The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-11-05
THE DOOM OF M,K1NLEYIsM.

The cold wave which passed from the
Atlantic coast through MASSACHUSETTS,,
New York and Iowa will chill the hearts
of our republican friends who think
that the republican party is endowed
with a divine right to rule the govern
mental affairs of this country. With
the solitary exception OF Ohio they find
nothing but wreckage, and they are en-
titled to but few grains of comfort for
carrying that state. Democratic dis
loyalty and barrels of money made
republican victory possible in that
strong republican commonwealth. The
political harpies of both parties, in that
state have lived long on the loaves
and fishes. Governor Campbell's deter
mined warfare against state and NUM-
cipal rings and jobs brought these
thugs against him in a mass. Those
foolish republican newspapers who
point to the victory of Mckinley as
final judgment on the merits of his bill
will carefully avoid a critical examina-
ton of the results IN other states. There
are more than local issues in state elect
tions the year before a great struggle
for the presidency. Political leaders
know too we'll the bearing of elections
at this time to neglect. opportunities.
We do not know when the struggle for
state supremacy was ever more carefully
planned or more vigorously fought at
every point.
The Mckinley bill was the great over
s%hadowing issue. 1t could not be dis
gulsed by local discussions on prohibi-
ton, the Worlds fair or the rule of
local political societies. 1t was debated
in Massachusetts, New York, Ohio and
Iowa by the ablest statesmen of both
parties. We yesterday referred to the
result in Massachusetts as most signiti-
can't of the popular sentiment, for there
were no local issues in that state except
a weak and harmless attack on Cover
nor Russells record. Furthermore
Massachusetts has always occupied a
conspicuous place in the republican col
umn. Then, too, it is largely populated
with factory laborers and the voting
population is unusually intelligent.
The democratic victory in that state
means simply that the workingmen re-
peated their protest of last fall against
the Mckinley bill and that they will be
found in the same line Of battle next
year. We cannot account for this re-
suit in any other way. Governor Rus
sell was a popular man, but no mans
popularity is far reaching enough to
switch a normal majority Of 10000
against to 5000 in favor.
Mr.. Flowers. election is further evil
dence of this popular feeling. Surely
no one will argue that his great major
ity of more than 10000 was the result Of
New Works failure to secure the
Worlds fair. Something more is needed
to change the vote of the back county
republican farmer in New York state.
The farmers piled up his majority as
the vote above and below Harlem indi-
cate. 1t means that the tiller of the
soil as well as the factory hand is study
ing the matter of tariff reform and is
receiving new light.
I Gov. Boies made the repeal of the pro-
AxEitory law a strong feature Of his cam
paign. While the governor was directing
this 1trne of battle eminent tariff re-
TOP. -e4s we're stumping the state in
efdy' direction and their work shows
Rteost gratifying results.
4 III our high protection friends weigh
caEefully the results Of the elections of
1S9O'and 1891 they must conclude that
McKinleyism cannot be forced on the
people of this country. The people do
not often speak twice on the same sub.
ject with the same emphasis.