New-York tribune., 1884-10-01
THE OLD STRTGGLE.

The last month OF the PreSldcntlal Campaign
ia near at hand. In five weeks VIII
be cast the ballots on which depend the future
history of the Nation. That day will decide
whether those who failed to destroy the Union
in the war shall be permitted to capture ana
rule it in peace. The struggle has not changed
in its spirit. The narrow prejudice, the savage
hatred, the reckless contempt for the Opinions
of the civilized world which marked the Rebel
lion, are shown in the brutal methods ana the
shameless falsehOOds of this campaign. Free
trade and slave labor was the motto OF the ne
bellion. Free trade and degraded labor is the
aim of the party which pretends to want re-
forms through Cleveland and Hubert y.
Thomson. Then, as now. there were traitors
at the North-men who tried to stab the Union
in the back. and pretended that their only oo'
lection was to Mr. Lincoln or to Mr.. stanton.
But Lincoln and Stanton are immortal. Ana
James G. Blaine and John a. Logan Will be re-
membercd with honor long after those who now
defame them have been buried in public con-
tempt.
Since the election in Maine the campaign has
moved rapidly. A great change has appeared.
In all the decisive States there has oeeh
great uprisinc of the people. Larger meetings
have lever been held. Greater interest mas
never been manifested in any previous contest
since the war. The old spirit is abroad. me
march of Mr. Blaine from the East to the "2s'
has been like the tiiumphal progress OF con-
oucror The speeches of General Logan oay
after day, have produced deep imprcsS'oh'
There is no longer n fear Of apathy; no longer
n doubt that the old Republican party Is again
ready 20 do its utmost 10 MAINTAIN the primer
nlcs which have made the country 80 prosper
ous. Third parties and side shows are sinking
into insignihcaucc. Governor Cleveland Is
drifting ont of the minds of men, like the small
man that he is and even his dishonest refusal
10 state his position on the tarlit Qucs'lon
scarcely cxcitcs public notice. 1t Is ielt every
where that Cleveland is but tool, and Mr.
Blaine, grand as is his personality Is only
leader and that the struggle Is between TWO
great parties. as before two hostile ideas whlch
contcndcd four years with arms until victory
crowned the right at Appomattox, ana nave
been contcndng ever since. The Union has
been restored Republicans helping, Democrats
resisting. The public credit has been
upiftcd by Republicans, Democrats re-
sisting. The emancipatcd labor of the South
has been cnfranchsed for its protection. Dem
has been driven from the ballot box by Demo-
cratic shot-guns. American citizenship has
been protected abroad as ii never was during
fifty years under Democratic rule. American
industry has been protected at home by Re
publican enactmcnts, every one OF which Dem
ocratS have resisted.
For twenty four years, the grandest part OF
the history of the country, every forward step
has been taken by the Republican party after
striking down Democratic resistance. The ques-
ton to-day is still whether the same obstinate,
ignorant, angry resistance to justice and prog
ress and elevation OF American citizenship shall
prevail. For five weeks more the argument
will 20 on, and in every part OF the country
men will be challenged to decide whether the
Southern or the Northern idea shall prevail
whether citizens shall be defended in then
rights AT Southern ballot boxes and in foreign
prisons; whether the splendid development OF
industry which the past twenty years have
brought shall here be arrested whether labor,
accus toned under the Republican policy to lib
eral wages and comfortable homes, shall be
forced TO compete on level terms with the
pauperized labor of other lands.
There ought to be no doubt of the result
There would be none, if there were a free vote
or an honest count in Southern States. There
would be none, even in spite of the tremendous
odds which a solid South gives the Democratic
partv if there were not possible corruption III
Northern towns, and forgery and perjury III
that same Democratic cOmmittee-iOom from
which the Morcy letter came. Against all these
odds the free people of the Northern States,
who know what the Republican policy Is and
what il has done for them, must contend.
They can make sure their success, and the con-
tnucd prosperity of the country, III one way
unly-bv swelling their majorties wherever
the voting is free and honest, 50 greatly that
neither fraud, nor corruption. nor any form oi
crime, can overcome them.