New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-10-30
THE SITUATION.

One week from to-day the voting will de-
termne the history of the country for some
years-perhaps for many years. The Demo-
Gratis enter upon the last week of the campaign
with another proclamation of buster. The
monster demonstration, which was expected to
show that in three cities of 100000 in
habitants at least $1,000 were willing to march
in honor of President Cleveland and to be re-
viewed by him. had according to 1.-The
Worlds" count, about 200 persons IN line,
that is, SIX in 1000. Lest the Democratic
heart should fail, proclamation that the
State is sure' now comes from Democratic Ma
tional Headquarters. Yet the most innocent
and ignorant Democrat in the State has sense
enough to estimate the bluff at it's true value.
Chinese gongs do not often win battles, but
they sometimes show that the gong-beaters
are dreadfully afraid.
The actual situation is more favorable for
the Republicans than it was two weeks or two
months ago. Every attempt to divert public
attention from the tariff question has failed,
and the voters are discussing that question
with deeper interest as the election draws near.
There is every reason to believe that these dis
orally silent changes from the Democratic to
the Republican side But this tendency has
certainly been increased within the last week
by the extraordinary letter of the British Min
lister, which has powerfully strengthened the
belief that Mr.. Cleveland's policy is one which
favors British rather than American interests.
There is not Democrat in the State who does
not realize that the letter has turned many
wavering voters against the Presidents policy.
The enormous registration in Newly Ork,
Brooklyn and Jersey City surprises politicians
who fail to remember that the natural growth
in these great centres of population is rapid.
From 1870 to 1880 the population of these
three cities increased from 1,42O,937 to
1,893,684, or Just one-third in ten years.
Crowded New York gained only 20 per cent,
while Brooklyn gained 3 and Jersey City 46
per cent. But since 1880, with elevated rail-
roads making the addition of territory north
ward available for residence, this city should
have grown as much as either of the cities adj
jacent Reckoning the gain at about 80 per
cent in eight years. it will be seen that the
entire registration is accounted for, and the
gain since 1884 is relatively larger because
SOUl6 PERSONS TcluStu W TtRlsIcr VI FOtc dC
all in 1884.
A full vote in these three cities means an
addition of many thousand new voters. In
1880 the Democrats had plurality of nearly
60, 900 in New Y ork and Brooklyn, and about
2,1Ou III Jersey City. But now not far from
$50, 900 persons have come of age in this State
and $4,000 in New-Jersey, who were born
between 1859 and 1867, and large proportion
of these are sons of veterans born after the
outbreak of a Democratic rebellion. No man
can estimate how many Of these young men
have found residence in this city and Brook
lyn, or in Jersey City, but the startling fact
that new vote is here, large enough to swamp
all past majorities if concentrated on either
party, and composed largely of the sons of men
who devoted their lives or their most Jealous
efforts to the suppression of rebellion, is not to
be forgotten in a desperate contest between the
ideas and leaders of the Southern Confederacy
and the ideas and leaders of the loyal North.
Over-cQnfGence is foolish. The new natu-
rallied vote is also large and the change Of
issue since 1850 has caused general shifting
of party relations. Not few voters are found
contending for free trade who voted against
General Hancock. The thing for Republicans
to do is to neglect no honest effort until the
votes have been cast, counted and honestly re-
turned.