New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-12-10
LILLE pnnRLEM FOR CONGRESS.

When tho returns come in. it Is probable that
tho Democrats will appear to he in minority
IN spito of their really extraordinary victory
In one State after another. as the full returns
,nncor il j. found that the decline of the Re-
rublican vote is due TO a considerable vote
thrown away upon the candidates of the Peo-
pleS party. In few counties the Democrats
have nolled more votes than four years ago
but in great many counties the Republicans
notwithstanding the increase in four years,
have pollcd fewer votes. and the obvious eX-
planation is found in the heavy vote in those
counties for candidates who could not be
elected It may be fairly said that nobody
imagined the candidates OF the Peoples or the
Prohibition parties could be successful, for II
Inv anv accident the election had been thrown
into the House it certain that there the
Democratic candidate would succeed.
Thus Democratic success in 1892 seems not
IN bo due to the positive strength of that party,
hut to large diversion from the Republican vote
II is not intended to blink the fact that the
third and fourth party voters were presumably
anxious o. dcfcat.the Republicans, though they
did not see fit to vote directly for Mr.. Cleve-
land. He succeeded. not because there was n
majority of voters for him, but because in many
States there was small but sufficient minority
opposcd to the Republican party and policy,
and vet not in favor Of the Democratic party
and policy. This fact may carry in it the
history of the next four years. The Demo
Gratis come into power by the half -unintended
aid of men opposed to the Democratic party,
its candidates and its policies. 1t will be the
al Of situated
win to its support those who have taken a
middle ground For reasons which are too
obvious to require mention, that party can
never hope to gain the votes Of tho Prohibitions
ISIS. Men who throw away their rights OF
citizenship on that ticket may have but little
sense. and yet they have too much to expect
any advantage by electing candidates OF the
Dcmoc attic party. The Democrats must there
fore. bend their energies to capture the voters
who make up the Peoples party.
40 sensible man suppoSes that this can be
done except by satisfying the wishes OF the
Peoples party in respect to some one OF ITS
fanaticSms Money, Land, Transportation"
are its watchwOrds Il monopoly in each OF these
if suppose to exist, and is anxious TO over
throw. The Democratic party cannot seize the
lalllOduS anu ltIcEldpHS vi th' ''"''' W.
public uSe. and is we'll aware that il would 90
out of sight for half century if it should make
the attempt 50 with the scheme to enable
men TO borrow money on land at pleasure, or
the more radical scheme of Mr. George. Any
attempt 10 meet tho wishes of the Peoples
party in that direction would be simply fatal
to Democratic success. But the bottom Of the
so called Peoples movement, and the begin
ming Of its platform, is the money question.
Unless the Democrats supply more money with
out any reasonable limit as to amount, more
money without any regard to It's soundnesS or
it's purchasing power, they are going to meet
more serious trouble in the great Democratic
States than they ever yet have seen.
Free coinage is one phase of this idea, the
scheme another and the State
bank plan third But they all mean degrade
ton of the circulating medium. Abundant
money is the cry cheap and bad money is the
meaning If the Democrats jilt this more
money party they may look ont for themselves
in the strongest Democratic States. In that
case some Of the most capable Democrats of
Texas say. even Texas would become extreme
" doubtful for Democratic candidates. But if
the Democrats keep cOquetting with this new
and win its favor, they will drop
out of sight in Eastern States and in CONNER
ca cities throughout the country.