Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1886-11-12
ELECTION ECHOES.
The Closing In 81 the Hosts Of Pro-
lection and Tarlif Reform for
Final Battle.
How some Great Papers Discuss tho
Result aud tho Consequences
10 Follow.
rAnIrg nEronM " coxonrss.

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II appears TO us that some OF the
friends OF tariff reform are unduly dis
couraged by the results Of the late con-
gresaional elections, and too ready TO in
fer that nothing will be done for the re-
form of the tariff In the next congress.
The most important feature OF the cleo
lions, or at least the one that attracts the
most attention, is tho defeat OF Col. Nor
rlson ia Illirois aud the narrow escape
from defeat OF Mr. Carlisle In Kentucky
The latter mad nothing 20 do with
the views OF Mr.. Carlisle on the tariff and
was as nearly as any hing Ia politics can
be pure accident. The defeat OF Mr..
Morrison was mainly on the issue OF pro-
lection, but It is TO be noted, ia the FIRST
place, that his opponents had 70 take
candidate who WAS by no means repre-
sentative OF extreme protectlonism, and
IN the next place they had TO make use OF
tho Knights Of Labor organization In the
district, which was Influenced only indi-
rectly, II at all, by the tariff views Of
Col. Morrison. Had the gentlemen
Of the Iron and Steel ASSOCIATION chosen
% speed enough money, and had they
worked a. Ehrewdly and unscrnpulously
with the labor vote, they might have de-
feated Mr. Cox In this city or Mr. Bel
mont on Long Island. They concentrated
their efforts on Mr.. Morrison aud accom-
pllshed their purpose. They were aided,
moreover, by some pecullariiies In Mr..
Morrison's own record 10 which we have
alluded elsewhere.
More significant, though less con.
spicuous, Il the Democratic loss In Vlr-
gnla and the tendency shown very gener-
ally by Democratic candidates Ike
Vance, in the First Connecticut district,
10 court the protectionist vote. But
these indications are very much more
than Offset by the victories won by the
revenue reformers In Massachusetts,
where the Issue was definitely made.
And in these Easte contests 10 is to DO
noted that the protection "humbug,n as
Henry George calls IT., did not have the
strength IL was supposed TO have among
the wOrkingmen Of the fac
tory towns. On the contrary,
whenever the question was
ooldly and clearly argued before them
voters Of this class showed no special In
clnation toward protection. In the
Northwest In Minnesota aud Nebraska,
where the Democrats have made gains,
II Is worthy Of attention that the Repub-
llcan candidates were either revenue re-
formers, so that the Issue was not raised
at all, or that where It was mlsed the pro-
tectlonlsts Aad the worst 81 H. 10 IL,
therefore, perfectly ieasonable Inference
that so far as the next congress Is in
1uenced by public opinion as to the re-
form OF the tariff, IL will be inclined more
toward reform than the present congress
has been,
But there is another fact that must be
borne IN mind, which Is that 1t Ia now
almost certain that there Will be large
surplus that cannot be used in reduction
OF the debt, and that can be avoided only
by reduction of taxation. This may,
and we believe will, have a great influ.
ence with public opinion. The people
OF the United States arc not given TO
voting on abstract issues. They never
have done II, save Ia the case OF
the Limitation OF slavery, and that
was an exception more ap-
parent than real They have too much OF
the English political temper to be seduced
into regulating their political action by
ideal or by sentimental considerations
But when that action Is called out by
matters OF direct practical interest, 1t is
apt to be very energetic, and, for the pur-
pose Involved, very effective. n the PEG.
pie come TO a realization OF the fact that
money is being Ia en- out OF their pockets
-sfl''lsFss1'frss6od USE wiiIch must either be
squandered In extravaganza appro-
prlauons or heaped up in the treasury,
they will take prompt measures 10 see
that taxation Is reduced Ana when It
comes TO a question whether taxes shall
be taken of from liquors and tobacco, or
from the materials OF manufacture, the
choice will not be doubtful or long de-
layed IL the case shall no nreaantad ,n