New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-07-12
THE CAMPAIGN.

THE CAMPAIGN
The meeting of managers OF the Natlohai
campaign naturally suggests certain considera-
tions which may be of service TO thcm' On
great batte- ground, the private soldier VINO
does his duty with faithful hcroism, the officer
Of company or regiment who carries out orders
ia the hest of his ability, though he may know
little of the reason for them, may deserve the
highest honor, and the result of the great
struggle may depend in the end upon his per-
sonal fidelity and herosm. But in another
and larger sense it must also depend rather
upon the tactics Of the generals in command,
who alone can direct sufficient force against
the weakest point of the enemy Just now
the enemies of home industry arc trying hard
at Washington to get their lines into shape lor
the battle But a blunder which it is too late
to repair has made their lines feariully weak
at one point.
A wear ago, when President Cleveland and
Speaker Carlisle and Mr.. Mills were In con-
sultatlon, preparing the Tariff bill which has
since been forced upon the Democratic party
so despotcally, il was believed by them that
great Republican break could be made in the
Northwestern States if the Democrats could
appcal TO freetrade sentiments. Mr.. Blaine
was expected to be the Republican candidate,
and his strength in Eastern States was rccog-
nized. The hope of wrestling several Western
States from the Republican column led TO the
plan of campaign adopted by Democratic lead
ers. but behind it was the controlling desire
Of Mr.. Cleveland TO compel his own renomina-
| ton.
Now Mr. Cleveland and his party would give
a great deal if the Mills bill had not been
! framed if the Presidents message had not
! been delivered if the party in the House had
not been forced into acceptance of free
! trade policy. Yet it has been and Is lmp0s-
sibe to change; the message of Mr.. Cleveland
at once made him the inevitable candidate OF
! his party and made inevitable the issue upon
which the campaign must be fought. Now
Democrats realize that General Harrison's NOM
nation and their own failure to take can
didate from the one doubtful Western State
have in all probability made Indiana Repub-
lican and prevented any Republican break in
the Northwest The Democrats will lose OF
wool growers in those States more votes than
they will gain Ct Free Traders unless all signs
fail. The hattie must, then, be fought in three
Eastern States where free-trade theories are
not popular, with a chance that the same the
cries will be beaten in Virginia, West Virginia
or North Carolina and defeat in either one of
these six States will in all probability suffice
to retire Mr. Cleveland to private life.
The clear policy of the Republican party is
to concentrate its force upon this weak point ;
to make the tariff question thoroughly under
stood by the voters in the three Eastern states
But it is also essential to remember that the
party cannot speak with one voice in Mime
sofa and with another in New lork. There
are telegraphs and reporters and many news
papers in these days, and the blunder which
Democrats have so often made, when they have
given the lie in Kentucky to their professions
in New y rk and Ncw-JcrSey, only to see the
contrast placed before New-York and New
Jersey readers in the papers the next morning
must rot be initiated by Republicans. There
/ is not the least danger that it will be, and yet
Republican managers cannot realize too keenly
the vital necessity Of presenting to the people
the same harmonious National policy in every
State They will need to win wool-grOwers and
manufacturing workers at the West, to COM
pensate for the loss of Free Traders, just as
they will need to win many Democrats in East
ern States by earnest and faithful advocacy Of
protection.
What the Democrats are doing and trying
to do IN Congress is Of no consequence; their
inevitable platform is the message of President
! Cleveland. All the world knows that the
pending bill can be modified to suit the dis
honest purposes Of Democratic managers with
out the slightest change in the deliberate aims
or controlling tendencies Of the party. Mr.
Cleveland speaks for himself and the party. BY
declaring his purposes he made his nomination
! inevitable, because he uttered the real purpose
Of his party. The bill is but a feeble comment (;
his declaration of war against the protection of
! home industry is the issue upon which he and
! his party must succeed or fail.