New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-07-27
GOOD TIME TO REFLECT.

Tn this warm weather, when business is moi
messing and political excitement is not yet
strongly felt it is good time for practical
men to think over the bearings of the campaign
calmly and the probable effects of one result or
the other upon their personal interests. We
have not very strong Government in this
Republic, but it is strong enough for its
measures and policy seriously to affect business
CONCERNS. 1t levies taxes and tariff duties which
materially influence the prices of many COM
modities. 1t charters and controls banking
system which Families into almost every vii
lage in the country. 1t issues paper cur
rency which goes into the pocket of every clti-
zen. 1t owes a large debt, in the faithful pay
ment of which many thousands of people are
directly concerned and many hundreds OF
thousands indirectly. The administration OF
this Government is by no means an affair OF
theoretical politics There is something more
involved than abstract ideas of the distribu-
ton and limitations of power. A new Govern
ment policy may involve the ruin OF hundreds
of prosperous enterprises. 1t may even pro-
duce a great financial panic and widespread
commercial calamity, as did the policy of An
drew Jackson toward the Bank of the United
States.
Every one knows just what to expect if a
Republican President is elected next Fall.
There will be no shock to business. No ex-
periments will be tried with the currency. No
crusade will be made upon the banks. No
schemes for Sinking the payment of the
public debt and interest will be entertained
for a moment at the White House or in the
Treasury. The burden of National taxation
will not be shifted from whistey and tobacco
at the demand of the South, and placed upon
articles of necessity made in the North. The
safe protective system under hlch American
manu- features have been established and de-
yeloped will not be broken down at the bid
ding of the politicians from the coUton growing
States. The machinery OF Government will
continue in the hands of experienced, efficient
men, who have established IA claim to the public
confidence by years of honest, capable service.
But how will il be if the Democratic candi-
date Is elected9 OF cOu sc The policy of the
Democratic party will be carried out, for Gen
eral Hancock is man without political ideas
or experience, who will be like clay IN the
hands of the Democratic potter. There is
none of the stuff of sold Hickory" in him /;
he will have no policy of his own. The party,
il must not be forgotten, ls ruled by the
Congressional caucus and in this caucus the
Southern members are in a large majority.
The course of the Democratic Adminisira-
ZION. if tie people should elect Hancock,
would therefore, be shaped by the Southern
politcians. How would IL affect business in
ferestsY Protective duties would he abolished
at once this much we know, because the
Cincinnati platform plainly says so. Many
forms Of industrial enterprise would BE- de-
stroyed the capital embarked in them wiped
out. and the workmen they employ set adrift.
Otheis not wholly ruined would be seriously
crippled and obliged TO reduce their opera
tions. Our markets would be flooded with the
cheap goods of England, Belgium, France. and
Germany many thousands of industrous me-
chanics and factory operatives would have the
alternative of starving in tie East or going to
the Western prairies, If they could, and raising
corn and hundreds of prosperous towns and
villages in New England, Now-York, New