Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1888-08-07
The Political Horizon.

The p0lltlcal Journals nave Ihoie than
the usual amount of material in this cam
paign, upon which to claim change OF
public sentiment in favor OF their cause.
OF course they do not trouble themselves
to print the names of their partisans who
have gone over to the enemy they leave
that for the opposition journals to do,
and are themselves diligent only In pub
fishing the deserters to their own side
ana generally they are not very particu-
lar as to the authority for their state.
msnts; it is quite sufficient that some
one has said so, or somebody has thought
-. 1t is safe to take good discount of
the number of newspaper converts; the
indication afforded of the current OF pub
lie sentiment lacks the very important
element of reliability.
The reason that there Is an unusual
number of changes in this canvass is
doubtless the fact that the tariff
issue is made SO distinct in it and that
there are good many business people
who think that their personal interests
are involved in the matter ; and they are
the kind of folk likely to get their names
In print. But the great mass OF
the people are not 80 greatly stirred
up on the tariff question. This Is
the state in which it would break up the
Democracy more than in any other to be
hiiched on to free trade movement ;
but the Democracy here are about as
serene as anywhere. These published
changes of one in the thousand do not
show the political weather, nor af.
ford any indication of it, unless
the balance is struck and the
difference in the movement on each side
Is found which cannot be done upor
the unreliable reports Of the newspaper
A better way Of judging Of the situation
is to take general view Of the field.
Such view is certainly encouraging Il
Democratic expectation. That party ha
the force behiLd 1t of being in; and this ]
considerable, and may be PARTICULAR
counted on now, because the administra
tion by that party has been confessedl
acceptable to the people Of the country
Ia truth, the Republicans confess tt
weakness of their undertaking to ou'
the Democracy by flying precipitately
the tariff issue, as the saving one OF II
campaign; upon that alone they put the
hope. They will hang their hal
upon q willow, because the Dem'
cratic tariff position is acceptabl
g. moi RI 4
and to great section Of the Republ
can party. The issue will weaken tn
Republican party In the Northwest, with
out helping it materially in the East.
is not going to disturb the solid vote o
the Democratic party In behalf of tn
first administration it has had in qua
ter of century; which has been credits
BILE to it and which has massad and ol
ganized it into greater cohesion an
political efficiency than II has shown fC
many year.
1t seems silly to talk of the overthrow
of party in power with such recor
and solidity. 1t Is not sin the wood.
The Republican leaders do not loo
for it. Blaine preserves himself fo
afuture opportunity to be the Moses {
his party. Harrison is lamb selecte
for sacrifice. He is not likely to carr
even his own state. The Republican e.
governor, Porter, does not propose to
carried down with him, and declines
nomination. We do not think that thel
is reasonable doubt about the Noyemb,
outcome.