Wichita eagle., 1888-05-06
MISSOURI REPUBLICANS.
Strong Hopes That They Can Garry Their
State This Year.

The Republican party, according TO the St
Louis Globs- Democrat, has some hopes OF
carrying Missouri this year both for Presi
dent and Governor Missouri, it is true
has been Democratic for many years. II
gave its electoral vote to Grant ID 1865, but
since then it has been uniformly Democratic
in Presidential contests. In the popular
mind, indeed, throughout the country, Dem
ccratic ascendency in this State has come
to be considered as much matter of course
as it is in Mississippi. Georgia or Texas. Ii
has been assumed 10 be politically if not geo
graphically part OF the solid South, whose
vote was assured for any candidate bearing 9
the Bourbon label This conception, as may
readily be shown, is scarcely IN harmony
with the facts. The Democratic majority IL
1872 for President in Missouri was 35, 443
and 5S.043 II 1876 In the Presidential years
since 1876, more than two tickets being
voted for, tae Democratic plurality in the
State was 55,o42 il 1880, and SS,o59 in 1854.
It will be noted that the decline in the
Democratic preponderance in Missouri has
been marked and continuous ever since
1876. The plurality for Cleveland was but
little more than half as great as the major
ity given for Tilden eight years earlier. Ii
is true there was an alliance In 1884 between
the Republican and Greenback parties in
the State for both President and Governor
But making fair allowance for the Green.
back votes cast for the Republican candi
dates in that year, the actual Republican
gain must still have been great. As the
vote for Governor in 1884 showed, the De.
rnocracy held the State By slender major
ity. Marmaduke, the Democratic candi
date, obtained a plurality of 1896 over
Ford, the Republican-Greenb back nominee
But in the same election 10, 42S votes were
cast for Brooks, Prohibitionist. This made
the Democratic majority n the State fou,
years ago just 5l7.
The Republican leaders base their hopes
of party success in Missouri in 1888 on three
influences chiefly. These are the tariff, pro
hibition and immigration. The assaults
made, under the Presidents inspiration, on
the iron. steel lead, zinc and wool indus
tries by the free-trade faction Of the Dem
ocracy has alienatcd thousands of men in
this State who have hitherto voted the Dem
ocratic ticket. This year most CT these ner
viii, it is probable, support the Republican
candidates. The vote given 10 st. John II
the State in 1884 was 2,05s, but this was
L
cast in that year. Brooks, the nominee OF
that party for Governor, as before mentioned
received 10. 400 votes The recent contest!
involving the local-option issue, indicate
that the Prohibition strength has increased
materially in the past four years. Most o.
the Prohibition votes in this State are drawn
from the Democratic party. immigration
into tho State has been active within The
past two or three years. Nearly al OF the
new settlers have come from Republican
localities il the East and Northwest, and O.
course bring their political preferences with
them. These considerations show that ther'
arc good grounds for the belief that the Re
publican party viii carry Missouri in 1883.
They VIII Remember 1t.
The filibustering minority has defeated
more than two-thirds' majority in tn
House, by the aid and dictation Of the Pres
ident Helped by Presidential threats ant
promises, it has brought party caucus Z
deciderha. the Tax-Refunding bill must b
postponed until after the Presidential elee
ton. Thanks, Messrs. Democrats The pee
pie of the States which paid this tax, VIII
naturally wish their State taxes hghtenet
by the return of the money, viii renembe
when they vote next fall that Democrats
Congress means repayment Of SGO,o00,OO0 Z
once rebel States proceeds Of the cot
ton tax, collected not from those States, bu
from the loyal citizens who had possession
of cottop--or else 20 repayment OF $4,000,
600 paid by loyal States in direct taxes t
suppress a Democratic rebellion Il Is
minor issue, but some people will bear 1t il
mind
a much larger mum Der will bear in min
the proved incapacity Of Democrat
majority to make laws for tho business in
tercsts of the country. Part Of a mont
has been wasted in this wrangle. Othe
political wraugles wasted the months Of Dc
ccmbcr, January, February and March
Within less than sixty days Washngto
will be bad place for members TO stay i
who want 10 preserve their physical healtt
and a most inConycnient place for thos
whose political health requires attention
conventions and campaigns at home. 7
pass all the appropriation bills, ali otho
absolutely necessary bills to provide for tn
Government business, and tariff bill b'
sides, will be found impossible. The il
competency Of tho party in power viii ag2i
be finely illustrated, when months Of th
remainder Of the session arc spent in col
sidering tariff which ought 20 have bee
brought forward, il ever, early in the sc:
sion, and disposed oil IN the four month
which were wasted by tho majority. If ths
question is pressed at all, necessarily othe
business of the gravest Importance nus
now be neglected.-N I Irt6tne.
Louisiana Stolen.
y