Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-11-04
A CAMPAIGN OF DISCUSSION.

One feature of the campaign just closed
deserves notice as an evidence of progress.
It is the fact that, more than any campaign
| for many years, the method of political
work took the line of discussing the politi-
cal issues involved, and the principles at
stake, in the various contests.
1t has often been the subject of humorous
and sarcastic comment that campaigns of
late years made little appeal to the reason
ing powers Of the people. In many OF them
the resort TO argument was reduced to a
/ minimum, and it seemed to be regarded as a
conclusive argument If one side could hire
the most men to disguise themselves in OIL
cloth capes and bear tin torchlights in pro-
cession over muddy streets. What bearing
upon questions of tariff or administration it
had, that one political party could induce
more tall men to bear wooden axes, or OBJ
tain large number of men to display parti-
colored umbrellas in the various cities of
the land, was never made manifest. The
fact that we have had a minimum of that
sort OF thing this year permits the conclu-
sion that perhaps our political managers
have begun to observe the fact that votes
among thinking people are not made in that
way.
This year the appeal has been made almost
exclusively to the thinking powers of the peo-
pie. Of course, the campaign arguments
have been disfgured by the usual amount
of sophistry, appeals to prejudice, and even
rank misrepresentation; which will be neces-
sary accompaniments of politics until we
approach closer to the millennial stage than
we are now. Even in this respect an ameli-
oration is noticeable in the fact that one side
brought forward its charges against the op-
posing candidate at an early stage, avowedly
for the purpose of giving full opportunity
for reply or refutation; while the personal
attack on the other side, though made late in
the day, was frankly abandoned when its
baselessness was shown. The main part of
the State campaign has been made on the
line Of discussing questions of State admin
istration and national legislation; and in
that respect presents a marked advance on
its predecessors.
In the Congressional elections the same
satisfactory feature presents itself. There
probably has not been a campaign in the
present generation when the various as
poets of the tariff question have been so
fully discussed as in this one. Of course
in this discussion there was vast amount
of special pleading and appeal to sectional
interest or prejudice; but still it was argu-
ment and an appeal to reason. 1t is a very
gratifying thing to have had campaign
which was conducted on the plan of arguing
the case before the people. This is the ira
ditional and typical American method of
letting each party make the best case it can,
in the press and on the stump, and then
leave the decision to the people. When
that policy is adhered to, no matter how
much the arguments may be diluted by
sophistry and appeals to ignorant preju-
diees or selfish interest, there is the best
hope that the right decision will be reached
in the end.
1t is rather too early to say whether a
similar amendment can be alleged with re-
gard TO another bad tendency in our poll
tics, namely, the influencing of votes with
money. But the tenor of the reports would
make it hazardous to affirm that there has
been anything like SO palpable an improve
ment in this respect. The efforts taken to
check this grave evil of nullifying and
preventing the honest expression of the
voters wishes will have the effect ultimately
OF as decided an Improvement in that respect
as the gratifying one We have noted.