calculated to get them out OF it,
Comments by this Tribune.
Indiana, since the War for the Union con-
sumed Fifteen Thousand Of her sons, of whom
at least three fourths were Republicans has
been very closely balanced in politics. Thus she
gave but about One Thousand Republican ma
iori,y in her State Election of 1863, when every
cxertion was made on both sides and her full
strength called ont, though this was easily
swelled to Ten Thousand i'll the vote for Pres
ident three weeks later, when Gen. Grants
election was already secure Considering how
the vote always falls of i'll the Of-years, and
how many Republicans are only drawn to the
polls by the excitement of Il Presidential con-
test or something equivalent thereto, we think
the Republicans of Indiana have done very
well this year-far better than they did in 1852
and better than they would have done Ill 1856
if Andy Johnson had not reused them up by
his Swinging round the circle and kindred
didocs. We do not expect them ever to do
better except on fuller poll.
But we quite agree with our Chicago name
sake that "the people will not display much
zeal on election day unless there is some
thing going on nor that makes IT worth their
"while to voten Building the tombs of the
prophets may be IA wholesome exercise; ; hut
people are not apt to Over-excrt themselves
while thus employed. They are inclined to
take it easy; and we think they therein eyince
true wisdom.
The whole country is thoroughly aware that
the Protective policy, which was treacherOu8ly
crushed ont under Democratic ascendency,
was reGstablishcd Immediately on the accession
of the Republicans to power. II perfectly un-
derstands that it has been upheld ever since
by Republican votes, and that the Democratic
party, true to its pro-Slayery traditions, de-
tests that policy, and stands ready to crush 1t
whenever it shall be restored to power. AS
the Protective policy, was reGstablished mainly
by Republican votes so it viii again he over
turned. if it ever shall be overturned, mainly
bv Democratic votes. Hence The Chicd90
Times is perfectly right in felicitating its party
ON the service which is being rendered to that
party in dfusing and vndicating its princl-
plcs and policy by The chicago Tribune.
The Republican speaker or writer who as
sails and denounceS Protection inevitably aids
the Democratic party. He may mean this or
may not: his intention cannot affect the result.
The Republican speaker or writer who apollo
gizes for Protection apologies for the Rcpnb-
lican party. The Republican speaker or writer
who tries to make out that there is no real
issue between the two great parties respecting
Protection virtually tells his hearers that it
is MT of much consequence whether they vote
or stay at home this year. Aud those hear
ers know Just as well "a he does, that Protec-
ton is in issue, and that it must stand or fail
with the Republican ascendency. And the Re-
publican candidate for Congress who talks as
our Chicago namcsake quotes Mr.. Wilson as
doing, will be very apt 10 throw away his dis
dlict, as Mr.. Wilson has nearly or quite done,
though it never till now elected any but il
Republican.
That there are Free-Tradc Republicans, we
know. Their right in the party is just as good
as ours; their right to hold their opinions in
! it precisely the same as ours. Protective
Tariffs have been framed and passed by sue
cessve Republican Congresses for the simple
| reason that nine-tenthS of the Republicans are
PrOtectionists. The Free-Tmdcrs in or out of
our party have the amplcst liberty to convert
these into Free Traders if they can, and to
| buy or otherwise secure a controlling interest
in leading Republican journals to this end.
| We do not believe they can succeed in prose-
lyting majority of our party; but they are
welcome to make the trial.
Profoundly convinced that the country was
saved from bankruptcy in our late desperate
struggle with the original, thorough going
Free Traders, by return to Protection in 1861,
we yet hold that good faith requires the
hearty support of Republican candidates by
Republicans regardless of their Economic diff
ferences. Thus we have, from the formation
of the Republican party, supported Republican
candidates who were known to us as Free
Traders as heartily as we have supported Pro-
tectiOnists. We never yet, whether in word or
thought, exuted at the defeat of a Republican
because he was q Free Trader. On the other
side, different policy has prevailed. Hence,
we are not surprised to find, in the same issue
of The Chicago Tribune wherefrom we quote as
above the following:
at appears that Mr. D.J Morrel Of Pennsylvania, the
who voted in the House of Representatives to give
to himself and two other persons monopoly in supply
ing Bessemer steel rails to this country has been de-
feated in his attempted reelection TO Congress by 25
jority Thus the trio is complete-Sehenck, Morrell,
McCarthy-a grief at the hands of the people
since the struggle OF last Schencks
bill, Morrell's steel rails, and McCarthys salt-pans"