Los Angeles herald., 1892-04-08
LET US COME DOWN TO THE DATUM
PLANE.

There is no use of failing to realize
the value of the lesson involved in the
Rhode Island election OF day before
yesterday.
As matter of fact the Democrats
carried Rhode Island at the last preced-
ing election. They gave their candi-
date for governor a clear plurality OF
the popular vote. They failed to elect
him because the law of that state re-
quires an outright majority to elect.
Rhode Island is heavily gerrymandered
in the legislative districts and the Re-
publicans had majority in the legisla-
ture, and were enabled to elect their
governor. Nevertheless the moral VIC
tory was with the Democrats.
The vote of day before yesterday was
heavy one. 1t was held under the
Australian ballot law. Notwithstand-
ing the fact that Mr.. Cleveland pro-
jected himself bodily into the canvass,
this year the Republicans seem to have
elected their governor by majority of
the popular vote, and the reelection of
Senator Aldrich is an assured fact.
The Democratic party ought to lose
no time in grasping the significance of
this fact. 1t is the first gun in the pres
idential election. 1t is the only one
which will ring out before the decisive
struggle.
The lesson it conveys is that the
Democratic party ought to quit dream
ing and should at once proceed to con-
centrate itself on the Democratic states.
In other words our principal efforts
ought to be directed to securing New
York, New Jersey. Indiana and Con-
necticut. We should be prepared to
welcome all states which show dispo-
sition to seek the Democratic fold, but
we should aim to secure the pivotal
commonwealth.
The exceptional strength of Gov.
Horace F. Boies in Iowa renders that a
doubtful Republican state. The sterling
character and great popularity of Isaac
P. Gray makes it possible to wrest In
diana from Harrison, or from whomso.
ever the Republican nominee may be.
The splendid career, great ability, and
stateemanlike qualities of David Bennett
Hill make it certain that New York can
be kept in the Democratic line.
To US, therefore, the circumstances
would seem to point to some such a
ticket as Hill and Gray, or Hill and
Boies. The counsel which would sug-
gest jeopardizing the old and tried DEM
ocratic states in pursuit of illusions or
of sentimental politics does not seem to
us wise.
Above all things, the Democratic
party should not allow its candidate to
be dictated by such Republican states
as Pennsylvania, Ohio, Massachusetts,
Vermont, Minnesota and others that
invariably go Republican in a presiden-
tial year. st. Paul tells us that we
should try all things and hold fast to
that which is good. We have tried
great many things political during the
past two or three decades, and we have
discoYered that New York, New jersey,
Connecticut, Indiana and the solid
south are good things to have about the
political house. California, Illinois,
Wisconsin, Michigan and all other states
which may apply will be welcome
guests should they happily put in an ap-
pearance, but the others named ought
to be the guests of honor in Demo-
cratic household and at Democratic
gathering.
The attempt to conjure Democratic
majority in Republican state through
the magic OF ex-President Cleveland
name does not appear to have been a
very marked success in the case of
Rho de Island