New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-07-02
mgA ND NiYYFSoTA PLATToRNS.


TIE Republicans of Iowa and of Minnesota
have added their testimony as to the wishes of
the party. In both States there are Republi-
can maiorities at nearly all elections; in both.
therefore, the presumption is that the Repub--
licaa leaders know the wishes of the majority
of voters and faithfully express them. In the
light of this fact it is amusing TO hear Journal
lists thousand miles away cwlishly lectnring
the Republicans of Iowa for throwing away
their State. 1t has seemed good to these Re-
publicabs to recognize as decisive expression
of the will of the people the vote in favor OF the
prohibitory amendment. and to affirm their
moral and political obligation to submit 1t to
the people again, in order that informaity in
its mode of adoption may be cured. The ma
iority for this amendment, at a special election
held June 27. 1882, was about 10000, aud the
total vote was 100000, whereas in the regu-
lar State and Congressional election of that
fall the total vote was 90, 900. So large a
vote on q constitutional amendment Is rare.
even at general election when there are active
candidates to bring out the voters, but at
speelaI election it is almost unprecedented,
and gives conclusive proof that the people were
fully aroused on the subject, and gave II
thorough consideration. Had the party refused,
after such a vote, TO acknowledge its authority
as a declaration of the viii Of the people, or
had it shown a willingness to take advantage of
a technical defect in order to defeat that Will,
the purity would have had no right to expect
any thing bur defeat.
To some 1t seems that there is Inconsistency
in the adoption of this course i'll Iowa, while
the Republicans of Ohio deal with the same
Tha lufoa gf-
.ncy is not real. TIE function of the ReDub-
lican party is to represent faithfully the will OF
the majority &C the people, il respect to every
progress or reform that may be demanded out
side of the main objects for which the party
was organized. Some reform, in regard to the
sale of intoxicants, is demanded by public
opinion In many States. The question Is out
side of the objects of party organization. Ii Is
not one upon which Republicans have associ-
afed themselves because of common convic-
tiois. But it il their duty, being charged with
the responsibility Of government, to respect
the will of the people VIII snever they can ascer-
tain that will. This they do in OHIO by uphold
ing law which the people through their Legis-
lature have enacted, and they do the ZANE
thing in Iowa by respecting the vote or the
people for a constitutional amendment. 1t may
be added that they do the same thing in other
States, where public opinion demands a license
law, or local opten, other modes of dealing
with the same question The duty and the
practice of the party is TO Let the people
rule"
AS to the tariff question, both conventions ex-
press unequivtcaly the Republican doctrine
that the revenue laws should be so adjusted as
= to encourage American industries and protect
American labor" The Minnesota Convention,
using different language, Abeleves in maintain
ing system of internal revenue levied upon
articles of luxury, such as whiskey aud TO-
paeco, together with system of duties on inn
sports so adjusted az to encourage the develop
"ment of the manufacturing and laboring in
tcresfs OF the whole country" There is moth
ing of Democratic equivocation or trickery in
these statements. They sustain in its essen
tials the law as it stands and correspond with
the will of majority of the people.