New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-06-26


the Republican party it will he observed that
of-ycar elections have had little influence on It's
| fortunes in Presidential years. The Republicans
have only won the House of Representatives twice
| in sixteen years. In 1882 Grover Cleveland ear
rcd Ncw-lork fer Governor by l02, 900 majority,
| which made him the Democratic candidate for
the IRE dency in 1884 with hurrah. 1t is true the
State counted for him by paltry 200
plurality that year and he was inauguratcd; but
there are grave doubts, even TO this day, if he
fairly carried the State In 1883 he was beaten
in New-York by about $4,000 plurality by Ben
| jamn Harrison in the largest vote ever poiled.
But 1890 is not the only year when the opposition
has defeated the Republicans in of their
strongholds. In 1852 Kansas elected Demo
cratic Governor but in | sS4 it gave Blaine over
Cleveland $4,000 majority and $1,000 TO llar-
rson in 1888 Even Maine had a Democratic
Governor and an opposition Legislature in 1872
yet her electoral vote went for Garfield in 1850
and again for Blaine in 1884 by
a still larger majority. Ohio has had
about as many Democratic Governors
and Legislatures as Republican, Yet she hasn't
voted for Democratic candidate for the PreHl-
dcncy in forty years. Michigan and Wisconsin
have both gone Democratic in off years and had
democratic Legislatures, yet they gave harrison
respectively in 1888 $4,000 and 81 600 majority,
Z
could illustrate with still other Republican States
OFF YEAR MAJoRIrIEs DO NOT COUNT.
THE size of the majority against the Republi-
cans in these off year States does not signify any
thing. as was illustrated by Clevcland's majority
for Governor in New-York Pennsylvania elected
Pattison, Democrat, Beaver, Republican, and
& onc-lcggrd soldier at that. in 1882, by over
40, 900 plurality vet in 1884 il voted for
Blaine against this same Grover Cleveland by
81 900 majority, and again in 1SSS Tor
Harrison by $4,000 majority. Since then Penn
eylvania has made her record good by clectlng
Pattison for Governor again. but who expects
Pennsylvania to vote for Cleveland in 1892? Are
the Democrats apparently any more certain oil
carrying Ncw-YorS this year because they de-
feated Fassett last fall? The daily expressions
of their leaders and newspapers are far from indI-
eating jocund serenity on this head
In short. the Republicans either stay ct home
or reserve the oif-years to express their discon-
tent with candidates obnoxious policies ms
warning to their leaders But when the National
Government is the prize to he struggled for. the
Republican backbone stilTens up, Republican
arathy disappears, and when election day rolls
around the Republican voter is found at the
polls with the party ticket in his hand II Is
the most courageous. hopeful. confident. and the
hest disciplined political organization in National
| campaigns the world has ever seen. And best
Of all, its principles sound
In this rosy aspect of affairs, Mr.. Secretary,
do you expect General Harrison will be enabled
to break the Solid South at the coming election p
THE QUESTION OF THE SOLID SOUTH
Il am 10 rainbow chaser, young man. In pol
tics believe in the natural order of things just
| the same as believe that common sense nethois
applied in ordinary business affairs are followed
| LIANT flnVa n TQ
many surprises in store for the Democracy next
November. With an honest count we could carry
several Of tie Southern States. In 1883 Clevc-
land carried Virginia by only 1900 and West
Virginia By less than 400 majority over
Harrison 1t will require good deal OF
bioody-shirt howl about the Elections bill ana
kindred stun, and PERHAPS some cheating, to beat
Harrison in those States; and even with these
means, | doubt if it can be done
"On what lines do you anticipate the Demo
cratic fight of 500 will be madc?'
In the South race prejudice and fear OF the
Elections bin will he rcaled 10 to keep the voters
in lnc. In the West 1t is probable tarlil reform
will bc The principal line with the farmers. As
TO silver, some will claim that their platform is
as good as ours, but il is not. Tie general mean
| ness Of the Democratic Us against The EepuDlcah
| record will BE- pointed ont 10 the silver Tci'u-
diations as holding out the most encourag rment
| for relief In the East IL VIII be niue oil
everything: the bill N dollar Congress ana glitter
ing reform generally. with Cleveland go dy-goody
| Roman father character as the main background.
| The Republicans ready 10 meet their OPP
ponents all these questions; in considering
| denominations, a Democratic House mas founh
| oIj like the German immigrant, that this L. IL
pretty wide country. The mistake the cheese
J paIcrs make IL in assuming that money appFo-
! pria,cd for internal improvements and other cN-
lenses is lost 10 the country. II goes to our own
| reope if properly expended; il is not lost 10 the
| Nation because IL goes out OF the treasury.
| unlprgi
On the issues and on the record Of the two
rartias and on the Presidential records Of the
| candidates then, you anticipate an easy victory
for Harrison? suggested the Tribune representa-
PRESIDENT HARRIsoN's RECORD ENoUGn
Al do" replied the Secretary why not?
Who is there to say Harrison shall he beaten
because lie has not been good
President? Who can say he ought to be beaten
on the general record of his party
Harrison over Cleveland, with his free-tradc dog
mos in 1888 why cannot II rc-elect him over
the same man and same platform intensified IN
satisfied with the business situation through
out the country. They are satisfied
With the relation of politics
| m business as illustrated by IarrisUns Admins
tra:ion. There is the promise that the great crop
Of 1901 will be supplemented b. another nearly
or quite great in ,92; our foreign trade IS
| growing so steadily ana Rapidly as to excite the
watchful jealousy and fear of Great Britain, our
chief manufacturing and commercial rival; our
| internal affairs are peaceful and prosperous and
prosressive currency is plenty and staple In value
| ell these facts are favorable to the parry IN
power. The progress of the campaign will make
| Them more and more patent The
people are perfectly satisfied with the
| situation. There is a large conservative element
! which always dcpiecates and takes alarm Mt any
prospect Of change With this generally nom
partisan element, anything is letter than uncer
tainty, and for this reason, it will be, now-for
| ,uc Republicon candidate There is no oXtraor-
binary coniuncture to mprl this element to sup
port Mr.. Cleveand on the contrary, there are
The strongest reasons why II should and Will sup
port Mr. IIarris0n-thosc | have stated
Finally, what has Mr.. Cleveland done III the
last four years to warrant the belief that lie ls
stronger now than in 1888? In fact, should noe