New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-06-28

now TO WIN.


eoht and toy whom How to fight they have
not vet considered. But the methods 10 os
adopted in the coming campaign may oe'ef-
mine the result. A. hurrah campaign some-
times wins. This year, the Republican party
needs to depend upon facts and reasons. Thefe
must he argument at the beginning, argument
in the middle, ard argument to the end OF
the campaign, If the right is TO prevail
"Tippecanoe and Tariff too'' has more mean
ing in il than Tippecanoe and Tyler too only
the voters need to know what the Tariff means
what il does for them, and what Democratic
victory would involve. -,
The one danger this year is that there VIII
be too much reliance upon enthusiasm, brass
bands torches, and unlimited shouting. Inc
West will go wild with excitement Politlcal
managers who have been accustomed to appeal
To popular instincts and loyal sentiments, IN
stead of well fortified beliefs on economic and
industrial questions will be constantly
tempted to utilize the growing enthusiasm as
the readest weapon and to neglect the dry
duty of public education. Let the Republican
managers take warning early that this would
be a fatal mistake. A great many thousand
voters are going to be shifted this year from
one party to the other, on account OF issues
which have not been as sharply presented
hitherto. 1t rests with the Republican party
to determine whether the shifting shall turn
for or against its candidates.
Living under Il protective tariff for twenty
seven years, the present generation OF voters
has never closely considered the nature or
workings Of that tariff. Habit has led many
to rely upon the growth and prosperity OF the
Nation as fundamental fact of nature, az
certain as the procession of the seasons, and as
independent of political campaigns.
Others again have heard for a generation
that "war taxes were retained beyond the
necessity for them, and have vaguely accepted
the notion that the protective .arff was such
a tax and should be reduced. Others still,
brought up to believe in protection, have found
their desires growing faster than their wages,
and have listened to demagogIes who have told
them that cheaper things could be had
if the monopoly tariff could be cut down.
Others still have heard that their industries
would prosper with free raw materials, and
that genuine protection would give them
cheaper materials, cheaper food and clothing,
and wider foreign markets.
For the first time in more than forty years
the Democratic party has set itself to appeal
to the Judgment of voters. IL is not altogether
honest in stating the issue The changes
which il advocates in New York as essentially
protective are precisely the changes which it
advocates in Kentucky as essential steps toward
free trade. Voters who see the contradiction
are appeased with the pretence that Mr.. Gar
field and other Republicans have favored pro-
lection only as the short road to free trade, and
that the time has come to take another step
on that road. 1t will not do to treat these
specous arguments with contempt. The num-
Der of voters who may be led astray by them,
if they arc not met by solid facts and sound
reasoning, is very large.
The Republican party is perfectly ahlo TO
justify Its pas, policy, its present platform, and
its plans for the future. 1t has behind it a
record OF industrial progress snch as 70 other
nation has ever achieved, and such as this
Nation has never achieved under any other
policy. 1t can crush and bury all opposition
if it takes care to bring the facts of recent his
tory to bear upon the minds of voters. But
1t cannot convince those minds by shouting,
by brass bands, or by torchlight professions
The voters need information and the danger
is that managers will offer them enthusiasm
instead There are needed this year millions
of tracts, millions of effective speeches
crowded with facts millions of school
district meetings at which voters may
be educated The truth will win, if men
take the trouble to present the truth. But the
truth will not win if 1t gets expression only
in the flare of torches and the blare of
trumpets