New-York tribune., 1891-08-26
THE PIN OF CAMPAIGN.

THE Plan OF C6M
The Republican line of battle defined by
Major Mckinley In the Ohio campaign does not
please his opponents They object because he
does no. ignore the silver question, and some
are weak enough to suggest that he hopes 10
evade the discussion OF the tariff, to which ne
nevertheless devoted much more than nan MS
speech Others object because he talks OF Cne
tariff at all, and would like to have it belieVeu
that he wishes to evade the question OF money
These discordant criticisms show that the ne
publican leader has found just where the DEM
ocrats are weak.
Ohio is n central State, sharing the interests
and sy1npathies of both the East and the West.
Most of its people realize the amazing folly Oh
unlimited silver coinage, but majority OF tne
Democrats are ready to go to any extreme WIN
the money unaticS of the Far west Most oi
the people of Ohio appreciate and believe IN the
Protective policy, but a minority 1orniihs
large propOrtien of the Democratic party ac-
cent the Free-Trade fanatcism of the Bourbon
South and serve the interest OF foreign ageh"
in Eastern importing cities. There are thou
sands who oppoe Protection who are utterly
hostile 10 debasement OF the currency. There
are alxo many who lean toward silver coinage,
but are passonately hostile to any change OF
tariff which will stop hundreds OF mines ana
mills. throw thousands out of employment ana
deprrss wages. The Democratic party has been
foolish enough to take an extreme position on
both questions. Thus it affronts thousands OF
Ohio Democrats, who know that Protection Is
necessary. and also other thousands who know
that unlimited silver coinage is full OF peril
II woud not have been good sense for the
Repubhcan leader to allow his opponents to
escape the consequences of either blunder Con-
sidering only the right of the matter, 1t was
his duty to uphold the whole Republican pol
icy, and not only part OF it, and this duty he
has chosen to meet like man. The Repub-
lican Coinage Act provides monetary use Tor
all silver Of American production, but does NOT
expose the currency to debasement. The Ameri-
can tariff policy provides defence FOR all Ameri-
can labor against foreign competition, but wei
comes any measure of reciprocity with other
American Powers which will not impair the de-
fence of labor. Standing on the two measures
which be led the House in passing Mr. Me-
Kinley rightly attacks the Democratic party on
both issues
The Democrats have made their bed and
must lie in IT, Mr. Cleveland will make a
speech against them in every town in that
State. because his letter on the silver coinage
will be resd everywhere. Congressman Harter,
a Democratic leader more true to convictions
and ADLER than Governor Campbell, will in the
same way speak against his party in every
town, for thcy letter from him which Major Nc
kiniey quotes will be read as proof that sensible
Democrats despise the attitude their party has
taken, and dread the course it will take in
Congress
On the other hand, the dishonesty Of the
Democratic party on the tariff question comes
I'D to plague it. In 1888 it denounced the re
duction OF duties on wool, and scattered all over
the state official appeals to woo-gDwerS prom
ising relief from this injustice. Once in power
it voted for far greater reduction OF wool
duties, and in 1888 tried to carry Ohio for
Cleveland and free wool. This year it has to
confront Major Mckinley and the best wool
tariff ever enacted, with remarkably slim
chance Of persuading wco!growers that it would
do any better if il had the mower