Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1884-09-08
Forces at Work in Illinois.

Forces at Work in Illinois,
There appears to be great deal OF
recklessness in the Democratic claim
that Illinois is waveri ng in its adher-
once TO the Republican party and is
becoming very doubtful state Since
Illinois departed from the Democratic
faith and cast its votes for Lincoln in
/ 1860, that state has invariably gone
Republican, until it has come to be re-
gar ded as a part Of the machinery Of
that party. But there are develop
ments coming to light which justify
wel.Informed politicians in preparing
for revolution there, and they think
they see il coming now. Republicans
themselves partake of this feeling
more than they will admit. The Chi
cngo Inter Ocean, one of the lirmest
partisans of Republicanism, is forced
10 say IN a recent edition that "the
fact has for some time been apparent
to close observers that the Republican
cause in Illinois is seriously threat
ened with defeat through bad man.
agement. The opinion appears TO
prevail generally that from some
cause the Republican management of
the campain is grossly at fault" The
attempt TO oscribe impending defeat to
incapable management is merely in
the way Of providing u scapegoat
upon which to charge the
disaster that is felt to be
coming. With an acceptable ticket
no amount Of mismanagement could,
Of itself, change an average Repub.
lican majority of IL, GOO to Dem
ocratic majority. The causes are more
radical than this, and are easily found
when sought for.
First and foremost may be placed the
general dislike of the Germans for
Blaine. In Illinois this sense of dis
like for the Republican ticket is es-
peclally bitter as the legislation of
that state, under Republican guidance.
has been directed toward the enact
ment of sumptuary laws, which the
Democratic platform disapproves. The
effect Of this legislation is seen in
Cook county, embracing the city of
Chicago, which gave Garfield 10000
majority in 1850, and at the municipal
election in 1883 gave the Democratic
ticket 1000 majority. In this
single county a change Of d.
600 votes to the advantage of the
Democrats is thus accounted
for. \ further change of 1000 in other
parts OF the state will give 1t to Cleve-
land,
Another power that Is operating in
favor Of Democratic success is the great
decline in agricultural prices, which
has led the farmers to an investigation
of the protection system. The wheat
crop OF Illinois will reach $4,000, 900
bushels and the low priceof that grain
means a loss of millions Of dollars to
the farmers. This swells the discon-
tent with Republican legislation and
adds to the opposition. Farmers axe
beginning to understand that if thew
are TO sell to the world at free.trade
prices they can hold themselves up
only by being allowed to buy from the
world at free-trade prices. They have
had enough OF system that makes
them support n protected manutactur-
ing interest while themselves exposed
to all the competition of cheap foreign
labor.
These two causes, principally, and
Others in less degree, such as the In
dependent revolt against Blaine, are
making Illinois a doubtful state, and
exciting among the Republican lead
ers general alarm. Whether there is
substantial foundation for this feeling
or not, 1t will work TO the advantage
OF Democrats in other close states. for
1t will keep all the Illinois Republican
speakers and money at home, when
they would be sent to indiana and
Ohio IL they could be spared. Such a
thing may not be expected, but we
warn the readers ofrHE GAZETTE not
10 be overwhelmed with astonishment
IL Illinois does 20 for Cleveland and
Hendricks.
From tine Mouths Of Children.