Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1888-11-16
THE NATIONAL ELECTION.

sage to Congress last December Iis sup
poriers throughout the Northern States,
while appluuding his courage and feeling
that he had rendered the country great
service by presenting the country new
and living issue for parties TO divide upon,
felt also that lie had sacri6ced himself to
n principle, and that the first battle in the
issue he presented would inevitably be lost
Not even the most courageous of his follow.
ere dared at that time to think or hope tina,
lie would come as near victory as lie has
comc-,liat is 10 say, that he would fail Of
reelection by so small margin as is rep
resented by change Of perhaps 5000
votes IN the State OF New York. Readers
of The Evening Post are aware that we
have never been sanguine OF the result ;
although hopeful DUNG the last three
weeks, We have avoided making ''claims.'
We felt that the time allowed for over
throwing national superstition as deep
seated MS that Of protection was too short.
For, although the Mills bill was n very
moderate measure, and while the same
bill, If introduced and supported by the
Republicans, would have excited little
remark, il served 10 arouse all the fears
among the protected classes that n much
more radical measure wouli have done
In truth, the bill WAS more moderate than
the Recommendations of the Republican
Tariff Commission oi 1888; but since il
came from party whose traditions wert
opposed to protective tariffs, it answered
all the purposes of 6rebell TO arouse
every man who believed that his interests
were bound up in the tariff and all who
have been accustomed from infancy to
look upon the tariff as a national blessing
Well the frat battle has been lost by 8
narrow vote. What follows? The worlt
moves, either forward or backward; Il
does NOT stand still. The viciors in Tues
| days contest can no more stand still thar
the varquished. The responsibility fol
the national finances will, after the 4lh o.
March next, rest with the Republican
party. The surplus will stare Mr.. Har-
rison in the face, just as it now stares Mr.
Cleveland. 1t must be got rid Of, eithel
by reduced taxation or eztravagant appro-
priations. The smaIIpsss Of the Re-
publican majority forbids that the lattel
policy should be adopted. 1t will not be
safe 10 inaugurate system Of natiooa
prolgscy in order to empty the Treasuly y
AS little will it be safe 10 repeat the whis
key tax in order to maintain imposts OF
the necesaaries Of life. The masses hav
got mn inkling for the first time that tn
tariff 10 tax on consumption, and there
fore undue and unjhst burden upon labor
They are not likely to forget anything
that they have learned IN this campaign o
education.
The Republican leaders, those who il
former years have denounced the presen
exorbitunt taiif and tried to bSing It with
in the measure Of dccency, will now h
pu, TO II to stem the rising tide which call
for reform IN our system Oi national tax
ation-a tide whose impul.cs are not mn
felt in their own ranks. We will nu
anticipate the outbreak Of tariff reform il
Republican councils but We do not sc
how il c,n I've avoided. But whether
comes in that qunrtsr sooner or later, tl,I
great battle, on an entirely new Issue
which So narrowly escaped being victory
will 60 on. An audience has been secure
at last for the principle lhst every ma
has the right to the fuits Of his ow
labor without deduction for the recon-
pense Of the labor or capital Of other
Nobody who took part in this first skirm
isll will lay down his arms until victor
Is won.
Now that the smoke has cleared away
il is easy TO discern that the "blood
shirt" and all other issues growing out c
slavery aud the rebellion, have now beeI
oyermastered and swallowed up by sub
ject OF greater concern. This is n notabl
gain--lhe greatest, perhaps, that the cam
palgn now past has brought us. For a
, the ends of civil government in the larg
sense, he American people
Shall now, in mutual, well beseeming ranks,
{ II March all one way, and be no more oppos'd
Against acquaintance. kindred, aud allies.
They will differ as to policies OF taxatio
and administration, but they will have n
further nse for The fomsnters Vf sections
strife. The soreness Of defeat and the eI
pberance of victory will gradually b
0 smoothed away, aud in due time we cha
Q grid up our IONS for the next endeayor
| "a. an
cording to his convictions OF right.