New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-03-07
THE DEMOCRATIC THEORY.

The protests against the Dark Lantern Tariff
bill will make no difference with the plans OF
its chief supporters, Their objects are purely
political Whether the bill would help or
hurt industries if passed, they do not care
Neither do they much care whether it will help
or hurt their party outside of certain localities
To them it is only question of tactics. If the
party can get free-trade support enough t0
carry New-York, New-Jersey and Connecticut,
or New-York and two Northwestern States
holding the South, it can win. To force the
party to make that sort Of fight, and to nom
inate Mr. Cleveland as the only practicable
candidate for that sort of fight, is the object to
which the Free Traders are ready to sacrifice
votes and possibilities elsewhere.
The glass workers protest. and that industry
is represented In New-Jerscy. The eaIthen-
ware duties affect more voters in that State than
in any other. But Mr.. Clevcland's friends
have been convinced that the position of the
Republican party on the temperance question
has made New Jersey surely Democratic this
year; that all the manufacturers and working
men who may be influenced by the threatened
injury to industries of that State will count for
less than the wrath of the opponents of temper
ance legislation. 1t is part of the same calcula-
ton that the New-Jcrsey Prohibtionists
tinue to help the Democratic party to tho
full extent of their power. Belief that temper
ance men are more anxious to defeat or punish
temperance legislation than to defend their in
dustries and that liquor sellers and their GUS
toners are also more anxious to defeat or
punish the same temperance legislation than to
defend the industries of their State. is the cause
of Democratic indifference to all protests from
New-Jersey.
There Is the Same reasoning about New York
But in this State 1t is held that Free Traders
have strength enough to insure Mr.. Cleveland
plurality, in spite of any losses that may result
from threatened injury to iron, woolen, knit
goods. salt and farming industries. The cleo
ton Of last year Is accounted conclusive proof
that this State can be carried for free trade,
with the aid of Prohibitonists, by much
larger plurality than IL obtained in 1884. when
Mr. Cleveland's position as to the tariff was
unknown. 1t is needless to repeat that last
years election had no such meaning the Demo-
Gratis give it that Interpretation, as it was pre-
dlcted they would They count largely, too,
upon the great power Of the public service,
machine. At the same time they believe that
profound faith in Mr.. Cleveland as a great le-
former will secure for him the votes of indie
pcndents who have followed Mr.. Curtis.
The Democratic calculation Is that Mime
sota with its ,eanings toward free trade. can
be carried if the party adopts unrcservedly MIR.
Clcveland's position on the tariff. With the
same influence, and with the control of patron
age In Wisconsin by Mr.. Villas and in Michigan
by Mr.. Dickinson, it is hoped that one or both
of these States may be won. The trainers Of
the Mills Tariff bill were not sufficiently well
informed to see that its repeal of duties on
farm products would hurt them In States near
the Canada border. The SALT iron and lumber
interests they have been in the habit of treat
ing with contempt for years past. appealing in
Michigan to the prejudice Of ignorant voters
against monopolies and millionaires. 1t Is sup
posed that the party must be much stronger
now, with carefully organized patronage and
q supposed free-trade sentiment to help, than
it was In 1884, when the plurality for MIR.
Blaine In Michigan was only $500.
Such are the Democratic calculations, 1t is
only necessary to add that the belief that Mr.
Blaine would not be q candidate has largely
Influenced Democratic action and estimates.
Against any other REPUBLICAN candidate they
think their chances In Minnesota and other
Northwestern States particularly good, while
In this region the party will not be exposed,
they reason, 10 any serious detection of Irish
voters. With different candidate. they also
think, their chances In the Pacific States are
not to be despised.
II the frec-trade wing OF the Democratic
party can force the issue and elect its candidate
this year it will then be in position to fight for
a real and sweeping change Of the tariff The
bill proposed Is what Mr.. Dorshemcr would
call "a first firm step toward free trade"
That It would be. If the people should justify
Jlamocratic calculatiOns