Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1890-11-13
HISTORICAL LESSONS.
New York Tribune.

KILLED" againl 1t has more live:
than cat, this Republican party. An
cient history records that it died be
/ fore it was born, in Democratic eStima-
| tion, being crushed as a sectional fac
| tion" when Fremont was defeated. II
was reSuscitated in time to elect a Pres
ident in 1869, but even Abraham Lin
coin could not quite please all the politi-
clans. One dimly remembers that the
Republican party was killed" and the
infamous bloodthirsty war policy of
the Government trampled under foot
in several States by indignant Demo.
Gratis in 1862. But Abraham Lincoln
was elected again in 1864. Then the
party was "killed" cnce more by Henry
J. Raymond's arm-in-arm convention,
and the bolt of the bread and butter
brigade with Andrew Johnson. But
losses in 1866 were followed by Grants
victory in 1853. Once more the party
was completely 'killed" when, instead
of 10 Republican majority in 1872 the
people elected House with 81 Demo
cratic majority in 1874. But it was suf-
fciently resuscitated only two years
later to bury Mr.. Tilden and his ciphers.
History teaches that every great meas
ure requires some time to get into the
popular appreciation, and the people are
exceedingly apt to be caught and Swayed
at first by the objections to a strange
policy, before they understand it. Re-
construction and negro suffrage both
cost the Republican party great many
votes at first, but afterward triumphed.
Specie resumption at first met with ad-
verse maiorities SO overwhelming that
even shrewd Mr. Tilden committed
himself to an attack upon it, and then
went down when the people took their
sober second thought. The tariff revis-
ion of 1888 was so completely misun-
derstood at first that it really made Mr..
Cleveland's success possible for angry
wool growers in Ohio retorted with a
Democratic victory, even while dissatis-
fed manufacturers at the East were
aiding Democrats also, as in Massachu-
sets they had helped to elect Butler.
But the next year the same States voted
to bury Free Trade agitation. 1t does
not follow because the good people fail
to see the merits of measure at first,
that they will never see.
1t would be safer for Democrats and
Free Traders to take it for granted that
the Republican party is going to be
stronger after this defeat than it was
before When the actual results of the
tariff are realized by the country many
thousand voters are going to be ashamed
ofthemsleYes because they were so easily
duped and scared. 1t is fortunate that
this measure can not be repealed or
radically altered until it has had at least
four years of trial. Before that time its
good results will be seen and felt.
Before that time merchants who have
been putting up prices will be scrambling
to undersell each other, unless sooner
driven out of business by their
foolishness. A grave measure which
dll6CIS VI III
this great country must of necessity
have unwelcome first fruits for some.
All the inconvenience and burdens are
felt to-day, multiplied many times over
by intentional or unconscious eXagera-
ton. There will come time when the
benefits will be appreciated.
The Republican party will also be
stronger in some Strtes by defeat
which terminates unwise leaderships.
1t will be stronger in others because
local questions, like the Saloon issue in
Massachusetts and School law in Wis
consin and Illinois, will be put out of
the way. In nearly all the Western
States it will be stronger when the
farmers discover the Democratic trickery
and purpose under some professed farm
ers' organizations. But, be the season
of defeat long or short, there is nothing
for the Republican party but to stand
manfully to its principles. Its voters
are not of the stuff to tolerate any for
saking of duty in the hope of Office.