New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-10-09
snr rELxaaArH 10 TIE IhraIrNE.1
o TOUCH THE SILVER ISSUE.


ADA, Ohio, Oct. s.-The joint debate between
Major Mckinley and Governor Campbell is over.
and it is perhaps only justice to say that, except
In the way of practical political results
the gathering to-day has been an unqualified and
signal success The crowd was large and orderly
far beyond the habit of such assemblages, and the
debate was managed with precision and entire
good feeling. The two factions in the audience
took hint from the manner and temper of the
two candidates, and at no time was an unruly or
discourteous demonstration made by any section
in the audience. The inaccessibility of Ada had
the effect of keeping the crowd about the speakers
stand down to 5000 or 5000, and so excellent
were all the arrangements made 10 accommodate
visitors that not the slightest incident occurred e
mar the pleasure the good feeling of the coca
sion. The innate partisanship Of the representa-
tives of the two parties present in the crowd wa
strong enough, Of course, TO give healthy toucl
of earnestnesS and enthusiasm TO the discussion
but this never rose to disorder, and each speake
had frcest and fullest opportunity to present hi
side of the debate without hindrance or interrup
ton; and when this is said, it will be seen thai
the debate to-day at Ada is likely to be remem
bered one Of the most pleasing and satisfactory
incidents of the present Ohio campaign.
TWO WAYS OF CONDUCTING A DEBATE
But debate, TO be Of real political signlncahce'
must have two sides TO il, and Dehlnd eich '.U'
an aggressive and earnest champion oil U"e PiA,
ciples he is called upon TO defend IT can s0"i0eS
be said that to-day's discussion tulnied tnese 0o
ditions On one side was serious anu sO'et "O-
yocacy OF the two great issues on winch tie pres
ent campaign is being conducted Oh UHe o'nei'
the total evasion of one issue ana an eIdpoiaue
resort 10 irrelevant badinage to obscure the slsh-
Of fha fbnr
canoe and distort the consequences oil Tue o'her'
A. ha. been his custom since the campaign opened.
Maior Mckinley to-day gave frankly to his hearers
his views on the question Of the free coinage OF
,iIver He attacked the free coinage plank of the
Democratic platform and defended the silver legis-
lation of the last Congress- in which he had a
part Governor Campbell in spite of his recent
declaration TO the leaders Of the Peoples
party that he would willingly go halfway with
them toward their goal of an irredeemable cur
rency, could not be drawn to-day into the slight
est alluson TO the freecOinage plank of the party
platform. Major Mckinley broadly challenged
him TO defend free coinage, and from the audience
came calls Of How about silver?" at every halt
ing place in his two speeches, but neither in
opening nor closing the debate would the Gov
ernor unbosom himself on this important ques
tion.
GOVERNOR CAMPBELL'S POLITICAL PESsIMISM
Again. when the tariff issue was discussed-and
that was the supposed topic to which the Gov.
ernor pretended 10 confne himseh-he made NJ
broad or comprehensive argument for a revenue
tariff, or an incidentally protective tariff or com
pete free trade but restricted himself to attacks
on specific clauses of the Mckinley bill, and Il
the general contention that there was an unequa
distribution of wealth in this country unde1
which the farmer and the factory labOrers and il
fact, the great body of the people, suffered
When asked whether he would raise revenue fO
the support of the Government by reimposing The
duties on tea, coffee and sugar, he again evadec
committing himself TO anything in the way OF al
affirmative plan of taxation, and turned the ques
tion off with some irrelevant reply. Governor
UampoeIrs programme is, in fact. simply one OF
political pessimism, nnd1ng, at whatever cost OF
logic and consistency, what faults he can with
existing conditions but offering no lucid or III
teHigble remedy for what lie calls Obscurely the
unequal distribution Of wealth" Such shad
owy and uncertain declaration of principles offers
indeed, no ground Of serious argument, and Mr.
Campbell has 70 clothe its inadequacy with sue
cession of flippant and irrelevant efforts TO amuse
and entertain his audience lie has the gift of q
good-humored and clever style, and his fun at the
expense of what he called the failure TO make
tin plate in Ohio formed the real backbone Of hi:
whole reply 10 Major McKinleys admirable anC
forcible statement of the purpose and results o.
the protective system.
ApFEP IMPRESSION MADE BY MAJOR MCKINLEY
With the average crowd in a town or city
Governor Campbell's humOgisms might have prove
more catching and popular than the serious ant
dipnifed oratory of Major Mckinley. But among
the intelligent and thinking class of farmers, wh'
made up so large a portion Of the audience. the
sincerity and power of the Majors aggressive anC
substantial argument made the more profound
and lasting impression. and il was the Republican
candidate who drew out at every point tht
heartest and least perfunctory applause. Malol
Mckinley has genuine eloquence and SURPRISING
force as a public speaker. and there are few
men in public life who rival him in the com
mand which he exercises over sympathetic au
dience The gathering to-day made up, az
II was chiefly from the strong Democratic
counties in this region-Hardin. Allen, Richland
Hancock and others-was Democratic certainly IL
the proportion Of 10 3; vet the RepubHcaI
candidate held its interest and compelled ltf
admiration throughout his speech, and had he mac
The closing half-hour. instead OF Governor lamp
bell the discontinue Of his Democratic rlNal
Orstorically would have been complete. As
was, by his dexterity Governor Campbell man
aged 10 regain part Of the ground he hau IOs
and win back a share of his former popularity as
talker With the more intelligent and impair
dal Of the listeners, however. both RepuOhcani
and Democrats there was no question at the emo
that Major Mckinley had had the decided ad-
vantage in the encounter. Whether his apparent
superiority in joint debate is or is not an actu"l
V0s-Winning element will be determined when lHc
returns from these stoutly Democratic counties
come In.
TIE SCENE AT THE FAIR GROUNDS.
Inc debate took place, so many outdoor
uSeusSlons IN Ohio do in the fair grounds, at the
euse OF the little town. The race-track grand
sU1na served 70 hold about l 800 listeners, while
,s hs the track under an awning, seats for over
.'OVO more were provided The speakers stand