New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-06-24
THE OPPORTUNITY.

When Mr. Depew, in his manly, magnani-
nous and every way characteristic little speech,
stated to the Republican Convention reason
for withdrawing his NAME he sounded the key
note of the purpose which animates the Repub-
Hcan Convention and party. State interest,
personal ambition, individual preferences, he
declared, must not make it possible to obscure
the main issue on which the Republican party
has a right to ask and expect victory. Any
candidate whose nomination would have that
tendency ought to be set aside. There IS no
occasion to apply that rule to the various can
didates who were proposed; the Convention
was engaged in applying it yesterday The
Republican party has needed and has earnestly
sought a candidate whose nomination Will
make the main issue between parties as sharp
and distinct as possible.
At several successive sessions Of Congress
about fifth of the entire Democratic vote
in the House has been cast against free-trade
bills. Differing in form and details, these bills
have had one purpose. to break down the pro-
tectivc tariff. Mr.. Randall and his followers
have represented larger proportion OF Dem
ocratic votes than the proportion they have
cast in the House. The reason will be readily
seen; in Northern States, especially where the
protective sentiment is strongest, the repre-
sentatives elected in most districts have been
Republicans In such districts the Democratic
minorities, though by no means unanimous,
are strongly in favor of the protective policy.
Fully half of the aggregate Democratic vote
is found in Republican States, and therefore
it is probable that much more than fifth OF
the entire vote favors the protective policy
Out Of total Democratic vote of five mill
ions, therefore, al least one million voters agree
with the Republican policy on the question
which President Cleveland has chosen to make
the vital issue of this contest. The Repub-
lican party has accepted his challenge in its
platform. Other questions are touched in the
platforms Of both parties, but both desire
verdict Of the people on the tariff question, and
it is to all industries and political interests
of the highest importance that such verdict
should be obtained, Mr.. Depew is right; the
issue ought not to be obscured by any other,
or by any personal consideration. The Dem
ocratic pity believes that the people Will sup
port its endeavOr radically to change the tariff.
IL that is proved to be mistake, the country
will be relieved at last from the recurrence OF
tariff agitation every winter, and the politics
of the Nation will be freed from the degrading
influence Of dishonest trickery on that issue
and from the debauching power of foreign
capital in its elections
1t is not to be expected that million voters
will separate from the Democratic party on
the tariff issue. Many of them are in States
and districts in which change of votes will
seem TO make no difference with the result.
Many will feel that it is necessary on account
Of other questions and interests, to hold the
Democratic party together, while sincerely de-
string its defeat and consequent change in
its purpose. But the change Of half, or even
a quarter, of the Democratic voters who believe
in and desire to maintain the protective sys-
tenn would make the Republican victory so
decisive that the tariff question would be
settled for generation The settlement OF
the question, by deliberate and intelligent
decision of the people, is the one object to
which in this contest every other should be
subordinated. Thanks To President Cleveland