The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1892-06-22
A CAMPAIGN OF ISSUES.

judging from events OF yesterday at
Chicago nothing short Of a miracle can
defeat the nomination of Cleveland, and
the age of miracles is passed. His oppo-
nents have not yet actually quit the
field, they still talk of combinations, and
some few of them are rash enough to
predict the ex-President's defeat, but it
is evident to a careful observer that they
counterfeit confidence they do not
feel. They are really down in the dumps,
hesitating whether to continue their OPP
position to the end or try to patch up
| some sort of trade with their victorious
adversaries.
Looking at the matter from a non
partisan standpoint, the selection of Mr..
Cleveland can only be regarded as for
tunate one for the country. National
campaigns should turn upon questions of
public policy, and these questions should
be presented so clearly and distinctly
that the average voter may understand
them and so be able to vote intelligently.
But with candidates who have no very
settled convictions on public ques-
| tons, who when asked what is their
belief in regard to the tariff or the coin
age reply simply that they are Demo-
Gratis, the issues are likely to be SO OBJ
scured that the average voter is able to
discover little in the campaign but tri-
umph of one man or one party over the
other. To be sure parties put forth a
declaration of principles, but it soon
passes out of the public mind, and the
people look to the opinions of the party
candidate, and the party leaders for an
exposition Of the party's policy. If the
candidates are trimmers, without any
pronounced convictions on the questions
of the day, the campaign is pretty certain
to degenerate into a mere personal or
party contest which settles nothing ex-
cept which particular man shall be Presi-
dent for the next four years, and which
party shall control the offices. Under
such circumstances the contest becomes
largely one for the possession of the
spoils-and such a contest is always de-
moralizing.
If, on the other hand the candidates
stand for definite and well defined poll
cies the contest is likely to be a genuine
one between rival theories of govern
ment, which will stimulate men to
thoughtfulness and enlist their attention
upon questions, the right settlement of
which underlies the general public well
fare.
In the nomination of Harrison the Re
publicans did their part to make the
campaign one of the latter kind. They
selected man who has definite and
pronounced views upon the tariff and the
other great questions of the day, and
whose views are known of all men. In
selecting Cleveland the Democrats will
have done the same thing. Mr.. Cleve-
land has definite opinions and the people
know what they are. With these two
candidates the contest will be one in
which rival policies will be in issue.
The voter who supports Mr.. Harrison
will know that he is voting to give prac-
teal effect to his belief that protection
, will best promote the general welfare of
the country. The voter who votes for
Cleveland will also know that he is vot-
ing to give practical effect to his belief
that free trade will best promote the
general welfare. In the coming election
every voter can cast his vote with the
, full assurance that he is doing something
besides deciding whether Harrison or
Cleveland shall be the next President, or
whether Republican or Democrats shall
, collect the revenues and superintend the
post offices.