New-York tribune., 1884-11-13
VHY THERE is DOUBT

yVb;le the result of the Presidential election
remains in doubt there is opportunity TO con-
slider why il is in doubt Every one can see now
that the Republican party had the power to
carry The country by decisive majoiities, pro-
vided it had used the right means from the be-
ginning of the campaign. 1t had powerful
cause, one which appealed with great success 10
the people at large, and to business interests III
the commercial and manufacturing regions !;
and vet, even in the very quarters where us
success should have been most conspicuous, the
result is uncertain. The fact is, even III the
earlier stages of the campaign there were 100
many bands and banners, too much coal-oh ana
excitement. in proportion to the amount Oh
ouiet work for the education of the people by
the circulation of capable journals, by the dis-
tributiyn of documents md by missionary
effort in school district meetings.
When the Republican party came into beng
nearly thirty years ago. it gained all It's success
by patient and earnest appeal to the puDilc III
telligcnce. The peculiar feature OF Its Work
was the extraordinary number OF school district
IL eetngs, in which the question at issue was
thoroughly and repeatedly explained to the
voters But at the same time great numbers OF
papers were circulated, and care was taken by
systematic organization to place them Ill the
hands of almost every voter who could Iead.
Work of this sort deserved success, and soon
secured it. The changes which it wrought were
completely revolutionary. But, alter IL hao
gained the power, the Republican party began
to count too much upon its use OF pohticai
machinery, upon the control OF Offices, the COM
mand of money, and all the other devices,
which. in its youth, the party had entirely
lacked.
During the last Presidential campaign
millions of dollars have been spent III employ
ing brass bands, in hanging out costly banners,
in equppng uniformed companies, and III as
sembling great numbers of thom to produce
powerful spectacular effects. Suppose, on the
other hand, tho party had expended
| 81 .OOO. 900. beginning in Juno, in sending its
best Journals in each State to carefully prepared
lists of voters through tho whole campaign.
Nearly or quite one million of voters could have
been reached in this way and there IL very h'tle
room TO doubt that the Republican party wohld
have gained more votes particularly IN the
manufacturing districts, than it has gained by
| all its expenditure for torches and wind.
II would be waste of time to criticise the
nerformance in the past, were there not OPP
portunity to profit by the lessons OF experience
If the Republican party is to make sure its sue
cess at anv future time, it needs a change in its
methods and particularly change Ill the or
ganization by which campaign work Is con
| ducted. 1t ought to establish. not four years
hence, nor two years hence but now, perina'
pcnt clubs devoted to the discussion OF pubii'
questions, and particularly of the tarlit qucs
ton, to the circulation OF documents ano
papers and the education of the people, to the
establishment of regular and frequent meetings
where public questions may be discussed no
merely by orators brought from elsewhere bu
by the people themselves. Work OF TINS sor
will not be carried on by ordinary party organ
ization; clubs must be formed to take IL II
charge if the Republican party is to insure IT.
success hereafter.