New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-11-27
Of politics. Hence the name inoepsnuen''
IT'S brand like another usde-aiA'
condition, not a theory.
nrxocR1TrC sgLEDECEPTTOM

i
| Tho cooI assumption that the extraordinary
Democratic victory last year was secured ma'n'y
by the tariff question has been so often fepea'eo
| by Free Traders that they begin to beleve IL
themselves That is one of the penalties OF such
falsehood. The man who uses the untrutn
finally gets to believe in it, and to base his own
calculations on it, and to lay all his plans as II
it were true. Then he receives well-earned
tbreshing, though, if he had not cheated him
self. he might possibly have attained success.
This particular falsehood is now made the
basis of all calculation by Free Traders respect
| ing the next Presidential election. Because they
won in 1890, on the tariff question in certain
States according to their idea If that issue can
be made substantially the only one victory must
come in 1892. 1t is highly gratifying to find
| men cheating themselves in this way, because
their chances of success might be much better
if they should adopt different tactics from those
| which untruth inclines them to prefer Mr..
Cleveland went down in 1888 largely because
he and his friends had cheated themselves in
the same way regarding the popularity of his
tariff crusade. If the Free Traders have their
way the same experiment will be repeated in
1892, again based on belief in falsehoods which
have been told so often that the falsiferS them
selves believe them
The truth about the matter seems to be clearly
exhibited by the voting this year. The tariff
issue was carefully avoided in New-York and
the Democrats won. 1t was persistently made
by both parties in Ohio, and the Democrats lost.
Ii there has been in any State, at any time since
the Presidential election of 1888, clearly de-
fined and distinct issue Oh the tariff question, it
was in Ohio, and the majority there for Major
Mckinley was greater than the majority in 1888
for President Harrison. The nomination OF MIR.
Mckinley made the tariff the one question which
overshadowed all others, and it brought him
larger vote than the State had ever given to any
other candidate. 1t would be strange, indeed, il
something of the same tendency of public opin-
ion should not appear in the adjacent States
Indiana and Michigan, while in other Western
States except Iowa. where the liquor question
turned the scale, the Republican party appears
to have assured majorties. The story that the
farmers Of the West were going by the thousand
in every State for tariff REFORM was told so
often previous to the contest of 1888 that Mr.
Cleveland himself was probably more amazed
than anybody else to see the overwhelming ma
jorities cast in Western States against him.
The Tariff policy Of the Republican party was
adopted with elaboration prior to the election
of Abraham Lincoln in 1860, and secured his
success. Yet he did not receive majority on
the popular vote. In 1854, when he was re-
elected, the Civil War absorbed attention, and
in 1868 and 1872 the memories of the War and
problems of reconstruction insured the election
of Grant. In 1876 the tariff question was
adroitly handled by Mr.. Tilden in connection
with the question of resumption the latter being
the more prominent, and he was barely beaten.
tariff became the more prominent issue, and a
scanty plurality of the popular vote for General
| Garfield was the result. In 1884 personal an
tagonisms to Mr.. Blaine affected the verdict to
some extent, and yet, after allowance for the
larger fraudulent majorities for Mr.. Cleveland
in Southern States, the popular vote for Protec-
ton appeared relatively greater than in 1880.
In the election of 1885, allowing for the sup
preston of freedom at the South, the plurality
for President Harrison and Protection was larger
than had ever been given for that cause.
Local issues, the diversion OF the Farmers AL
lance, and the neglect of Republicans to vote,
gave Democrats their victory in 1890, and there
was not single State in which the tariff issue
was as distinctly made as ii has been in Ohio
this year. Down to the year 1890 the Protective
policy had been growing in popular strength
for thirty years. Ohio would indicate that it is
still growing. If Democrats prefer to pin their
faith to elections of last year they are welcome