New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-11-06
THE .SITUATION.

After a defeat the natural question u ss to
the cause. 1t suits Democratic purposes 70
claim that the people have condemned the NC
KinIey bill. the Election bill and the Admin
stration. Republican apathy, indifference and
general off-yearishness they interpret as posi-
tive refusal to uphold the measures and the
management of the Republican party. thus 1t
is evident that in many quarters, as IN this
city. many thousand Republicans failed TO vote
at all. The Democratic theory Is that the non
voters are already more than half Democrats.
II would be more reasonable and truthful
to recognize the fact, known to everybody who
takes any active part in politics. that sheer
laziness and indifference count for great deal.
When il is felt that there is a real emergency,
and that the maintenance OF National policy
may depend upon each vote, men take the
trouble to leave their work and get to the polls
This year many thousands did not, ana the
same sort of thing has happened IN the second
year of every Presidential term for long
time. The voters who prevail in the Presl-
dental election feel that things are safe enough,
and they can afford to be lazy Added to this
is the comparative indifference OF great mum
her of workers upon whose personal efforts the
bringing out of full vote usually depends.
Many of them are applicants for Office of whom
nearly all have necessarily been disappointed.
Until another Presidential struggle comes they
make less effort 1t is not creditable to the
people that the exercise of the right OF suffrage
by thousands should depend upon personal
prodding BY interested workers. But that Is
the fact, and he deoeives himself who ignores It.
The Election bill has not been so far dis
cussed. or brought home to the understanding
of voters, that It's justice or necessity has been
fully appreciated. Had Republican Senator's
treated this matter as it should have been treat
ed in due regard to the public welfare or the
interests Of the party, the necessity OF Fed
eral Election law would have been as clearly
seen, and the measure as warmly supported, as
the Australian or other Ballot Reform laws
have been in most OF the States The apparent
indifference or hostility of some Senator's pre-
wanted the passage of that essential measure,
and left the impression with many we-mean-
ing Republicans that the bill was unw1se or
wrong. 1t remains to be seen whether those
Senators will continue in a course which has
unauestonably done much harm. Had good
Election law been passed with reasonable
promptness at the last session, the Democrats
would have failed to carry by improper methods
many Congressional districts which they have
now carried.
The tariff has been carefully misrepresented,
and its workings have been honestly mlsunder-
stood beyond doubt by many thousand
voters. The promotion of industry, the open
ing OF new works and new demands for labor,
the oheapening of products TO consumers
through home competition, all are in the future.
IL is not strange if many men of average in
teihgence have been less influenced by belief
in these results than by some actual and in
finitely more pretended or artificial advance in
prices. Thousands of importers and agents OF
| foreign firms have been made angry, and they
| have done all they could to defeat party which
| has preferred the welfare of this Nation to
their personal interests. Many manufacturers
| especiaIly in some Eastern States, who have
grown to regard the tariff as thing which
ought to be fixed with exclusive regard to theii
private pockets, lind that measure which hon
estly strives to help all industry and benefit
| all labor 1oes not suit rhem. They would not
dare to support the Democratic party, when its
success would mean reduction or removal OF
duties on manufactured products. But they
have not been patriotic enough to refrain from
hitting and trying to hurt the Republican yRxta