The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-11-08
VOW roR THE FRAY.

,,,,nor,ant era in the history OF the thiteo
states, for in IT will be decided the s'ea'
question whether plutocracy or the popu-
,sr will shall hereafter rule the Repuoiic'
The contest has been waged NANNY vi
this lire. The Republicans have ehac'eu
,.r,e, law. by which they have given
a few manufacturers absolute coh'fo'
., the home market, in consideration Oh
,n.se manufacturers supplying them with
corruption funds ad libitum. with which
n buy themselves in power. IL Is upon
the strength OF the millions or ooiiars
thus supplied that they now mainly rely
,,on successfully corrupting the Amer
,can voters. 10 the extent OF purchasing
q majority Of the electoral colleges.
On the other hand. the Democracy have
conducted the campaign solely on princi-
nile and relying on the Jealousy OF the peo-
nile for maintaining their rights as SOW
ereiens. They have proven beyond con-
,roversy-and the people all know and re-
alze it-that the Mckinley tariff Is
blow at the very principles Of our Consti-
! tutional Government, since 1t taxes the
many for the benefit Of the few, and thus
seeks TO establish a privileged class OF
shoddy arlstocrats, whose money is relied
on TO buy up the country, and convert 1t
in reality from republic to pluto
cracy.
If the Republicans win to-day. therefore,
| II will mean a death-blow to popular SOW
ereignty, since II they can buy up this
election. they can buy any other In the
future much more easily, and they VIII
maintain their power with money, backed
I'D by force If the Democrats win, 1t
will mean that the people have risen
superior to corruption, bribery and the
money power, and that the cause OF the
Republic and constitutional liberty mas
triumphed. No more momentous election
has ever been held since that OF 1861
which decided whether peace or war was
| to prevail in the country, and the outcome
will be watched with the keenest interest
and anxiety. Now, let US look calmly and
| dispassionately at the situation.
444 votes, and it requires 22S to elect. VI
these the Democracy are reasonably GER
tain Of New York, Indiana, New Jersey,
six votes in Michigan. and all the South
ern States, except West Virginia. This
will give the Democrats PIG votes. or three
short OF an election. The Republicans
to win must carry all the other States In
the Union, and the great question Is, will
they?
Such a thing is hardly within the range
Of possibilities. West Virginia has al
ways been a Democratic State. ard the
Democratic managers of the campaign
there declare emphatically that she VIII
be found in the same position in the Dem
ocratic column this year that she has al
ways filled. Connecticut Is generally
Democratic State, and while the Republi-
cans. by their large outlay OF corruption
money there claim 1t is now doubtful, she
is far more so to the Republicans than she
is TO the Democracy. II either one Of
these two States so Democratic, then
Cleveland's election Is assured Then in
the West there are large elements OF
doubt Kansas, Idaho and Nevada are
confidently claimed by the Third party,
while both Democrats and Republicans
claim with equal confidence Wisconsin,
Montana, Oregon and Iowa.
So we see the chances are overwhelm-
ingly in favor Of Cleveland's election by
the electoral college, or. II that fails, by
the House Of Representatives. Still, there
is enough or grave doubt as to the out
come Of the contest to make it necessary
for the Democrats to work hard and UNI
tiringy until the polls close to-day. Rain
or shine every Democratic ballot In the
country must be cast, while here in Vir-
ginia We cannot afford to lose even half
vote. A long pull. hard pull and a
pull all together, and the Democracy and
the Republic is safe; but If there be the
slightest faltering. over-conndence or
carelessness, the cause OF the. people will
be probably lost. and plutocracy will
be set up on the ruins Of our Constitu-
tional Republic.