New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-03-09
WHAT ELLIS DOES NOT KNOT.

If there were not some such lunatlcS as Ellis,
the Republican party would have won FEWER
victories, and would have fewer chances OF VIC
tory in the future. Representative w. l. ElliS'
OF the lid District, Kentucky strikes the stars
with his sublime head when he declares that MI.
Cleveland, after his letter on free-colnage, could
not carry more than two counties out OF 10 III
Kentucky. and that the Democratic party on Il
free coinage platform would carry New York
like a flash" This is about the talleSt specimen
of political foolishness yet exhibited to an ad-
miring public, but il differs only in degree and
not in kind from the chronic folly which has
so often made Republican victories easy.
Mr.. Ellis does not seem to know the Democrats
of Kentucky very intimately. II there Is any
kind of political doctrine or any candidate tbat
they would not vote for if labelled Democratic
and offered to them by their accustomed leaders,
the country has not suspected the fact. Neither
has Mr. Carruth, also Democratic Representa-
tive from Kentucky, but from the Louisville dis
tmct. where he doubtless sees the papers ana
hears from the outside world now and then. lie
strongly opposes Mr.. Cleveland because OF his
anti-silyer letter. but further remarks that "any
nominee of the Democratic party can carry the
Solid SOUTH The circumstance which Mr.. f.
lis forgets is that the dear people in that section
are solid for everything labelled Democratic, and
never take the trouble to find ont what the label
covers. Putup any sort of a candidate, on any
sort of n platform, and if the familiar ana re-
sounding inquiry, "Will you be ruled by mig
gers ~ does not carry the day, the methods
which the Election bill might have restricted
will nevertheless make tho South solid
But Mr. Ellis draws heavily on most fertile
and exuberant Imagination again, when he de-
clares that New-Yor can be carried for free COIN
age "like a fash His personal acquaintance
with things in this State must be aStonlShlngIy
great Probably he qualities himself for prophecy
AS some book reviewers qualify themselves Tor
reviewing. by taking care never to look inside
the covers lest they should be prejudiced. What
Mr.. Ellis does not know about NewY York leaves
him entirely free TO express his preconce'Vcd
opinions. If he knew just little more, that Is
anything, he would probably be less voclierous
in speech and less cOck-surc in conviction.
1t is delightful thing for Republicans that so
many of their old adversarieS are persons OF the
Ellis variety who are absolutely free from an en-
t,ngling knowledge of facts, and III no danger OF
enslaving submission TO them. Now ana then
there comes Democrat OF different sort
shrewd, calculating. anxious 10 find ont what
the facts are and what the people really 90 de-
sire, who never mistake a resolution OF some
labor union for decision of all the wolkingmen
in a State, and would be called Mugwump II he
did not consider it discreditable. When sucn
man gets near the front, Republicans know that
some work must be done in order to succeed
But the customary and favorite Democratic
leader Is by inheritance and by training, by
nature and BY grace a confirmed rainbow chaser.
The adoption of the frcc-conaSe policy by the
Democrats. without qualification or reserve,
might seem at first blush to expose the Republl-
can party to one great peril, the return
of the Mugwumps. But al the bottom the
Mugwump is nothing but Free Trader and
the Republican party is i'll no danger OF his fatal
support so long as it stands for Protection. The
Democrats can fight for bad money, or unlimited
coinage, or outright reputation, and still count
upon the detrimental support of the tanatlcal
FREQ Trader