New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-11-07
SOME INFERENCE.S.

1t was by some considered daring and vent
urasome thing when the Republicans OF Ohio
nominated Major Mckinley for Governor.
Every one knew that this nomination would
force the tariff issue to the front as no formal
resolution in the platform, however empaa ic
and explicit, could have done. So clear was
this that the sagacious Republican leaders in
that State, wishing to make the best use also
of the Democratic blunder in advocating free
coinage of silver, were compelled to devote part
Of their time to the discussion of this question,
knowing that the tariff question would never
theess predominant over all others in influence
because of Mr.. McKinleys nomination. Thus
they made the contest on the bravest possible
lines, and they achieved richly deserved sue
cess.
Its effect begins to be seen in the altered tone
Of Democratic leaders and journals. they re-
alize that the silver issue hurt them in Ohio and
yet they claim, apparently with much truth,
that the Republican majority there is altogether
too large to be attributed to that matter only
or mainly. In fact they rightly reason that
there would have been decided and handsome
majority for Major Mckinley on the tariff ques-
ton alone had there been no other to influence
the verdict, and they claim that the boasted
progress of public opinion toward Free-Trade
theories is seen rather in the practical cOnsoda-
ton of the entire Democratic strength on that
issue, than in the failure of the party to obtain
q majority in State essentially Republican.
But there has been substantial and important
progress on the other side also If Democrats
were much divided OH the tariff question few
years ago, so that an influential though not
numerically strong minority was at all times
ready to oppose the doctrines of Mr.. Cleveland
and Mr. Mills, it was also true that there was
q minority of Republicans who believed thai
duties ought to be reduced, and protection ought
to be modified in the supposed interest OF con-
sumers. Experience during the last year has
done wonders in educating the people on this
subject The entire Republican party is now
substantially convinced that the threatened adj
vance in prices OF commodities in consequence
of some advance in duties, has not been re-
allied, and that in fact the consumer does not
have 10 pay, as a rule or generally, more money
for things purchased because duties on those
things have been raised for the purpose of pro-
lection.
1t is the plea of Free Trade organs that G. ov-
ernor Russel's victory in Massachusetts, was
mainly due to the dissatisfaction of Republicans
with the new tariff. But if this were true their
votes would assuredly have been concentrated
against Republican candidates for the Legslat-
ure, far more than against Republican can
didate for Governor, and yet in the legislative
elections the Republicans made great gains. So
in Iowa, where the issue of Prohibition turned
the scale as to the Governor a portion of the
voters who supported the Democratic candidate
nevertheless voted for Republican members OF
the Legislature, so that the Democrats find them
selves powerlcss minority In the House. The
people like pluck and candor. They respect the