New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-11-21
RFGTVNING TO SEE.

Mrs Lease of Kansas, labored to the utmost
of her ability, no doubt, down to the recent
election. to secure complete control of the Ma
tional Government for the Democratic party
Within two weeks after the election, according
to published statements, she declares that thc
Democratic party ought to be driven out OF
power for its suppression of free speech ana
free suffrage at the South. Her indlsputablc
right to use her influence as she judges best
for the welfare of the country carries with IL
q grave responsibility. The Democratic party
is not any worse than it was few weeks ago
when she was laboring to give it power. Her
statements show that she knew full well before
the late election what crimes against freedom
that party had committed, and was about to
commit at the South 1t is not light matter
TO turn over the control of the National 6oV-
ornment to a party which one knows to be
absolutely unworthy of trust.
Doubtless it will be answered that Mrs. Lease
was doing what she could to elect General
Weaver. and was not responsible if others did
not use their ballots or their influence lntelll-
gently enough to prevent Mr.. Clevelands cleo
uon But there was only one way to prevent
the triumph of the party which keeps the South
solid by denial Of free suffrage That way was
to concentrate all It's opponents upon President
Harrison, for five million voters could not be
induced to abandon their own candidate for
the candidate of half a million. Had Mrs
Lease used her entire influence in the only prac-
teal way to prevent Democratic success had
she ceased TO devote her speeches 10 attacks
upon Republicans, and publicly declared what
she now declares about the Democratic party
the result might have been the same, but her
responsibility would have been very different
The former Republicans at the West who
have chosen to assist Democrats in the late
campaign doubtless believed with sincerity that
men at the South who held their own views
would be permitted to vote freely, as these
former Republicans did vote in Western States,
and TO have their votes counted as honestly.
But men are responsible for such a mistaken
belief as this when they are acting as the
sovcreigns of a great self-governlng nation.
The evidence before them was strong enough
10 convince mutitudes besides Mrs. Leas, long
before the election took place, that no indie
pendent action at the South would be per-
mitted to endanger Democratic success. In the
face of such evidence he who persists in trust
ing an unworthy party is responsible for the
consequences of that choice.
Because these voters have been honest in
their trust and have been thus deceived, it is
not unreasonable to hope that they will decline
TO be used as catspaws by the Democratic
party again. TIE TRIBUNE had so much faith
in their good sense that it did not believe they
would be so used even once. But events force
home the truth to minds which have been rcSO-
lutey closed to evidence. The former Repub-
lcans Of the West will learn whether they have
gained anything for themselves, their States
or the ideas they hold by permitting the Demo
cratic party to seize the power. For one thing,
their acts this year have made it harder as
they will find, for honest Northern voters to
make any resistance in future to the party
which holds the entire South in its grasp.
Laws to prevent dishonest elections at the North
will be repealed or altered. Industries employ
ing multitudes of voters will be gradually trans
ferred TO the South where labor can be found
| that is cheap and has no vote. Millions of
public money will be employed in such manner
as 10 serve the party in power, and not the
people State banks with enormous corrupting
powers will be created, if the Democratic party
dares TO act upon it, own PLATFORM II will
not be as easy four years hence as it was two
weeks ago for Mrs. Lease, and those who may
then think as she now thinks, to drive from its
entertainments the party which has succeeded
! by denial of the right Of suffrage.