The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1888-10-30
THE DOUBTFUL STATES
WHEREIN THE PRESIDENTIAL BAT
TIE is TO BE FOUGHT.

dence to The CoNsTITUTIoN-The fire of po-
litical warfare is now at white heat!
1t Is impossible for one used to the quiet
methods of southern politics to conceive of the
fury of partisanship which RACES this side of
the Ohio, or to gauge the depths to which pol
tticians will descend to accomplish their pur-
poses. While neither political party can be
wholly acquitted of resorting to modern
methods, yet it must be said that for sheer
desperation and disregard Of every previous
limit, the republicans are entitled to the cham
pion's belt.
+ Whether the next president shall be Cleve-
land or Harrison is fast resolving itself within
easily ascertained territory. That the 1913 votes
of the south will be for Cleveland is not
doubted by anybody. The impression now
prevails here that New York's 36 votes will
also go to Cleveland as well as the nine votes
of New Jersey. This would give Mr.. Glove
land 1913 of the necessary POI votes which would
ensure his election. The other three could be
furnished by Connecticut, but somehow the
impression throughout the northwest is that
she little nutmeg state, which is nothing more
than mere pocket borough, will be turned
over by the protection capitalists who flourish
there to Mr. Harrison. 1t is pointed out also
that the republican sentiment of Connecticut
is aroused that 1t is about the only state in the
union in which Yeneration has been evoked for
the old hat of Grandfather Harrison, and that,
as consequence, full vote will be polled,
which will be to the interest of the Indianapo-
lis fgure-head of Mr.. Blaine.
This, then, deyolyes upon the democrats of
She northwest and the Pacific states the neces-
eity of saving the election 10 Mr.. Cleveland.
Oregon has given democratic majorities IN sew
eral elections, but the tide of immigration for
ten years past has been from the republican
states. This is evidenced by the elections held
In recent years. which have disclosed increas-
ing and solid republican majorities. Oregon,
then, nigntas well be dismissed unless, in
deed, the historic nose of the late Mr.. Cronin
should be obtruded with better results. The
agitation of the Chinese question has been re-
lied on to throw California into the democratic
column. That hope, ! believe, to be without
foundation. The solid business interests of
California are welded in republicanism.
The state is filed with feder-
al pensioners who are more concerned about
President Clevelands vetoes of pension bills
than they are about his signature to the ex-
clusion act. They claim, whether justly OR
not, is immaterial now, that they had equal
part with the democrats in bringing about
adverse Chinese legislation. In fact, the re-
publicans are so honey-combed into every in
terest in California that nothing short of q
miracle could heave it ont of its republican
base. What is true of California is equally
true OF the other new states across the CONT
nent. There will be hard fights for seats in
congress and local offices. If q bonanza king
wants a floating senatorship he can purchase
1T in oDen market, but the electoral votes win
go to Harrison and Morton.
In the Old Northwest
This brings us back then to the old North
west territory, of which Mr.. Harrson's grand
father was the first governor, and which he
secured to to civilization by the victory of
Tippecanoe. It might not be historic justice
TO defeat the republican candidate in a land
which is bound to him by tradition,
but politicians cannot be concerned in such
small matters of sentiment Here, in the
northwest, the battle Of democracy against re-
publicanism must be lost Or won, and as the
votes are counted out on the night of the 9th
of November in these states, SO must the result
stand.
What then, are the prospects here?
First, an impression now widespread must
be removed That impression is that the
people are going to vote on the question of
tariff reform. 1t is true that the speakers of
both parties make the tariff Issue the burden
of their songs; but from my conversations
with the ordinary run of people, those whose
votes will pile up the majorities in the ballot
box, I am convinced that the whole
question of the tariff is being used
by the republicans as blind under
which to carry on the old fight
against the democracy of history. The repub-
licans and those who believe with them will
vote the republican ticket regardless of whe
is the candidate or what kind Of timber
there is in the platform. In the words of their
rural orators, they are going to ."vote as they
shot" Meetings are held in the larger cities,
darR ou4o n
keep the enthusiasts quiet, but if you want to
get at the spirit of the present campaign go to
the small towns, where the people, unin-
structed by ringleaders, express their opinions
boldly. There will be heard the old-time
abuse of 'rebels," wholesale denunciation of
the south, are enough to convince any sane
man.that the millennium is by no means near
at hand. Indeed, there is no need of going be-
Sond Cincinnati to find proof of this fact
The bitter and proscriptive policy Of the Com
mercial Gazette is well-known throughout the
south. The malignant utterances of that pa
per toward the south finds Endorsement in an
abundant subscription list, and its editor
Murat Halstead, is an hOnored counsellor of
Mfr Harrison. The Inter-Ocean, of Chicago
is another sample of the republeanism which
the democrats have to fear. Even its news
columns are subjected to the partisan twist
For instance, in giving an account Of demo-
cratic meeting in an adjoining town, it was
stated that sex-Rebel Br. Brooks spoke" etc
All this is stated for the purpose of present.
fng the true issue to the readers of The Con-
sTITUTIoN. Those Of them who imagine that
o generation of political angels, minus the
wings, have grown up in the north, and that
they are going to turn the government over
to the democracy out Of sheer good will, are
doomed to disappointment The burden Of
the baltic will have TO be borne by the old
time Jeffersonian democrats, aud the only
converts who win do any good will be the
young men who have honestly brought them
selves up to the Jefersonian standard. This
fact is abundantly proved by tho receptions
accorded TO Judge Thurman wherever he
goes. The men IN Indiana who shouted them
selves hoarse over the old Roman were the
same men who have fought radcalism in all
of its strongholds, from the days OF Oliver P
Morton to the present. J was the wool hat
boys who made the weikin ring, and who
turned out to greet Judge Thurman as one