New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-01-30
TIE VITAL QUESTIONS.

-Four years ago there WeI0 t"J 49, 49,
and some who believed that the question Oh
Civil Service reform was the one foremost IN
Importance. The idea that some verbal shackles
in the forms of law would suffice to transform
n bad party into good party had taken nrm
root in the minds Of not few
After four years Of experience under a Dem
ocratic President the Republican party comes TO
its own again and finds at least four distinct
issues holding more important place in public
thought and effort than the question OF olVll
Service. These are the questions OF free
suffrage at the South the question OF ballot
reform everywhere, the question OF disfran-
chisement of Territories, and the question OF
protection for home industry. Either Oh these
has now incomparably more weight IN puoho
consideration than the issue regarding the
mode of selecting minor officials and clerks.
Each Is essentially fundamental and concerns
the very framework Of government. Ii there
cannot be freedom of choice in all States, hon
est elections in all States, respect for the rghts
of a million citizens who have settled In the
Territories, and defence for Americans in their
industry. no scientific selection Of clerks will
make,the government satisfactory to the people.
So much fruit four Democratic years have
horne. Democratic suppression Of suffrage has
made freedom of elections at the south vital
issue for all Americans Democratic crimes at
elections in Northern States have proved that
present methods of balloting do not guard the
Nation from theft Of its honors and powers.
Dakota. raising more wheat last year and in
1887 than any State in the Union, and yet
allowed by Democrats to cast not single vote
for President. presents an issue with which no
honest upholder Of self-government Will falter.
President Cleveland's attempt to overthrow the
system under which the industries Of the coun-
tFy have grown more rapidly and grandly than
those of any other nation, his decree that a
surplus revenue which threatens public pros
perity should not be reduced, unless by aban-
donment Of the protective system, put an end
TO his chances Of reelection. On these great
questions millions of voters now earnestly de-
sire speedy action, and they have intrusted tho
power to Republican President, Republican
Senate and Republican House.
Each Of these questions touches the issue OF
loyalty. Historically, free trade has been the
parent of notification and rebellion, and when
rebels formed a Confederacy they made free
trade its cornerstone. Historically, also, tho
same loyal element prepared for civil war by
keeping out Of the Union citizens who settled
in Kansas because they preferred freedom. His
toricalIy, the Plaquemine fraud Of Louisiana
aud the coffee-pot naturalizations OF Pennsyl-
yania compelled the country TO adopt defences
against Democratic fraud which further dis
honesty by the same party has now rendered
insufficient The spirit which instigated So
cession is the spirit which has made elections
in many Southern States farce.
II has taken only four years Of Democracy
10 teach the people that loyalty tc the Nation,
its Constitution its popular decisions, its rights
and its industries, is more essential than the
reformatory professions with which MIR. Cleve-
land captivated the innocent in 1884. II was
folly to suppose that a very hungry and very
thirsty'' party would be found the fittcst in
strument of any reform, even in the method
OF selecting clerks. But IT was far greater
folly to suppose that the Democratic party with
all its past history could be trusted TO loyalty
obey and enforce the will of a free people. So
It comes TO pass that a session Of Congress con-
troled by loyal Republicans, at the earliest pos
dble moment is by many considered neces-
sary, that elections may represent the will Of
the people, that citizens in Territories may no
longer be disfranchised and that revenue may
be reduced without breaking down the defence
of home industries.