Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1884-02-16
ralse Assumrtions and CONCLUSIONS.

False Assumptions and Conclusions
This IL the season Of the year when
election tables are made. Politicians
and newspapers are busying their
brains constructing and putting to-
cether estimates OF the probable out
come of the presidential election, and
electing, on paper, Republican anc
Democratic presidents with marvellous
ease. The process is simple, and re-
quires no capital. 1t is to be observed,
though, that there is q weak spot IN
these structures, caused by the omis'
sion by the architects OF an important
consideration: the part that the tariff
question is 10 play in the approaching
election. 1t is assumed that those
states that have been Democratic VIII
remain Democratic, and those that
have been Republican will still be Re-
publican; while the doubtful states are
claimed as Republican or Democratic,
according as the builder of the table
proposes to elect Democratic or Re
publican president. No allowance Is
made for the effect of new issues,
which are intruding themselves into
political discussion and shaping public
thought. Until these questions are
considered, all estimates are based upon
false and insufficient premises.
The tariff will be the leading issue of
the presidential contest of 1854. Pro
tected interests and timid politicians
may try TO suppress or evade that is
sue, but there is widespread deter !
mination to settle the question now
whether this government is run for the |
ben, lit of the many or the enrichment !
Of the few. Congress, the popular
branch of which is now in the hands
of the Democrats will respond to this
demand, aud issue will be Joined there
between the champions of protection
and advocates of revenue tariff.
Whether the contest there shall give
victory to the Republicans as pro-
tective party, or defeat TO the Demo-
Gratis as n revenue reform party, the
question will not be settled, but only
TO the people. Upon
this issue new alignments Of the po-
Iitical parties will take Place. There
are protective Democrats and and free
.rade Republicans. There will be de-
ertions from and reinforcements to
10Th parties. The opposing members
ire now evenly balanced. Whichever
party gains the greatest net strength {
If recruits will elect the next presi-
lent. In the Democratic South there ,
5 no indication Of protective feeling
II any state strong enough to cause its !
)ss TO the Democrats; but in the Re.
ublican Northwest there is a vigor-
us and growing feeling in favor of a
eduction of tariff duties. The strictly o
states of Minnesota, II
lichigan and Wisconsin have every l.
ming TO gain and nothing to lose by h
,duction of the tariff to revenue ba- +,
8. The Republicans have uniformly X
'rried those states IN presidential cleo y
ons, but their mBjorilies have not C.
zen safe. In the last state election "
Iichigan elected Il Democratic gov
nor, by a combination with the -
reenbackers, which shows clear Ii
opposition majority in that state. The ii
Opposition vote in Wiscon- II
n exceeds the Republican vote by n
'veral thousand. Minnesota does not j.
Ter so fair n field a. the Republican n
laiority is about Ii, COO but this is {
lajority in bloody-shirt contest, and =,
OF majority of Erotectionists over IN
venue reformers. b
While war issues divide the parties,
ar memories will influence voters; !,
hen these old and decayed Issues are +
spelled from the field of political con- n
ntlon, common sense and the public 5
lterest will govern. The question to w.
settled Is, not what was good for the u
'untry twenty years ago, but what is 50
'manded to-day, The numerical ma hi
riiy is In favor Of lower taxes aud a.
reaper prices. They can get these by ed
'ting with the Democratic party to n
move protective duties. The choice sh
before them, aud it is for their de- ~, ~,
sion a,