New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-09-03
TIE STTTITION.

has been clearly favorable to the Republicans.
There is quite tn usual amount Of buster
on the part of Mr.. Cleveland's supporters, and
perhaps enough more than the usual amount
to suggest that some Of it IS forced, in order to
hide a sense of inward dsheartenment But
whoever will compare the announcements OF
prominent political changes within the last two
months as published by any two good news
papers of opposing parties, will perceive that
the drift in favor of the Republican party has
been steady, and especially that 1T has been
Just where Republican gains would do most
good For instance prominent citizen In the
heart of PENNSYLVANIA declares for Cleveland;
everybody knows that his influence will be
buried under a Republican majority of $4,000
or more But prominent Democrat in the
interior Of this State declares for Harrison;
everybody knows that very few such men
would have had influence enough to turn the
scale against Cleveland in 1884.
Republican gains have been mainly Oh &C
count Of the tariff questoa. The dullest OF
doubters must by this tins - convinced that
public opinion is setting against the. Presidents
policy and The Mills bill. Tne Democrats them
selves virtually admit the TACT, by saying that
strong efforts are needed to educate the people
to an appreciation Of that policy. Whether the
people can be educated IN that direction or not
remains to be seen but the Fact is obvious that
their present disposition is adverse to the radi-
cal change Of tariff proposed. Now, the tariff
question operates to the disadvantage OF tho
Republican party IN some localities where there
are no manufactures where farmers have never
learned the benefits Of a home market, and
where they grow no wool. But such localities
are found almost exclusively at the South,
where the Republican party counts upon moth
ing. or in northwestern States. where 1t has
large and ample majorities. On the other
hand the same question counts powerfully In
favor of the Republican party in the wool
growing and in the manufacturing States, and
particularly in the doubtful States of the East.
There the drift against the Presidents policy
has been so clear that it is to-day the simple
truth that Democratic managers are calculat-
ing upon nothing else so much as upon the
great campaign fund which trusts and foreign
importers can provide, while the Republican
managers remember that many legitimate con-
versions Of honest voters can be neutrallzed by
a large corruption fund, used by experienced
mule-buyers.
The campaign has gone far enough to show
that the people are not to be diverted from a
study Of their interests. The changes an
nounced have been as numerous and impor-
tant since the President tried to switch off
the country on foreign side-track as they
were in any like time before. The Democrats
themselves are yielding in measure to the
popular demand, and are trying to debate the
tariff question in Northern cities. The Re
taliation Message is instantly appreciated as
the trick Of a demagogue to change the issue.
The Civil Service pretences of the Democrats
have been exploded by the Presidents appoint
ments BY the free wool tariff the party must
stand or fall, unless it can debauch voters
enough to compensate for its legitimate losses.
The thing for Republicans to do is to press
their advantage so vigorously and so far that
no possible corruption shall be able to over
come them. A difference of one vote for every
election precinct In the State is not much
bribery might defeat it. But if the Repub-
licans push home the facts and arguments until
they are sure Of gains averaging three or five
or ten to every precinct, they will not be in
any danger of defeat. Every meeting that
makes voters understand the Presidents policy
better brings the Republican cause nearer a
victory