The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1892-11-25
RESULT OF THE ELECTION.
ProtsetioniSts VIII Keep Up the Fight.
What Is Expected Of De

Protsetionists WnI Keep Up the Fight.
what is Expected of Dsmocraey.
Ar.aeza EessozG
The campaign is finished and the re-
suit Of the election is the national sue
cess Of the Democratic party, with its
free trade platform. Does that result
show the protection cause lost, or the
efforts in its behalf futile? Not at all,
and this result need not be held sur
prising.
In 1880 came the great landslide to-
ward Democracy and tariff for Q
only-ires trade thinly yelled. The
election this year shows q gain in the
popular vote for protection, q gain in
Republican members of Congress, but
no: gain enough to overtop the canvass
OF two years ago. ne are going up, not
down.
The country vote Is for Republican
protection, but the city vote for Demo
cratic free trade overcomes it. In New
York and Chicago this is especially
manifest. The vote Of the country is
more thoughtful and intelligent than
that of the city. In New York City, for
instance. while we have able and
thoughtful men, the crowd that shouts
for Tammany is far less thoughtful than
the farmers and mechanics and others
in town and country. As for protection
being "a lost cause" that is impossible.
II q home market for home industry, If
the upbuilding in our midst OF varied
occupations-iarm and mill, forest and
mine near each other, exchanging
easily, and all developing home re-
sources and interna! wealth-be the
wige and true conduct OF affairs, they
cannot be lost. The protective policy
ia on the gain in the civilized world,
even in Great Britain, where the work
ingrnep demand it. The election may
check it here, but only for a time.
The Democratic party in the ascend
ant will have a path beset by perils.
Let 1t push things' toward its plat
form promise OF free trade, and it will
find great industrial enterprises, owned
and managed by men Of both parties in
partnership, who will not be willing
victims Of politicians. Its household
will be divided. The solid south-au-
tocratic, d~omineering, lawless, possess
ed by the blindness Of the old Slayeoc-
racy, of which it is the lingering rem
nant-will demand free trade. The
men of practical industry south and
north will say, go slow"
Let the party inaugurate its platform
policy, and the revulsions and disasters,
the lack Of employ and lowering OF
wages which would follow will sweep it
out OF power as by a whirlwind.
Let it hesitate and tinker and palter
over tariffs, and it will derange business,
check industry by its uncertainty, and
show again It's Incompetence to frame
a schedule OF customs duties consistent
with any policy or fit for any practical
purpose-an Incompetence shown in
Morrison and Wood and Mills jumbles
Of in%congruities called tariff bills, which
did not even gain the united support OF
tho Democrats in Congress in those
days.
trade people will say: "You are brave
and fair in promise, but cowardly and
deceptive in performance. Away with
youi'' All looks fair now, but storms
will rage and fierce blasts sweep in from
every quarter when the free trade De-
mocracy begins to take its W medi-
cine"
To-day protection is' defeated. The
election Of Harrison and Reid, repre-
sentatives OF its policy, with a Republic
can Congress to sustain it, would have
been q signal and benefcent triumph
a help TO civilization and to the culture
and comfort OF the people.
But that result ia not reached. What
shall be done? The American Protec-
tive Tariff League and its organ, the
American Ecoaamhi, will go on with
their work.
Our hope and expectation is that pro-
tectionists, while willing to give the
incoming administration q fair trial,
will watch and work, steadfast to their
principles and positive in their attitude
against free trade or tariff for revenue
only. r..
education" is now, just after the cleo
ton. The defeated army, conscious OF
its power and OF the strength Of its good
cause, keeps sound in heart and heroic
in mood, and rallies and drills for its
coming victory.