New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-06-10
A FREE TRADE REVOLT

The opponents of Mr.. Blaine are wild with
rage. Sincere devotion to reform never took
such form as this. No man who raves, and
froths at the mouth, and unpacks his heart as
if billingsgate were the only language fitted to
express his emotions, can make the people be-
lieye that he is conscious of being in the night
Conscious rectitude is calm and dignified, self
respecting and careful to respect the rights and
the convictions of others. Raving and venom
Gus ckguardism is proof of conscious base
ness of motive. The men who have hunted Mr..
Blaine with falsehOods for years cannot endure
the thought that the people have treated
them and their scandals with contempt. 1t
cuts them to the quick to find that the country
estimates their pretended zeal for reform at its
true value There would be no heat, and
no resort to harsh words and bitter epithets, II
the men who claim to embody all political Writ
ne and purity were not aware that their 1niiu-
ence with the people had been forfeited at last
1t will be observed that the persons who pre-
tend to be too virtuOuS to support Mr.. Blame
with scarcely an exception, are Free Traders
The importers Of foreign goods who have en-
couraged The Times and The EUeaing Post III
advocacy of British free trade are not more
pure nor more anxious for the cOuntry's well
fare than the American manufacturers they as
sail so want0nly. Some New-England men
who would like to secure amOnOpoly for them
selves by breaking down the protective tariff
and arresting the development OF industries.
find fitting representatives in the few Massachu-
sets papers that reat Mr.. Blaine with injustice.
The pretence Of virtuOus indignation covers II
desire TO destroy the Republican party, since
the attempt o change its tariff policy has
failed But all this conspiracy prevailf
For the workingmen of the Eastern States
! the nomination Of Mr. Blaine is incOmparably
| the strongest that could have been made. For
| the people of the Western prairiesi 1t s also the
| strongest if the delegates from Western States
were not strangely in error. For the Pacific
! States it is by universal admission the strong
| est. For the Southern States which are now
| beginning to develop manufactures and min
| ing, such as Virginia and West Virginia and
| Georgia, it is the strongest Nor is it improb-
able that it will prove exceedingly strong whcr-
| ever Irish voters are numerous. Thousands OF
them will be won to the Republican party by
| this nomination. 4 distinctyely American
policy, policy of determined industrial antago-
nism to British influence, will arouse intense
| enthusiasm among Irish-Americans. Nor will
| there De wanting OtneT cltHcIs WIN Will I0-
| member how Great Britain behaved during the
Rebellion, and how American commerce was
| chased from the seas by British cruisers. The
| protective policy will be found stronger than
| its foes imagine.
Mr. Blaine cannot be beaten by Pharisaic
| pretences of superior virtue The people are
altogether as honest and upright as the Phar-
| isees. When the votes are counted, we shall
| see that it is easier to find majority for Mr..
| Blaine in Massachusetts than it has been to
carry the State for any other Republican far
| removed from popular sympathy. New-York
| City will have to give a heavier Democratic
majority than it has ever given yet, if 1t is to
overcome the votes of the rural counties. this
year. The secret is that everybody is wiser
than anybody. The millions made this ticket,
and the millions will elect it.