New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-10-11
/ SILENCE That rs not APATHY

The last month of the Presidential campaign
bocjns with less excitement than is usually
seen a full month earlier Democrats have been
pleased to attribute thu, quictude 10 a general
Indifference and apathy Of voters, and have
inferred that it means a small Republican vote.
The Democrats in the cities and towns. 1t Is
said. can be brought out in any case, while
light vote in the rural districts Will mean
Kopuhl!can defeat. such i, the most sub>tan-
nal basis for the hopes which Democrats are
udulcing a, the last month of the campaign
begins They can win if the Republicans do
not care 10 vote. 1t j. a doubtful RELIANCE,
bat seem, to be their best.
True. they have appealed with some success
10 the y.hdictiyc passions of the Civil ar, ana
they hone thus 10 retain solid south. But
thi, would not give Mr.. Cleveland votes enough,
and meanwhile. the same appeal to ylndlctivc
MISSIONS. and the same outcry against fair and
free elections. have strong tendency 10 arouse
Northern voter, and 70 put an end 10 apathy
here. The developments Of October have yet
to tell how far il pays for the Democratic party
10 stir up sectional amnesty, and 10 milan"
the bitter feeling, OF those who were defeated
in Civil War. 1t may prove the worst blum
der of a laundering campaign. Mr. Cleveland
would not be stronger but altogether weaker, If
il should be realized that he has behind him
solid south and that neither free speech nor
honest elections are yet tolerated in that
section.
Absence of excitement does not always mean
indcci,ion or Indifference. II is not necessarily
the voter who has shouted most loudly for
,f l. "a lac anal
east the right way, when the election comes.
There are several millions of voters this year
who have not been marching nor shouting. and
have attended fewer meetings than usual, be-
cause their minds are made up. They wait
only for the time 10 cast the votes which they
have determined 10 cast. The business or the
work which occupies them moro closely than
usual this fall gives them only stronger rca-
son for uphoding the National policy under
which business has proSpcrcd and the demand
for workers ha, increased. Never before, in
any Presidential election, has there been such
active trade or such pressure Of work for
industrial establishments rs there is this year,
and that is one great reason for the compare
i've absence of political excitement. But it is
not a reason which encourages Democratic
hopes.
There has been comparatively little excite
mcnt about the personal characters of the can
djdatcS. Both have been tried. and people
know in measure what 10 expect OF both.
BIIt Mr.. Cleveland has lost much of the con
idcnce of men that he was better than his
Marty lie has descended 10 the closest afia-
ton with the very elements in his party which
GOOD citizens most fear and dctcSt has stopped
10 hide his opinions on some points and to color
them on others for the sake Of securing votes,
and i'm public letters, speeches and acts has
done mach to destroy the belief that he would
be strong enough to resist the most dangerous
tendencies Of the Democratic party. On the
other hand, President Harrison enjoyed in a
marked degree the confidence of intelligent
citizens Of both parties before the campaign
began. and all that he has done or said has only
tended to increase confidence in him rs faith
full and able public servant There could hard
" be great excitement about the personal side
Of a contest between President who is strong
or than when he was elected, and a third time
candidate who is weaker than when he was
defeated.
The interest of the campaign turns upon the
industries and business ISSUES involved. About
these, men think quite as clearly and strongly
when they are at work rs they can at an ex-
cited meeting It is the decision of quiet and
thoughtful men on these issues which the Dem
ocrats have to fear. Millions of voters were
silently but impressively reminded when they
received wages on Saturday last that their