Smyrna times., 1888-07-04
The Mugwump Vote.

The New York Republicans are not |
surprised by the fact that so few of
the Independents who bOlted Blaine /
in 1884 for personal reasons return to
the party now that Harrison, against
whom no personal objections are rails
ed, has been nominated. They have
all along cOntended that their Outcry
against Blaine was merely to hide the
real motives for their support of
Overwhelmingly, their desire for
free trade. All the leading Mugwump
papers, the Times, the Post and Hdr-
per's Weekly and all the leading Mug
wump citizens who supported Cleve-
land in 1884, announce their intention
to do so again in 1888. 1t is not ques-
ton now of men, but of platforms, but
their continued support of Cleveland
gives Blaine men an opportunity to
charge their attacks on Mr.. Blaine in
1884 were caused by a desire to des-
troy the leading advocate of protection.
A very few Independents, it is true,
are returning to their old party allie
glance, but the mass of the Indepen-
dent vote, it seems, is to be cast for
Cleveland, as before. The importance
of this vote is readily understood when
it is remembered that but for it Cleve-
land would have been defeated four
years ago, as Mr.. Blaine polled a big
Irish vote 1t is question whether
this Irish vote will be cast for Harrison.
Mr.. Blaine may endeavor to transfer it
bodily to him, but if he does not sue
ceed the full force of the Independent
vote will be felt by the Republican
| party. The fact, however, that the In
/ dependents have now frankly avOwed
/ themselves to be Free Traders will
very likely diminish the influence
which they possessed as boilers against
what they termed a corrupt candidate.
The Republicans, however, can this
year, by carrying Indiana and Connec-
ticut, afford to lose New York, and it
is in this state that the MugWump
movement is strongest. Ex-senator
Miller, in Il speech at Chicago a night
or two ago, made very significant ut
terance, to the effect that on the Thurs
day before the election of 1884 he sent
a special messenger to the National
Committee in New York to say that he
had visited every county in the State,
and that the result in New York would
be so close that no human being could
tell what the result was, and that if the
National Committee wanted to be sure
and positive Of Mr. Blaine's election
they must carry Indiana and New Jer-
sey without any failure. The National
Committee thought, at that time, that
he knew very little about it. They
sal that they had all the votes they
wanted in New York and were sure Ot
it beyond any qustiOn, and the party
, was beaten because his advice had not
, been received. The lesson which Mr.
Miller sought to impress on his hearer:
is plain. There must be no repetition
of this mistake this year While ar
effort will undoubtedly be made tC
carry New York, there is no question
that the Republicans will throw thei1
best energies into Indiana and COnnec
ticut or New Jersey, which, with the
States counted as surely Republican
q would give them majority of tht
: Electoral vote.
: ~
e The Republicans hereabout are tax
i ing special pains to call the attention O
$ their Democratic acquaintance to tn
s striking political parallelism betweel
a 1910 and 1883. Only two citizens G
}, New York have been elected Presiden
d of United States Martin Van Bure
and Grover Cleveland. Two Others
= Fillmore and Arthur, having bee
. elected Vice Presidents, serve
: as Presidents after the deaf
e of Taylor and Garfield. Bot
5, Van Buren, and Cleveland were Demo
e. Gratis. Both were unanimously renon
Is mated. Both ran against a Wing {
It Republican candidate whose name wa
* Harrison. Van Buren was defeate
re by William Henry Harrison. Will tt
d parallelism be made complete
u Cleveland's defeat by William Hem
70 HarrisOn's grandson, Benjamin Harr
a son? The AGamses, of Massachusett
Y. the Bayards, of Delaware, the Came
i, Ons, Pennsylvania, and the Harrison
t. of Ohio, and Indiana, are the only fan
ID lilies in American history that hay
ne maintained a continuous prOminenC
st in politics, through three or four gene
X ations. -NelU York Correspondent
ne Philadelphia Ledger.