New-York tribune., 1884-10-14
UIJL THEY CH4NGE 'FRONT.'

Probably one prediction may he maze WI IL
safety If the verdict of Ohio to-day is such as IL
seems likely to be. the defamcrs OF Mr.. Blame
will realize that their work has helped rather
than hurt him. To some of them at least, the
question will then come home, whether II Is
well to continue the work which makes them
despised by decent men without injuring the
one at whom their shafts are aimed. Not many
delight in being despicabe; not many would
rather have ipfanly than honor at the same
price. But when honor comes the cheaper,
when the very object sought is put further OH
by the course of shame why should not men
give up defamation and resort to argument
The campaign against Mr. Blaine, however,
has had q motive which his dctamcrs can
neither avow nor escape. They are driven to
lie about him. in order to avoid any disclosure
of their intentions or beliefs. But for this,
they probably would have abandoned the mud
Singing business after che Maine election had
shown that nearly all the mud stuck to them
selves. Maine taught that Mr. Blaine was not
harmed by personal attacks. But 1t also
| taught that the Democrats were weak ON the
tariff question, and III a more dangerous posi-
ton than most of them had supposed. Ihon-
sands of Democratic voters, drcading free trade
and disgusted with the support of the Morrison
| bill by their party, were rcady to abandon ana
defeat that party. This tendency toward
revolt. it was seen. would lie swollen to gen
eral stampede ny any discussion of the farm
question. Meth could the party afford 10 say
much about civil service reform. The mon
who had stabbed Senator ltndlcton in OHIO {;
the men who we're half disgustcd on other ac-
counts. but held to the party only by the hope
ola general change in the Offices could not be
rcconcilcd with the advocates OF partisan
service. So il was rcckon,d necessary, at least
until Ohio had voted, to keep up tie claltor
about Mr. Blaine. Shrowd men saw that It
could not inure him materially. Bnt they
hoped to avoid discussion of any other topic To
divert the minds OF men from questions oi pub
lie policy, aud to have an excuse for refusing TO
debate those questions.
We hope that Ohio will prove that THE course
has been complete failure there, as II was IN
| Maine. Then what will the Democrats do7 As
before, they will have strong motives to aban-
don "A course which only makes defeat moro
sure and adds 10 the sting ol defeat the bllhd
of disgrace. Yet what are the Democrats and
Dependents to do2 Discussion of any public
ancstion must still bc fatal to them, unless they
are prepared 10 abandon all hope of success OF
| the West and to allront oni-iillhs of the mem
bcrs of their party. on the desperate chance that
IN emphatic population of the Morrison bill.
and the ideas it represented. may enable them
to pull through III enough OF the Eastern states.
II Ohio gives decisive majority against the
Democrats there viii moi bc wanting men Ia
| p,oponc IA complete change Oi tactics. They
will say with truth that persistence III dciam'
| alton can oilj bring certain and hhamciui de-
feat. They will reason that three weeks ol
vigorous population of the Morrison bill might
possibly secure better results aud at any rate
might leave the party IN u less dshonorablc
position. 1t will be interesting, III that event,
TO listen to the thinly disguised or undisgulscd
free traders. IL they have any trace OF honesty
or sclf-rcspect, we shall STE lively time. 1t
has been moro than really sincere men could
well stand to be muzzled as they have been
thus far, but to be fatty disowned and repudi-
ated would perhaps try even their phenomena
| uatipncp