New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-02-03
A STRANGE ARRAIGNMENT.

The general outlook, in the judgment OF
The New-York Herald" is exceedingly I'M
favorable for the Republican party. Thai
party. according to the Herald; has sur
rendered entirely - monOpole> and trusts in
the matter OF duties on imports; il has Nquan-
dcred and piundercd pas endurance in the
granting of pensions; it has d>IcgaIdcd and
iciicd public opinion in the proposed Election
bill, and It's blundeIS have aroused public
contempt and fury" /, this fair or truth
fu statement?
It is strange arraignment Of millions OF
American citizens. They are al least as in
teliigen, rs those who oppose them, even those
opponents Will admit they OWa a' many o.
the homes IS many OF the farms, and have a.
large a stake in the welfare OF the county.
The vast majority OF them are industrious
Woodworking producers who earn their living
by honest labor. and have no other interest in
politics save tina, which every patriotic citizen
ought 10 have. Yet ii Is this great body OF
voters who are in effect accused Of layor!ng
monopolieS and trusts, oil plundoring the Ma
ton for the benefit oil favored individuals and
of striving by unfair and desperate methods to
defeat the Will Of the majority. For ii cannot
Republican party have lacked the hearty ap-
probation and support OF the great body Of
Republican voters. \ minority has diS>cnted
IS to one measure Or another but the Rcpub-
lican Representatives and Senators have truly
represented the wishes OF more than nine
t.nths OF the voters who usually act with them.
Does any Sober-minded man really believe that
these millions Of honest and industrious Amcn-
can citizens are guilty OF the grave offences ii
rccitcs?
The millions who love their country are never
wanting in integrity of purpose They may
and sometimes do mistake IN regard 10 the
measures employed TO benefit the country. But
in this case the measures N dispute are NOT
now, but have been publicly discussed for years
The tariff was the most prominent question in
the last Presidential campaign, and the de
cisiOn Of the people was undcniably for the
kind OF tann which Congress. has enacted
About some details there might be dispute ~
popular m,informatlon. But it is not on ac-
count of such details that the Republican party
is arIaigncd, but chiefly for those very features
which. being essentially protective, were urged
by one party and denounced by the other in
the Presidential contest. Il the measure is
essentially wrong, ~ is Chdfp'I, ABOUT nail the
voters OF the country, and those not the least
intelligent or patriotic, have deliberately pre-
ferrcd a wicked and WaSteful system.
Regarding the question Of pensions, the issue
is substantially the same lnqueSti0nably the
millions who gave victory TO the Republican
party in 1855 were in favor OF most liberal
grants 70 the veterans OF the Union. ii Con-
gresS has in any particular gone beyond their
wishes il may be accused OF mIsjudgment, but
ii cannot be truly SAID that the Z neral policy
Of Congress in that particular is dishonest.
plundering or wicked, unless the millions of
American citizens who have favored that pol
icy can be 50 accused. The details Of the
Election bill, again, may not be free from
error bu, the opponents of that measure have
from the outset denounced its essential purpose
ana general character, wholly ahS'ainng IRON
any attempt to point ont or correct errors OF
detail. The ARA gnmcnt is that the Repub-
lican party has by this measure deiicd public
opinion, and sought % pcrpctHatc its power in
spite Of the public will. But If this lie true
the millions # true-hcartod Americans who
voted for President Harrison and have sincere
IS sustained the endeavOr to secure fair cleo