New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-11-05
THE REASON FOR CONFIDENCE.

IL il still n mystery 20 Democrats why Re-
pullicanS are confident Of suoesS, though a
short time ago they considered the contest close
and somewhat doubtful and though Democrats
of the highest experience and skill feel abSO-
lutcy certain of victory. Tho problem is not
a difficult one. II only illustrates the wide
difference between government by n machine
and government by the people. Democratic
mcthcd, are best exhibited by Tammany Hall.
The head Of the organization selects leaders,
and they select sub leaders, and from time to
time all report what vote the machine will be
able to command. This would be fine if every
voter would kindly mention to the leader how
he intended TO vote. \ good many thousand
have neglected to do so. in recent Presidential
elections. and the machine has been slightly
disappointed
The Republican organization is not certain
how the people are going to vote until that
point often late in a campaign, when the
thinking and reading voters make up their
minds. That party has its clubs and its or
CARNATIONS TO bring arguments and facts be-
fore voters and to watch the effect upon public
opinion. When the tide begins to set strongly
one way or the other organizations embracing
IL
port the facts Thanks are due to the Demo
cratic party this year rs in some previous cam
paigns, for the shouting and Dragging and fuss
with which it has contrivcd Ia keep Rcpub-
lcan workers wholcSOmcly scared. \ party
comp scd Of men who are fit 10 govern always
does lis best when there is prevalent a con
siderable apprehension. and when it looks like
an uphill fight Down t. a recent period this
wear. until all the hard work had been done.
Democratic beasts supported by the rcmcm-
brancc Of Democratic victories in 1890 have
stimulated the Republicans to unusual effort.
When ono set of workers, reaching business
interests in every part of the country, report
a distinct and growing conviction among bust
ness men that a change in time Of exceptional
prosperity is not desirable, experienced leaders
Judge that il means something. Wien other
reports show that among wagc learners there
is a steady and strong increase of profcrcrcc
for the policy under which laborers have
realized the greatest gain in wages ever at
tanned by workingmcn in any country, expert
cnccd leaders Judge that tho report means
something. When il begins to appear that
farmers by the thousand have quietly dropped
away from an attempted class organization
and concluded that calamity party in u time
of exceptional prosperity is mistake that also
has it, meaning. Republicans prefer to work
and make converts, until they are reasonably
sure that the tide has become too strong to
be stayed.
But Democrats often ask: as not Mr..
Whitney shrcWd and capable, and Mr. German,
and do they not feel sure of Mr. Cleveands
clcc,on?" Undoubtedly they are capable, but
the kcencst politician in the world would get
wrong opinion if tho reports he received were
worthless. Presumably these leaders are con-
fdcnt; in 1855 they certainly were Every
Democratic leader Of capacity and shrewdness.
from the least to the greatest, made his pre-
dictions thcn in the most positive terms. and
his followers went out and offered bets at two
TO one. and lost money. Can anybody explain
why the @ same men, and others less expert
cnced and capable who have been brought to
the front shoud be infalble this year. though
LAWFULLY fallbc four years ago?
This year will show whether the Republican
party has lost its oft-proved faculty of know
ing what people wish and how they feel II It