New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-11-11
rT-ryfNl RaCK IMPOSSIBLE.

One or two Republican papers now reason
that the party has made mistake, anu ''ii ~,
do better than to recede promptly from tarii
policy which the people disappioVe' 1t
claimed that many Western and some Eastern
Senators and Representatives were a' MAR
disinclincd 70 support the bill passed, ana ana
50 only in Difference to the wishes ana supposed
pecesstie, of the party, and that a serious
division in the Republican ranks is probable
unless the new tariff is promptly modlhed ana
lower duties adopted
THE TRIBt'yE has NJ doubt whatever that
tho react,onarv course proposed would render
Repubcan success in 1892 absolutely lmpoS-
sjble but if it were the one and only chahoc
Of success il would be an abandonment Oh duty
and an atIrOnt to the convictions OF me great
majority of Republicans from which the part!
would deserve never to recover. Adverse ma
iorities have not been due wholly or manly
10 one question. Misrepresentation OF the Eiec-
ton bill had something 10 do with the result
and heavier appropriations than were ever
made before, and grants for pensions which
people began to feel eXtravagant, and appoint
ments in some localities which caused dissatlS-
faction. and local quaiels like the one III
Pennsylvania, and local issues like the saloon
oIestion in Massachusetts, Prohibition III Rhode
Island. and the school question i'll Illinois ana
Wisconsin.
But the great majority of the Republican
vote was cast to sustain the new tariff. not
withstanding all personal and local difficulties
II is probably far within the mark to say that
more than nine-tenths of the Republicans who
have voted this year at all have by their votes
,,ta1I nv EnnppnSS
gard to the tariff Less than onc-tenth have
for all sorts of reasons expressed dlssatISiac-
tion by their votes--and probably much
smaller proportion. Can any party afford to
aifront the convictions of nine-tenths of ITS
voters and 90 back from its pledges in which
they have contided, because less than one
tenth is as yet dissatisfied? Even If II were
certain that the small minority would remain
displeased, that would be simply a suicidal
course.
The truth in this case is that the small
minority has acted against the party either for
other reasons, and especially because OF unwiSe
leadership i'll some OF the States or because OF
complete misapprehension regarding the effects
of the tariff 70 every intelligent Republican
il is well known that there has not been in fact
such an advance in prices as some suppose. nor
Las; there been the slightest legitimate reason
for much of the advance which has been seen.
Is il to be assumed that the people will never
discover a mistake or deception so obvious?
| Could nine-tenths of the Republican voters be
| persuaded to abandon their principles and con
victions. because less than One-tenth had ig-
norantly allowed themselves to be deluded?
| The new tariff will have 10 stand until II
has been decentIy and honestly tried. No snap
| Judgment can be taken, after a campaign OF
unparalleled lying, in which a small fraction
of the voters has been led 10 confound the
.ho,tneSS of crops, and the greed OF some re-
tail dealers. and the effects of various specula-
lions. with the consequences Of the tariff. The
country will understand this measure better
two years hence The great majority OF Re-
publican voters are content TO wait for their
| vndcaton by events. and the minority VIII
, hardly find Senator'S OF Representatives ready
10 commit suicide by aifronting that majority