New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-09-17
TIE OUTLOOK,

In four weeks the election in Ohio and W est
VIRGINIA will afford n strong indication of the
final result in November. The situation has
changed materially during the past month
Maine has shown much of the drift OF popular
feeling. Once more the Republican party Is SEEM
compact disciplined, resclute, granuly III
earnest. sweeping steadily forward to another
struggle upon which, rs upon that Mt Gettys-
burg, the history of the Nation for many years
mny turn. There is neither waycring nor lear
hoppily. also. there ~ not foolish ovcr-conli-
dcncc. That the struggle will be desperate, Re
puMicans know. That they can win. and moan
tn win. those will realize who study the returns
from Maine.
Much that caused apprehension early in the
campaign has been swept out oil the way hl'o-
pcther by this splendid triumph The nolslest
opposition came from the so-callcd lndcpend-
cnts. The returns from Maine have shown De
yond a doubt that the Dependents make no I'M
preston upon the people, and are III number IN
significant. Thcirassaults upon Mr.. Blame are
utterly impotcnt; the voters simply refuse 10
think evil of a tried and honorcd statesman
because. out of all his public and private record
for thirty years of hourly temptation, two
nhroses in two letters can be found upon which
bad construction can possibly be placed. The
sonnd Judgment of the clcar-headed millions is
that it is not decent to put bad construction
upon phrases of which an honorable con-
struction is more in harmony with all the known
facts, and that no corrupt man could have
welded enormous power, and met daily temp
l. tation. for thirty active years, without leaving
behind clear evidences of evil. The millions
brush away the SANDER and the slanderers with
contempt.
There was reason at one time to suppose that
the Democratic party would unite for the spolls,
and avoid discussion of the tariff. In Name
the experiment failed completely. Now we
have the free trade organs and leaders claiming
the party. the platform and the candidate as
their own, and they are fully justified by the
record of the last session of Congress. Public
opinion is clearly awakening Evasion OF the
main issue between the parties Will not be pos
sible. The Republicans have only to place the
Morrison bill before the peOple-the bill framed
bv the very man who reported the National
Democratic platform, and supported by four
Gfths of the Democratic members-and to ask
whether it is safe to have a Democratic Presi-
dent to sign such bill. If any man doubts
what the people think about it, let him hear
the news from Maine.
II was feared that industrial disaster would
bring defeat to the party in power. If the peO-
ple were ignorant, it would. But the people
read. They know that industries were prosper
ing before Democratic Congress was elected,
and that mills have been closing ever since.
! They know that the threat of free trade has
been the fruitful parent of losses and sagnatiOn,
of decline in prices, and of bankruptcy. The
people are going to hold the Democratic party
responsible for the disasters which Democratic
! agitation has caused.
The prospect satisfies every Republican The
dispatches from Ohio do not indicate that the
Republicans are Indifferent, apathetic, or over
| confident They dOnOt indicate that real friends
of temperance are going to cast their votes to
please the liquor dealers, or that the temperance
| question is going TO prevent a fair decision OF
the people upon the needs of industry. They
do not indicate, in short, that the state which
bonoIcd President Garfield while he lived ia
now going to reward and honor the men who
followed him to his grave with Infamous for
geiics and SANDERS