New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-10-30
FAITH nv THE PEOPLE.

The last week of the great campaign has been
reached. and the work OF registration has been
completed. The registration is large. ard prom
Uses heavy vote. The people will decide this
wear. and not the politicians only nor the voters
who are attached to any political machine. In
that fact lies the best hope Of Republican sc-
cess.
The politicians and the professional classes
have interests quite different from those of the
millions whose livelihood depends upon the pol
icy of the Government. This year the mcr-
chants. tho manufacturers and the wage earn
crs will settle the question. Their names do
not often appear in the papers. They are not
in haste to announce how they are going to
vote. They are content to vote without much
parade of their opinions. The secret ballot en-
ablcs them to make their wishes felt without
prOclaiming their preference on the housct0ps.
This year for the first time the virtues of the
secret ballot will be tested on grand scale
and in many States. and to some political sup
porters of Mr. Cleveland this gives an excuse
for hOpcfnIncSS. But there Is substantial rca-
SOY for tho belief that the result may be to their
seriously disappointing.
When men know that their votes arc watched
and will he known to customers il they are
merchants. and to employers If they arc wage
carnors. considerations entirely apart from the
personal convictions of the voters regarding
their own interests often have weight. When
they can vote without any fear that their choice
will he known. they are much more likely 10
consider their own interests and to vote ac-
cording to their own convictions. it Is not
easy to believe that the merchants OF this colln-
try really think the success OF the Democratic
party would be a good thing for them. Most
OF them must have enough experience and m
te,ligence to realize that popular decision II
favor of radical change i'll the policy oi tie
Government would involve more or less serious
disturbance Of trade.
The case Us to wage-carncrs is still moro
clear. They cannot DO ignorant that the wages
they are now receiving are higher than were
paid two years AGO or twelve years ago and
very much higher than were ever paid under
Democratic policy about 20 p"r cent higher
than the waees now paid in Canada for similar
work. and about double the wages now pad
in Europe for similar work. 1t cannot be ~ them
o pleasant thought that reversal Of tho Ma
ti0nal policy might turn wages downward. In
decd, intelligent men among them can hardly
have a doubt that this would be tae effect.
or they well know that many works and shops
which have conc into existence under the rro-
visions OF the new tariff would be g! led by
a change Of Nationa! policy. This w"'''d throw
many workers out Of employment. Wen there
il an increasinc number T works competing
for the labor of the same number OF mon The
wages Of labor inevitably rise. When thrr" Is
a decrease in the number of works conn citing
for the labor of the same number Of men the
wages of labor inevitably fail!
The Republican party has faith that tn"
merchants and the wuYe-ca1icr> OF the cinn-
try realize their true interests. and tina! thou.
sands of them will cast silent ballots against
change of National policy. To doubt il w"uIl
be to doubt the fitness OF the p"op!" f'F TN"
responsibilities Of sell! government. Moe t!,rn
thirty years this grand plitt has been steadily
trusting the intelligence of tho people. 1t hts
never been mistaken in slngl" Prtsid"niiil
election, unless it be in the election Of 1884,
Immediately after a change of tariff which was
in many particulars Il decrease Of protection
and CONGO ssion to the prcjudccS and thc
clamor of Free Traders. This year the aty
has no such error. 10 answer for. Ii has o.
hibitcd more courage and more fidelity t. its
own convictions than at an previous time in
its history Unless its confidence in the intclli
gcncc Of the millions is for tho first time mis-.
taken. the silent verdict OF those whose wages
and business arc at stake will justify lis course