The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1892-11-25
The Presidential Election.
n Amarican Ecopomist


The campaign is finished and the result of
the election is the national success of the
democratic party, with its free trade plat
form. Does that result show the protection
cause lost, or the efforts i'm its behalf futile?
Not at all, and this result need not be held
surprising.
In 1890 came the great landslide toward
democracy and tariff for revenue only
free trade thinly yelled. The election this
year shows a gain in the popular vote for
protection, gain in republican members of
Congress, but not gain enough to overtop
the canvass of two years ago. We are go
ing up, not down.
The country vote is for republican protec-
ton, but the city vote for democratic free
trade Overcomes 1t. In New York and
Chicago this is especially manifest The
vote of the country is more thoughtful and
intelligent than that of the city. In New
York City for instance, while we have able
and thoughtful men, the crowd that shouts
for Tammany is far less thoughtful than
the farmers and mechanics and others in
town and country. AS for protection being
"a lost cause" that is impossible. 1T a
home market foI home industry, il the up
building in our midst of varied occupations
farm and MILL forest and mine near each
other exchanging easily, and all developing
home resources and internal wealth--be the
wise and true conduct of affairs, they call
not be lost The protective policy is on the
gain in the civilized world, even in Great
Britain, where the workingmen demand it.
The election may check it here, but only for
time.
The democratic party i'm the ascendant
will have path beset by perils. Let it
push things" toward its platform promise
of free trade, and it will find great indus
trial enterprises, owned and managed by
men of both parties in partnership, who will
not be willing victims of politicians. Its
household will be divided. The solid South
-autocratc, domineering, lawless, possess
ed by the blindness of the old Slaveocracy
OF which it is the lingering remnant-will
demand free trade. The men of practical
business and industry south and north will
say, go slow"
Let the party lnaugurate its platform
policy, and revulsions and disasters, the lack
OF employ and lowering of wages which
would follow will sweep it out of power as
by vhirlwind.
Let it hesitate and tinker and palter over
Tariffs, and it will derange business, check
industry by its uncertainty, and show again
its incompetence to frame schedule of GUS
toms duties consistent with any policy or
nj Tor any practical purpose-an incOmpe-
tence shown in tie Morrison and Wood and
Mills jumbles of incongruties called tariff
bills, which did not even gain the united
support of the democrats in Congress in
those days.
If the party does not push for free trade,
people will say: "You are brave and fair
in promise, but cowardly and deceptive in
performance. Away with you'll" ALI looks
fair now, but storms will rage and fierce
blasts sweep In from every quarter when the
free trade democracy begins to take its
own medicine"
Today protection is defeated. The cleo
ton of Harrison and Reid, representatives
of its policy, with republican Congress to
sustain ii, would have been signal and
benefcent triumph-a help to civilization
and to the culture and comfort TO the people.
But that result is not reached. What
shall be done? The American Protective
Tariff League and its organ, the American
Economist, will go on with their work.