The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1884-12-18
nrIGRArIoN IN POLITICS.


all the states show that over ten mil
lion votes were cast for presidential
electors, or about eight hundred thou
sand more than in 1880. Cleveland
has plurality of 66,242 over Blaine,
but he is in a minority CT 218,27l in
the whole vote. The vote Of Garfield
was 4,454,416, and that of Hancock
4,444,925; Cleveland's gain is 468,976
votes, and Blaine's 393,243. In 1880
Weaver. the green hacker, had 3Oo,5Io,
while Buffers vote is only 133,oeO,
The prohibition vote of 10,305 for
Neal Dow in 1880 has grownto l50,6SS
for st. John. But since many
republicans voted for st. John
because they could not sustain Blaine
and would net support Cleveland,
therefore there is no real gain IN
the prohibition vote; While both IN
crease their voting strength, there are
some very marked changes, Blaine
gained votes in the SouthelA states,
and Cleveland gained much lore IN
the northwest. In the seVeL states
OF Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Loul-
siala, Mississippi, Tennessee aud VIZ
ginia the total vote for Blaine was
51O,499, against 417,931 in the same
states for Garfield gain OF 92,56o.
In these seven Southern states the
total vote for Cleveland was 6S0,315.
and for Hancock 652,004-a gain for
Cleveland of only 25,311. There is To-
thing in these figures that affords any
sign. of the bulldozing and repoessinr
oil the colored voters Of the south
about which Mr.. Blaine and his or
gains have made so much out.
cry. In the states. of Indians
Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan
Minnesota and Wisconsin the vote Of
Blaine was 1,395.976, and that of Gar
field 1,279,321-a gain for Blame of
1869 votes. IN the same states
Cleveland's vote was 1,230,627, and
Hancock's 968,050-a gain for Cleve-
land of 262,577, and a net democratic
gain of 1892 votes IN four years:
and yet there was no part of the Union
where the enthusiasm for Mr.. Blaine
was so great as in seven of these very
states, previous to and after his nomi-
nation. The northwestern delegates
to the Chicago convention voted
for Blaine, confding in the
support of the masses, and yet in these
very states the republican net loss in
four years is nearly 10000 votes.
This loss certainly cannot be attrib-
uted to the weakness and unpopular
1ty of the candidate. In the south
Blaine was not popular, notwithstand-
ing the assiduity with which hesought
to conciliate the white voters OF this
region; and yet in the southern states
Blaines gains were large. These
gains in the south, excepting Texas,
were quite uniform, and still Blaine
turned upon the south with venom
as soon as he knew be
was defeated. His sectional hatred
was exercised against the south when
the north and west lost confidence in
him. Tue opposition to Mr.. Blaine
was not because of what he was, but
because Of what he represented. In
the northwest there has been a grow
ing sentiment in opposition to the ex-
listing tariff system. So strong was
the tendency III favor of tariff reform
in some Of these states that the great
republican majority of former years
was almost wiped out, in spite of the
popularity of Mr.. Blaine and the ap.
peals to party spirit. In the south, on
the other hand, there has been in re-
cent years, with the growth OF
manufacturing interests, a decid.
ed tendency in the opposite direc.
ton. Real or imaginary personal
interest breaks down the most intense
party prejudice. Protection sentiment
has grown at the south, because it is
not properly understood. Whether
these two opposite tendencies, witness
ed in the northwest and south viii
grow, will depend on the course OF
legislation. 1t the tariff be revised
in accordance with the policy of ths
democratic platform and the recon-
mendations of secretary McCulloch
the question will be removed from
political discussion for many years tt
come. If this legislation be INSTRUCTED
says northern exchange, by the re
publican senate, the sentiment II
favor of tariff reform will increase
with resistless tide until the diminish
ing republican major1ties in tn.
mighty northwest will be wiped out
as with sponge. 1t must be admit
ted, on the other hand, that the grow
Ing friendliness to the tariff in portions
of the south may counteract IN some
degree the movement in the north
west. In the susceptible colored vote
is material on which the protection
ist demagogue may be able to operate
with much success should this tariff
controversy be prolonged. But there
is reason to believe that it will bt
settled before the close of CleYeland's
administration in the complete tri-
umph of the cause of tariff reform,
THE CATTLE TRAIL.