Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-04-22
REPUBLICAN, REVIVAL.
Victory in Rhode Island SaddenS the
Hearts Of the AuxvumpS.

victory IN Rhode ksland Saddcue the
Hearts Of the Augwumps.
Victory in Rhode Island brings disgust -
the hearts Of mugwumps- The New York
Ismes with melancholy observes that 8 the
Prohibition vote was reduced sadly which
indicates that since Prohibitiouisss are
tired of being used as cheap tools by the
saloon-keepers, and that the great and
glorious reform" of the Cleveland varie-
", no longer promises free trade. II viii
be found, when it comes TO the final reckon
ing. tina. many sincere supporters OF Civil
Service reform are also tired OF being used
as cheap tools BY free traders. A healthy
decrease in the Prohibition and mugvump
vote is the natural result of enlghteling
experience. When men have voted for
reform" thereby turning the civil service
into Cleveland machine, and Prohibition
thereby making the State Government the
property of liquor-dealers, they are apt 70
discover that they have not bean sensible
Local causes might be assigned for this
victory If it were without parallel else
where. But sweeping Republican victory
II Hartford, and victories IN ether towns in
Connecticut, have already spoaged out the
slender plurality for Democratic reform -
in CONNECTICUT Similar victories N New
Jersey point il the same direction. Heavy
Democratic losses in Grand Rapids and
other Michigan towns, in Indianapolis and
other places in Indiana, and IN nearly eli The
cities of Ohio, darken Democratic hopes Of
recovering those States. Looking over the
whole Northern field, the observer sees no
State in which the Republican party does
not seem 10 have better prospect Of sue
cess than il had IN 1SSs or iSSo. Brave and
honest action by the Republicans on tho
liquor question Is one cause. Democratic
unreserved commitment to the free-tra6e
theories of President Cleveland's message
and the Mills bill is another.
II fs also al exceedingly significant fact,
says the New York 1rioHas, that Mr..
Blaines most bitter enemies are forced TO
admit his persoral popularity, especially
with the voters Of agricultural districts,
where the best and purest elements Of the
Republican party predominant. Admitting
that no State is calculated 70 furnish a
better illustration Of the general tendency
of feeling in the party than Vermont that
Its population is largely agricultural;
there are no large cities and few consider
able ones in the state; neither Federal nor
State patronage amounts to q controlling
element in its politics; and the party con-
ventions are probably as free as they can
be anywhere to represent fairly and fully
tho opinion Of the party" the mugwump
Times with disgust remarks: "a That this
feeling should be 50 clearly and euphat-
ically in favor of Mr.. Blaine Is certainly
strong proof that the theory is without
foundation which represents the Blaine
sentiment as limited, artificial and Of 10
practical force. 1t Is. Oh the contrary. OBJ
viously very general, for the most part
entirely sincere, and likely to endure 30
long as there is any chance OF its finding
expression in action" This confession that
the lima has been for years repeating
falsehoods about Mr.. Blaine and his Re
publican support is the moro interesting
because it Genes under the lash ofdefeat-
This state Of things occurs with Mr.. Blainc
out Of the field, as far as he has power 10
take himself out, and with his most active
friends bestirring themselves for other can
didates. They arc 20. united on any one,
and that is natural According to locality,
personal relations and their appreciation of
different political needs or tendencies, they
naturally look to different candidates as
their second choice. But the plain voters
who have the Republican principles at
heart, and are not yet convinced that Mr..
BIaines wish should be law for a great
National party, show no little disposition to
insist that the issue raised By Mr. Cleveland
calls for the nomination of the foremost
champion Of protection.