New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-10-01
EATER. THE bULE-BUYER.


E,TER THE bULEBUTER.
Mr. Barnum comes to the front. He takes
the place of Mr. Brice the squeezed orange
millionaire, and the campaign of INTELLECT
gives place to the campaign Of corruption.
Ex-senator Barnum has never carried an cleo
ton or obtained an office, except through the
agency of fraud or corruption. He became no
torious by his use of money In Connecticut
campaigns. Experience proved that when Mr..
Barnum was interested the floating vote of the
State was sure to be bought, and the machinery
of fraud hired to do its work in behalf of Mr..
Barnum's party This alone constituted Mr..
Barnum's claim to Democratic gratitude and
preferment. He never did anything else, in
State or Nation, to command public notice o.
Democratic confidence. He was not speech
maker; effective arguments of the intellectual
sort never were contributed to contest by
him, and he never distinguished himself b.
proposing or effectively advocating any meas
ure of public importance. But with Barnum
as candidate or manager, the Democratic
party learned that il could be sure that all the
resources of fraud and corruption would be
employed in its behalf. The MOrey forgery OF
1880 and the Indiana frauds Of 1884, with
vote-buyng to order, made Mr. Barnum the
most successful leader Of the Democratic party.
His return to the front is confession and
a warning. II is a confession that the crusade
for free trade has brought Mr.. Cleveland's
party to a desperate pass. For Mr. Barnum
was shut out from the practical management OF
necessity, as well as by Mr. Ceveland's desire,
when it was hoped the free-trade crusade and
the campaign Of intellect would win. He is
called back, and Mr. Brice practically relieved
from the responsibilities of management be-
cause it is found that victory cannot be Sc
cured except by some swindle like the Morey
forgery. or by mule-buying' after Mr. Bar
nuns method.
Republicans know what they have to fear,
ard the charge in Democratic management
comes in time to warn them. There will be
elaborate professions of poverty in Democratic
committee rooms from this time forward. That
is for the purpose Of putting Republicans of
their guard and still more for the purpose OF
stopping the " distribution of the surplus in
the Democratic treasury to the loafers and
leeches of the campaign. Conservation Of
energv' until the last week is Mr.. Barnum's
financial policy, and he knows how to make
a pile of money do all that can be done by
money lust at the close Of a contest. If any
body thinks the Democratic campaign is going
to suffer for lack of funds. let him read Sen
ator Arnolds letter on trusts and Democratic
treatment of them. These combinations would
put up large sums in order to prevett Mr..
Cleyeland's defeat and the liquor-dea ers would
give largely to defeat the Republican party.
But Of all sources of revenue the greatest is
the anxiety of foreign importers foreign man.
ufacturers, and their agents and instruments
here, to break down the protective tariff. These
men could well AFFORD to pay millions for the
results of the Mills bill in operation single
year. Indeed. if there were no chance of any
change of tariff, they could afford to pay mill
ions in order to insure for four years more
continuance of Treasury rulings, by which do
nestle industries are crippled and foreign in
terests favored The differentiation of inn
ports probably exceeds S70,000,000 yearly.
If so, the duties evaded by fraud exceed
$50, 900. 600, and this enormous sum goes into
the pockets of men who are laboiing for free
trade and for Cleveland. What wonder if they
give La gely?
1t will be folly for Republicans to forget that
a vast corruption fund will be used with eX-
psrienced skill against them in New-Yor
Brooklyn, Jersey City, Newark, New-Iaven
Hartford Indianapolis, and other cities in
close States, when the election comes. Let
there be no further false reliance upon sup
posed Democratic lack of funds or excess of
honor. If any forgery or fraud is possible to
defeat the Republican party il will be attempt
ed Incessant watchfulness is necessary and
the people everywhere need to be warned
against redting the forged documents or
false statements that are to be expected with
Mr.. Barnum at the front.