New-York tribune., 1892-08-24
HOLDING FAST TO TIE GOOD.

A prominent business man cxpreSseu "ie
opinion, a few days ago, that business was
going to be coed this fall, notwithstanding thc
fact that it is a Presidential year. "A fresi-
Dental wear" he said, is apt TO have rathcr
a bad effect on business, especially during the
fall. when the campaign is at its hottest. b"o
I don't look for much disturbance in business
chc,cs this fall, since the belief is widespread
and constantly growing that President Harrison
is going 70 be reelected. Were it otherwise
merchants and manufacturers naturally would
feel unetted, not knowing what to expect III
case Mr. Cleveland was successful on the Free
Trade platform which was adopted at Chicago"
That the business men Of the United States
should incline to the belief that President llar-
rison i, 10 be awarded another term is not
strange. They reason that the majority OF the
voters. being, like themselves, conservative IN
,heir views and partial t. letting we'll enough
alone. are not going to make an absolutely un-
necessary change this fall in the management
of National affairs. Benjamin Harrison has
made a coed President, honest capable and
faithful-even his candid political opponents
admit as much "Why, them sensible people
are saving to one another, "why. then, should
we turn ont this entirely trustworthy public
servant and return the Democratic party to
rover? If the Democratic party was an i'm
proycmcnt upon the Republican party-was
more patriotic had a greater genius for states
manship. had better general record than its
rival-why, then, it might pay MS to make
change But the Democracy is not an improve
mcnt upon the Republican party, the fact beng
that in the leading State of the Union during
the wear it gained control of the upper branch
of the Legislature by crimes against the ballot
box ~ flagrant AS ever were committed. No.
no we have nothing to gain and much to lose
by ordering a change. We will consult our
own interests by holding fast to Harrison"
Now. all the Democratic newspapers and
stump-speakcrs between the Atlantic and the
Pacific, however industrious they may be. are
not going TO make any impression upon those
who hold these convictions touching their po-
ltical duty. The great mass of our business
men are determined to obey tho Injunction,
"Hold fast that which is good" and in their
ewes the Harrison Administration has been good
not perfect open to criticism at some points,
but good, free from scandals, meeting all rea-
sonable demands which the people madc upon
it, earning the respect of the level headed at
home and abroad An Administration OF this
sort does not appeal in vain to the con-
tidcnce Of business men. change? No; the
electors will not agree to it. What would they
gain? Mr. Cleveland is the representative
to-day of the extreme Free Trade wing OF his
party-the wing which triumphed at the Chi
cago Convention under the command of that
uncompromising Frec-Tradcr, Colonel Waiter
son. In case of his election, Mr.. Cleveland as
an honest man. loyal party leader. would, OF
course be committed to doing all that nc could
for the advancement of the Free-Trade pro-
gramme. But the carrying out OF that pro-
gramme is conditioned upon tho ruin OF many
of our industries and the serious injury of more.
Realizing this, not few business men who
object to some of the features OF the Mckinley
bill will cast their ballots for Harrison. When
they have to choose between a candidate stand
ing for tho existing tariff and candidate stand
ing for a tariff for revenue only and pro-
nouncing the principle of Protection unconsti-
tutional, they choose the former without mo-
ments hesitation.
1t is pretty hard to fool the business men OF
the United States. They know good thing
| when they see it. They see the Harrison Ad-
mnstration. 1t suits them, not perfectly, but
SO well that they will say by their votes that
its head must remain where he is.