New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-05-07
RRAGGIXG IND UORk.

The cacquers of the Administration are
making a great din over the prospects of the
Presidential canvass. The rumbling BASES OF
the Bourbon Democrats and the shiill trebles
of the Mugwump seceders swell the chorus OF
premature triumph over the battle which IL
still to be fought. Dragging goes long way
in Democratic politics, and there is great
demonstration of noisy exultation all along the
line. President Cleveland, as the country was
informed with the same ELUSIVE confidence
which was displayed in the early stages of the
campaign Of 1884, is destined to sweep the
country and to bury the Republican party out
of sight. Not only will he carry with largely
increased majorities, say these Boosters the five
Northern States which were Democratic then,
but he will also capture such Republican
strongholds as Massachusetts, Rhode Island
Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota. " 1t will
be an avalanche this time - exclaim these
political braggars in an ecstacy OF delight
They have forgotten that in 1884 it was to be
IAN avalanche also, and that their candidate
was disastrously beaten a week before the
election and only carried into the White House
by series of trivial accidents at the last
moment and the turning of five or six hundred
votes. The confidence game in politics is in
keeping, however, with the general manage
ment of party whose workers are largely
recruited from the bar-rooms and criminal
haunts Of the Nation.
As the Democrats have selected their candi-
date in advance of their convention, they have
leisure for trumpeting of this nature The
Republican party on the other hand is quietly
organizing for victory without knowing deli
nitely who the leader will be. The campaign
was virtually opened last year when the Ma
tonal League was formed by representatives
Of working clubs throughout the Nation. State
League after State League has since been
organized and great impetus has been given
to the cause of Republicanism Thousands
upon thousands of young men who have never
4oted in a Presidential year have been at
tracted by the active work Of the Republican
League in the Northern States. This work IS
going on without reference to the canvass for
the Presidential nomination and is one OF the
surest indications of the approaching triumph
of Republican principles. When the conyen-
ton meets the party will be in better condition
for an active campaign than it has been for
many wears. Not only will there be harmony,
enthusiasm and enlightened party spirit in the
National councils, but thousands of volunteer
time onored standards Of progressive Rcpub-
lcanism let the leader be who he may. While
the Democrats are Boosting, the Republicans
are industrously working and can well a1ord
to be satisfied with the situation.
| Ardor on the Republican side, moreover, Is
stimulated by the reflection that there Is TO be
this year battle for principles. In 1854 the
Democratic candidate was without record on
National questions, and with the exception OF
few guarded and equivocal remarks in speech
at Newark he serupulously avoided committing
himself on the subject of the tariff. On the
Republican side protection was made the COM
handing issue OF the canvass The democrats
advocated free trade where it was safe Tor them
to do so and protection where discrimination
was necessary. 1t was a skulking campaign.
It cannot be repeated this year. There must
now be fight in the open. President Cleve-
land is known to-day as the leader of the free
trade column. He will appeal to the country
| for reelection on the ground OF his last mes
sage, his pretensions as Civil Service ne
former having been abandoned in the face OF
his actual record for partisanship. The issue
this year cannot be misrepresented OF ignored
by Democratic partsans. The election will in
volve the triumph either Of English or oil Amer
lean industries. The Republican party is in
vigorated by this prospect of battle for princ-
pies in which il will have the sympathy and
support of the industrial interests of the Nation
and of the great army Of American working
men. With leader who represents what is
characteristic of American civilization and
progress, that party cannot be defeated in the
Presidential conflict
|