New-York tribune., 1881-12-28
TIN TEJO WAR.

Eighteen hundred ard eighty-One has been
a veto year. It's principal business has been
to undo whatever was done in 1880, to unset
tie whatever was settled, and to veto the
bright hopes which year OF rare prosperity
and political triumph had enkindled.
The people had their own way in 1850.
They elected a President, and rcjOiccd that
man so good and great had been chosen.
Splendid hopes of reform and of advancing
plosperity burst into full bloom when the light
of President Gariieds election shone
upon the land But 1881 has vetoed
these hopes and the election upon which they
were based. The people do not have their
own way, after ALL The policy and the sort OF
men preferred by the people III the election OF
last wear will have to wait. For SIX months
ago an assassin, not yet hanged or placed III
prisoners dock, repealed the choice OF the peo-
ple with the bullet of a Stalwart fanatic. The
men whose selection for high Office we now
chronicle are mainly those whom the people
have tried, found wanting, and set aside.
In 1880 this country achieved a great in
dustrial victory over the agriculture OF Eu-
rope. 1t produced the largest crops ever
grown, and at so low a cost that farmers OF
England, France and Germany could be fed by
Dakota and Texas more cheaply than by the
bread and meat produced on their own farms.
We began To talk of the industrial supremacy
of the United States. But 1881 has vetoed
all that with its short crops and long specula-
tions. Producing O0,0OO,OO0 bushels less
of grain than 1850, this year of snow
md drOuth has raised an enormous
crop of "bulls" in wheat corn, oats,
cotton and provisions Their work has made
wheat so dear that bursting granaries OF the
West and elevators Of our ports can find no
outlet In Europe. Foreign agriculture has
gained new hope and life. The time when
foreign cities will rely upon America for food
has been set back some years at least INTO the
future, less by the partial deficiency OF Amer
lean production than by the amazing un-
reasonableness of American speculation. In
commerce, we shall find it is easy to slip back
three steps in the time required to climb one.
Ii had been thought settled thing that
there should be flowers in spring and some
rains in summer. But 1881 has vetoed that
idea blocking railroads with snow far into the
summer and baking the earth with drOuth
far into the autumn. 1t had been thought set
tied that comets, like angels visits should be
few and far between. But 1881, with a
larger crop of comets than of any other thing,
has vetoed that. 1t had been thought settled
that New-York was the personal property OF
Roscoe Conkling, and that persons called Half
Breeds" could never organize victory.
But 1881 has vetoed those ideas. 1t
had been thought that Senator VOORHEES,
was opposed to protection, and Senator Sher-
man to three per cent experiments. But 1881
has vetoed those notions also. 1t had been
thought demonstrated thing that practical
railroad managers had shrewdness enough to
unite for the protection OF their interests, and
sufficient "eye to the main chance" to settle
their difficulties by arbitration. But the rail-
road war of 1881 has vetoed that belief. In
short, the year of veto has not answered OK
pectations But it has shown that American
self-government and American prosperity will
stand great deal of killing. DrOuth cannot
starve us. Election by assassination does not