The Logan County banner. [volume] (Logan, W. Va.) 1889-1903, 1892-01-28
A MIsFlTs1EAM.



Rspubltsan TumbIsrs JsEsiing with Pun
lie Opinion.
II 1t were not forbidden to MS to at
tribute even the possibility Of . jocose
view Of politics to the serious-minded
republicans Of Kansas, we should say
that their boom" for Blaine and Nc
K1nley as the ticket for 1892 was IN
spired solely by . sense Of humor.
And we should be confirmed in this
Judgment BY the explanation that this
combination appeals to the Kansas
mind because it represents the two.
cardinal principles of republication.
reciprocity and protection. 1t would
add to the grim fun of the suggestion,
were we permitted to take it as fun at
all. that the friends of Mckinley, who
wished to have his name lead the
ticket, are cheerfully reminded by the
friends Of Mr.. Blaine that the latter is
likely to die before the end of the four
years term, and so the high ambitions
of two great men can be equally and
severally satisfied in one election. But,
as we have intimated, it is not permits
sible to interpret the ideas of Kansas
republicans by the light of humor.
They are dead in earnest, and when
they suggest Blaine and Mckinley,
reciprocity and protection, an invalid
statesman and a lusty politician, as
their conception of what will win in
the next election, they mean what they
say. every word of it. and mean it with
sincerity not without touch of
pathos.
For. to the observer who is as sober
minded as the Kansas republican him
self. and who is, moreover, wide-awake
to the significance of recent events,
this proposition is curiously in accord
with the condition both of the party
mind and the party prospects. It is
really rude, simple, half-grotesque,
half-pitfful attempt at o correct inter
probation of the situation. These Kan
sas people know that protection was
beaten, and badly beaten, in NewYork,
in Massachusetts,, and in Iowa. and
that it appeared to win in Ohio and in
Pennsylvania. To the rebellious re-
pub,icans of the first group OF. states
they offer Blaine and reciprocity; to-
the faithful of the latter group of states
they offer protection end Mckinley.
And since the great body of the party
still stitsk to protection, they give to
them the assurance that, though they
are to be represented only in the sec
ond place on+the ticket, their candidate
may fairly hope, in the course of ma
tnrc, to succeed the actual candidate
for the presidency in the performance
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this is the Juggling with public opinion,
the effort +, cheat the conscience and
Intellect OF rhe American people, which
really seems 70 these men likely to be
successful. it is nothing to them that,
SO far as this combination would work
at all, it would be trick, that Mr..
Blaine's ec.rrocity is in reality the
essential opposite of Mr.. McKinley's
protection ard vice versa, and that il
these plans were carried out, tho ticket
elected, and Nc Kinley were to become
president by the death in due time of
Mr.. Blaine, every man who voted for
Mr.. Blaine would be deceived. ALI that
they think of. all that they care for,
honest SOULS and narrow as they are,
Is that the republican party shall sue
coed. the dreadful democrats be de-
feated. and the saints inherit the post
offices.
1t is not unfair to say that this is in
accord with the condition of mind of
the republicans. nor that it fairly
represents the means by which their
leaders hope to win in the next presi-
Dental contest. The Kansas arrange
ment corresponds very closely to the
Mckinley bill with the reciprocity at
tachment, and certainly it is perfectly
well known that one and the other,
and each alternately have been
worked for all they were worth" ac-
cording to the varying latitudes If it
were possible to hold the old-time re-
publicans to the ticket by the McKin-
ley form of protection, and at the same
time hold the dissatisfied by the Blaine
device of reciprocity, no scruple of
conscience would prevent Happily, it
Is not possible. The process of enlight-
eminent has gene too far in the public
mind. The old time republicans will,
indeed, continue to vote the ticket, as
they did in Pennsylvania, whoever is
on it, and whatever he may represent
But the men whom Mr.. Blaine hoped
to catch with reciprocity will no longer
rise to that bait They know what it
really is and what 1t conceals, and they
will have none of it. This Mr.. Blaine
himself sees plainly enough. Could he
have his way to-day he would not stop
at the illusory reciprocity of the Nc
Kinley bill He would give the coun-
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