New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-09-24
A REVOLT FROM FREE TRADE.
WHOLESALE DEMOCRATIC DEFEC'
TION.
CLEVELAND REPUDIATED IN NETWORK
ONE OF THE MOST REMARKABLE BREAKS EVER
WITNESSED IN THE RANKS OF THE
DEMOCRACY.


ABOUT A STAMPEDE FROM THE AD-
MINIsTRATIoN FORCES WERE WE'LL
| FOUNDED-NAMEs OF SCORES OF
THOSE WHO HAVE DECLARED
! FOR HARRISON.
| A revolt of the most determined and Widespread
| character exists in the ranks of the Democracy
of this State. 1t is largely, though not entirely,
due TO the position taken by President Cleveland
| and his party on the tariff. The detection ex-
| tends throu ghout the State, from Rouses Point
| TO Buffalo and from Lake Erie to the sea- 1t IS
| much greater or more pronounced in some piaces
than in Others but there is scarcely village or
| township where, if there is not open revolt OF
the ablest men in the party, there is unmlstaKaDe
evidence of an intense dissatisfaction, which Is
! likely to prove as disastrous to the Democraoic
ticket in November as the more Outspoken opposl-
| ton. All along the Hudson River and through
the Mohawk Valley, where are located so many
vast manufacturing interests: in Washington
| Steuben and the other wool and potato growing
| counties; in the mining region of the north; IN
| the lumber districts that border on the 81 LAW
renee and Lake Ontario around the salt wells IN
| the central counties, and throughout the Droad
farming territory of the west and south there Is
such reputation of the free-trade Administration
1 by lifelong Democrats tndU III Soihc SCSboHo 1"
| amounts to political revolution.
Statements to this effect have been made before,
since the campaign opened by this and other Rcpub-
| lican journals They were made in perfectly good
faith, being based upon information that came
from reliable sources. Nevertheless, the Ad-
mnistration organs denied or questioned the ac-
curacy of these assertions, insisting that they
were grossly exaggerated if not wholly false, and
that they could not be proven. Now, every
sensible citizen knows that if there is anything
especially difficult for newspaper to demonstrate,
that is to substantiate with concrete proof, it IS
this Not one man irf ten who decides to vote
against his party viii say publicly, and not two
in hundred will consent to have their names
published. Particularly is this true of Democratic
converts. The reason is obvious. The moment
a Democrat matter how reputable, comes out
| against his party he is denounced as sorehead
or a traitor, his motives misinterpreted, his
character is assailed and often he is practically
boycotted socially and in other ways. The case
of the Democratic coal merchant in Troy whose
business was seriously injured because he dared
to announce himself in favor of the Republican
ticket and that of Mr.. Shayne, the .furrier, whose
declaration for Harrison has cost him hundreds OF
dollars worth Of trade, are merely conspicuous
examples of multitude that might be given to
dulged in against protection Democrats who have
the courage of their convictions and the temerity
| to express them.
But The Tribune is not in the habit of publishing
statements, even in the heat of Presidential
contest that it does not believe to be true and
capable of being proven. When, therefore, the
| Democratic press attempted to make people be-
lieve that there were virtually no desertions from
the party this paper at once decided to have the
whole subject investigated Three weeks ago a
reporter was detailed for the purpose He was
directed to make New-York State the special field
of his inquiry. He told to make thorough
examination of alleged conversions, so far as poss-
ble to visit every important point and, in brief
to bring back facts not mere general information
about this feature of the canvass. These orders
were carried out. or course it was impossible in
the limited time to reach every part of this i'm
perial commonwealth. Nor was it necessary to do
So The object of his mission not to secure
a complete list Of those who had abandoned the
| Democratic party since that would be manifestly
impotic and improper to publish, but rather to
obtain and print sufficient evidence TO satisfy
every reasonable that the desertion of the
free-trade party by Protectionists is a fact and
forms one of the most important movements of the
canvass
|
wise to say anything about recruits from the
other side As rule it is exceedingly unwise
and unsafe to do so, since it strs the enemy to
renewed activity and brings upon the individuals
that are mentioned pressure which many of
them are unable to withstand The men who can
resist such an influence are not numerous There
must be formidable detection, indeed, when
there are enough of such to justify making
them the subject of an elaborate article at this
stage of the campaign. This year there is this
sort of detection. 1t is simply tremendous, as
any fair-minded, intelligent man who has given
any attention to the subject in travelling about
! the State must admit The names given here
with, we may say for the benefit Of any Republican
who feels disposed to question the policy of max
ing them known, are those OF men
who are out openly against the Ad-
ministration and possess sufficient strength
of character and conviction to make it a
fruitless task for any Democratic leader TO under
take to drive them back into the party The lash
of the boss" would be snapped at them in vain.
In making up these lists Of the various cities and
counties great care was exercised to mention the
name of no man, except where 1t had been pub
lished before. who might object to having it APP
pear in print. Wherever possible the individual
was seen personally, but where this could not
be done the convert was only mentioned when the
reporter was assured by the gentlemen's friends,
mcn of good stan ng and reliability, that it would
be all light and unobectionable to the person him
self Even then, in almost every instance, the
name was submitted TO one or more members of
the local Republican committee, and if they de-
cided that publication of it would be iniudicious
the name was struck off the list Committeeman
throu ghout the State will bear witness that scores
of names, excellent names too, have been thus kept
back. These precautions necessarily reduced the
list but still it will be found formidable and the
most reckless Administration organ will have to
make an extra effort when it undertakes, as usual
to make it's readers believe there are no deserters
but few disappointed ofiice-seekers-an eAplana-