The state chronicle. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1883-1893, 1888-11-02
A CAMPAIGN STUDY.
HOW THE POLITICAL STRUGGLE
HAS CHANGED AS 1T CLOSES.

The Republican Cry OF Early Summer
Does Not Ring Out in the Cool Winds
of the Fall.
The character of the political struggle
changes AS it draws toward close. The
citizen who stands to-day i'll doubt as to
the proper disposition of his vote can not
find more instructive study than the
course of this campaign from June to No
vember. If a review of its development
does not teach him something of the moral
questions involved, he is dull citizen, in
deed Let us glance over this field of in
vestiga1ion, and find what four months
have done toward shaping the course of
the country. Let US find out what the
Republicans had to say for themselves in
June, and what they have to say for them
selves now 1t US look at the fight they
have made, and the f. ht they are making,
and see for ourselves what they have to
fight for
We can all remember what they had to
say for them elves in June. Mr.. Cleve
land was sure to be defeated, because he
had sent a message to Congress advocat-
ing Tariff Reform. He was sure to be de
feated, because he had proclaimed himself
an enemy of the veteran soldier by veto
ing pension bills. He was sure to be de
feated, because his election would mean
injury to the business interests of the
country. He was sure TO be defeated, be-
cause he had divided his party, and had
set himself against many of its influential
men. His failure was predicted from this,
that and the other cause; and no kepubli
can troubled himself to say whether it was
right aud Just that such causes should in
fuence the action of voters. All that the
supporters of Mr.. Harrison had to say for
themselves was that Mr. Cleveland would
be defeated. for such and such reasons.
They did not trouble themselves to say
WHY he should be defeated for such rea-
sons They met the issue presented to the
people very much as they met another is
going to elect Blaine" They did not say
tnat th Y We're going 10 elect Blaine be
cause be was honest and Cleveland dis
honest; because he was capable and tleve
land incapable; because he would serve
the country, while Cleveland would not
serve the country. Their main argument
if you choose to call it an argument
was that they would elect Blaine, because
why: y:-because they were in a majority.
Their tactics in June of 1888 We're we'll
nigh the same. Mr.. Cleveland was to be
defeated at the polls because he had made
himself unpopular by taking his own posi-
ton on certain questions. They did not
discuss the questions; they did pot stop to
ask Mr.. Clevciand's position was right or
wrong They showed no higher idea of
National politics than the conception of
the brute force of a majority. "He has
rendered himself unpopular in certain di-
rections: therefore We can defeat him
this was their one cry. Not one of them
not one of the leaders, we mean-had
the courage or the patriotism to ask
"OUGHT WE To DEFEAT HIM. I'VE can
and we will that was their one cry: and
patriotism, honor, honesty and common
sense had to go to the wall
Well, how has that cry lasted through
summer. It was shouted from the house
tops in June aud July. The harvests are
gathered, and the cool winds of the Fall
blow over the land, chilling that noisy
enthusiasm which is nourshed solely on
it, own wind Where is the cry of early
summer! Does it ring out clear and
strong over the stubble fields of October?
No. A great many cries have taken its
place, but the cry of a triumphant major
ty is heard only at the end of the cam
paign orators speech; and the speech it
self is pitched in very different key
Mr.. Cleveland. it seems, is not to be de-
feated because he has recommended q re-
form Of the taritf-not, at least, until it
can be made to appear that reform of
the tariff is not necessary. He is not to
be defeated because he is an enemy of the
until it is proved that detecting dishon
est claimants for pensions is a wrong to
the honest claimants. He is not to be de-
feated because his election would hurt the
business OF the country-not until the
business men of the country have some
reason to believe that their interests are
in danger. He is not to be defeated be-
cause he has made enemies-not while it
is clear that those enemies are only the
enemies which an honest man should
make. And i'll every one of these in
stances, the burden of proof rests on the
Republicans. and they have been trying
to shoulder it all summer long.
For years and years they have traded
on the fiction that high protection tariff
is holy thing, not to be disturbed by
profane hands or discussed by profane
minds Now they have to come out and
try to explain to an awakened people how
| it is possible to overtax the entire public
for the benefit of few producers without
wronging the men who pay and who re-
ceive nothing. For years they have used
the pension fund as a corruption fund
Now they have to face the people ard find
a reason for their hasty condemnation oi
a President who, allowing more pensions
than were ever approved 10y any of bis
predecessors, has yet the courage to cor
rect the careless legislation that grants
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