South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1888-11-23
The Presidential Election.

Assuming that the contest for the
presidency has been concluded by the
election Of Mr.. Harrison, il is in order
now for our people to dismiss poll
tics from their minds, together with
the excitement and sense Of disap-
pointment with which 30 unexpected
result Is naturally received. Might
have beans are prove bia ly unpro6 a.
bic subjects OF contemplation. The
| better way is 10 ,ccept an accomplish.
sd fact vito good grace and turn TO
accustomed avocstibns. -Four years
hence ,hero will be an opportunity
for the defeated party 10 reverse the
result OF Tuesdays voting, and in
view Of the imprac.icEbility and un-
wisdom OF the policy TO which The re.
publican party is committed, tie OPP
p ,rtunity promises to he nm eminent.
iy favorable QUE. Bad economic ends,
bad methods and bad leadership are
almost sure within four years to pro-
duce multitude OF party blunders,
unpopularity and consequent disas.
ter. Meanwhile it 10 the duty Of the
citizen to entertain the best possible
wishes f1r the prosperity OF tile coun-
try under the government it has. and
to use his best endeavors to promote
tn at desirable end. At the same time
he may find ii instructive to ascertain
and estimate at their true value the
factors OF Mr.. Harrison's victory.
Among the various causes Of Mr.
| Clevelands defeat tho most promi-
nent and potent, perhaps. was the
enormous and unprecedented cam
paign fund at Mr.. Qday's disposal.
With this Mr.. Quay brought she or
ganizstion of his party to state OF
the utmost perfection in the doubtful
States, making gains for his candidate
where he was already strong. and de.
taching votes from Sir. Cleveland in
localities where his candidate was
weak. Money is factor In politics
as In other human affairs, aud a grekt
deal of it may he counted upon TO
produce q great effect. Intimidation
Of employees in several Northern
States by psrssns interested in the
retention OF the existing scale of tariff
taxes also, it may be supposed, played
part. Manufacturers, under the i'm .
preston that a z per cent. reduction
of the tariff means free trade, ald that
| free trade means ruin, would very
naturally try to exert, directly or in>
directly, a considerable pressure up
on their workmen. Many of the lat
ter hal, no DOUBT, been reached by
the tariff literature scattered throuxh
the country by the democratic mana =
gers, and some had been convinced.
This is evidenced by the large vote
received by Mr.. Cleveland ia Connec-
ticut, New Jersey and other States
wbere manufacturing constitu ties the
chef employment and interest Of the
people. But intimidation cannotEbe
met aud overcome by argument. liz
mid voters will cast their ballots as
directed, when they see that the fail.
ure to do so wi be followed by loss
OF work. Both OF tue causes here
mentioned operated largely in Now
York, tie pivotal State. They wero
greatly assisted, however. Ivy tie fac
ton fights Nnl petty local interests of
the New York city democracy. IT is
not improbable that Mr.. Cleveland
would have received in New York
city a majority sufficient TO over.
come the republican majority ia the
State outsids the city had the city
democrats been united. They would
have been unitei, perhaps, but for
the obsioacy Of Mr.. Hewitt, who in
sisted upon being a candidate Tor the
mayOralIy. Ills nomination., there
upon, by the County Democrats made
the opportunity for trading which he
republican managers desired, and Er,
hardt was no minated as the republic
can candidate for mayor. Thus the
battle was ,in q, and it is PLAIN on
he face Of the returns that Mr.. Cleve
and was sacrificed 10 meet the ext.