The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1892-11-14
HOW Ir CoNIEs.
Tho DeEsut of tho Republican Part!
Necessarily only Temporary.

Tho Defeat of tho K.pnblicAn Party
Necessarily only Temporary.
Philadelphia P,eL m
II the Republican reverse had been
limited to special localities it might be
ascribed to special causes. II it had
been confined to New York and the
doubtful states it might be imputed to
bad management. But the wide sweep
Of the disaster precludes any such ex-
PLANTATION, and simplilies the interpre-
tation Of tho result. A defeat which
cuts down the Republican strength
from Maine to California and which
carries such states as Ohio, illinois aud
Wisconsin away from their old moorings
can only be explained in one way. 1t
means revolt against the party on tho
leading and central issue OF tho fight.
1t means reaction against the Repub-
lican protective policy as the people
understand it.
II this was an intelligent, reasoning,
deliberate judgment it would be con-
elusive, at least until experience had
demonstrated the mistake, and 1t
might be tinality. II the people had
struck the blow with q clear compre-
hension OF what they were doing, it
would have lasting significance. But
as matter OF fact the blow was struck
under the influence OF the most shame
less misrepresentation and OF the most
pitiable Misunderstanding. Thou
sands upon thousands were shifting
what they fancied were favored
classes" and "robber barons" and
"bloated monopolles." They had been
infamed with the incendiary and dem
agoSue cry that the existing tariff was
for the benefit Of the few against the in
terests of the many. They hit out
wildly and blindly against imaginary
evils.
Much OF this was inconsiderate, i'm
pulsive and transient feeling. Some
thing OF it was dangerous socialistic
manifestation. The Republican party
was cut in both ways. The working
men who are the chief beneticiaries OF
the tariff struck at their own interests
under the sway OF that malign influence
which within the last few years has go
often arrayed labor against capital. the
farmers struck because they were delud-
ed with the idea that the workingmen
and the manufacturers were receiving
all the benefit. The workers OF Home
stead revolted because they were not
getting enough. The farmers looked at
the payroll and revolted because they
were getting too much. In neither case
was It intelligent and rational action,
and in both there was something OF the
socialistic spirit which raises its hand
against the uplifted head.
The irrational, issensate character OF
this revolt may be illustrated by n sin
gle fact. The Mckinley bill abolishes
the duty on sugar and saves an average
OF So year for every family in
the land. That is more than most
families pay either in direct tariff duties
or in increased prices OF domestic arti-
Giles indirectly affected by the tariff.
The saving is Immediate and palpable,
and it is greater than any burden under
the law. There is, however, sugar
trust, which existed beiorehthe McKin-
ley law was enacted, and still goes on.
The present Democratic house refused
TO touch it in any way. 1t passed bill
for free wool which strikes directly at
the interests OF million farmers, and
1t evaded every attempt to deal with the
sugar trust. And yet such has been the
persistent Misrepresentation that many
OF these very farmers turn against the
Republican party which saves them
two cents pound on sugar and lay the
sugar trust to it, while they turn to the
Democratic party which proposes to
wipe out their wool interest and which
shields and sustainS the sugar trust!
A policy and party which rest on
false pretenses may deceive the people
for q time and gain tempory victory,
but they cannot endure. II the tri-
umphant Democracy carry out the
pledges OF the Chicago platform, that
will bring an inevitable recoil. If they
shrink from their own promises and
give only modified Republican policy,
that will stamp their insincerity and
bring reaction. The thing to do is to
let them have free course and undi-
vided responsibility.