The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1889-10-29
A WEEK FROM TODAY.

y
of the United States-a struggle in which
is involved more than the mere selection
among the candidates for the different
offices of the successful few. one that will
90 a long way toward deciding the mo-
mentous question of whether, when
GROVER CLEVELAND issued his great
pronunciamento of tariff reform and thus
threw away his chances for reelection, he
was or was not casting bread upon the
water which should return to him in 1892.
It was mighty question, ponderous
issue that was thus placed before the
people, and because of the fact that they
were not fully prepared for it, and were
therefore unable to intelligently pass
upon it, that its heroic originator lost! the
day when, by keeping silent on the sub
ject, he might-would-have won on gen
eral principles. But he was too big man
for that; to be convinced was with him to
at once be resolved, and being resolved the
question of success was a secondary con-
sderation; it might do for those who made
business of politics and regularly
bartered off such little principle as they
had acquired through association for the
hesh-pots of Egypt, but not for him.
We all know the story, because it is SO
recent. CLEvELAND's defeat was not dis
astrous, but it was dismal. 1t retired one
of the broadestminded, most patriotic,
public spirited and comprehensive presi-
dents the country ever had, but, as we
firmly believe, for time and a term
only. Notwithstanding the fact that he
was the choice by a million more white
voters in the land than his competitor, and
by hundred thousand with the ignorant
blacks counted in, he still failed in the
electoral college through the ignorance and
cupidity of farmers and laborers in the in
terror of New York and Indiana, who gave
small majorities against him in those places
and thus turned the tide in different di-
rection from what the popular viii had
decreed.
Well, on Tuesday next, the first verdict
from the people since the disaster will be
rendered. The key note will come from
New York, Ohio and Virginia, with sec
ondary sounds from all the others, notably
Iowa, where strong campaign is being
prosecuted on both sides. 1t is a hopelessly
Republican state, in or out of season; but
if the Democrats cut down their opponents
majority to anywhere near what they as
sure US they will, that will do very well for
Iowa. But it is in the other states named,
that the greater test will be recorded. If
New York and Ohio shall elect Democratic
legislatures, it will be hailed and recorded
as one of the greatest, if not the greatest
of Democratic victories achieved in an off
year since the war. In both it will mean
new United States senators, but in the
former the displacement of a Republican,
thus making an opposition gain of two. 1t
will not only be great and grand thing to
have DAVID BENNETT Hill step into the
shoes so ungracefully and at times dis
gracefully worn by WILLIAM NJ. EvARTs
and secure the electoral vote Of the Empire
state for CLEVELAND three years hence but
it will be greater in consequences and
grander in principle to have a legislature
whose other special function will be the
undoing of Republican deviltry coDsum-
mated,during the past two decades, of so
gerrymandering New York legislatively
that it is next to impossible Efor the
Democrats to get majority in the law
making body. With this and the other con
siderations mentioned accomplished, we
could afford to let almost everything else
go, although it is hardly likely that any
such sacrifice will be needed or demanded.
The next point of interest is Virginia.
1t was carried for the De
mocracy last year by only about
fifteen hundred, and the Repub-
ncan candidate for governor, repudi-
ator and rascal MALONE, is making the
fight Of his life-a fight which means life
or death to him. Winning, he has every
thing to hope for; losing, nothing The
amount of desperation, energy and deter
mination which he is throwing into the
canvass may therefore be imagined, but
the chicanery, intrigue among the ignorant,
the plotting and expenditures of money
which are going on we will perhaps never
find out; they are too great for computation
and too well concealed for a present esti-
mate. The Democratic candidate for gov
ernor, ike the historic chain which he will
doubtless be link of is a chevalier in
politics, a soldier in war, a states
man in peace and a man of
men altogether. Personally, heis as hand
some as realization of manhood, in which
respect, as well as in all else, he is as far
superior to his opponent as one man can be
to another. 1t is stated by some of the
papers from that state that MALONE is
trading votes for the legislature for those
for governor, and as he is good hand at
that kind of deal, it behooves the Dem
ocracy of the old Dominion to be on the
lookout for him.
In Ohio the tactics have completely
changed within the last two weeks or so.
FORAKER, the Republican candidate for
governor, has been on the stump ever since
he was nominated, two months ago, and he
had, mp to the time mentioned, .been prose
cutting forked lightning, pitch-pine fire and
coal-oil explosion campaign, giving his
opponent what he fondly thought was a
foretaste of perdition at every stopping
place Then came the HALsTEAD expose
and subsequent retraction with the conse-
ouent humiliation, and since that time the
uncurried buckeye has hauled in his horns
and talked straight tariff to the people.
The campaign conducted by the Hon. JAMES
z. CAMPBELL, the Democratic nominee, has,
on the other hand, been singularly free
from vituperation or personal acrimony,
being high-minded and open handed. 1t is
thought the exposure" has won him at
least ten thousand votes, and if so, he viii
be elected, but it is hardly thought he needs
this adventurous assistance, since the turn
NJ the tide in Ohio seems decidedly toward