The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-04-04
ZEE OUTLOOK FOR THE REPUB.
LICAN PARTY.

Party" Senator Lodge. like Gov. McKin-
ley, il fitted to speak for the young blood
Of the Republican party. To such men a.
Tom Reed, Of Maine; Lodge. Of Massschu-
sets; Aldrich. of Rhode Island, McKin-
ley, Of Ohio; spooner. Of Wisconsin, and
Henderson, of Iowa, the Republican
party will soon be obliged to look
for that leadership that has formerly
been exercisd by Edmunds, John
Sherman. Hoar and Hawley, who
are all considerably past sixty years Of age,
past the age for aggressive and forceful
leadership. Edmunds 10 retired to private
life; John Sherman will be seventy next
month. Senator Lodge 10 q man of supe-
rior native abilities, which have been en-
riched by . thorough education and
dozen years of responsible political SER
vice. He knows tho political history Of
his own country and modern Europe
through years of careful study; he was .
thorough political and historical scholar
before he entered political life: he has
both the learning of . severe student and
the varied experience of an able, practical
ing the future of the Republican party are
worthy of serious consideration. Mr..
Lodge scouts the notion that the Republic
can party was not only defeated in No
vember last, but 20 fatally disorganized
that it 10 likely to disappear by disintegra-
ton. He holds that ''the contending parties
will not die out, because the difference Of
human nature upon which they are
based can never die" He points out that
Mr.. Cleveland 10 minority president on
the popular vote and had . majority of
that vote of s54,Oss against him last No
vember, despite his great preponderance
in the electoral college, and what is still
more significant he received only 26,694
more votes in 1892 than in 1888, showing
practically no growth IN his party in four
years. In other words Mr.. Lodge holds
that the great Democratic victory was won
not by the growth of it, vote but BY the
division Of its opponents. The great
states Of New York. Ohio and Indiana
showed total vote less than that of four
years ago, which would indicate in the
state Of New York alone about 100000
voters who did not exercise the franchise.
over and above the percentage of stay-at-
homes which exists at every election.
The presidential vote of 1892 was light
vote, a. was that cast which elected Martin
Van Buren, in 1886. This light vote reveals
the fact that there is great body Of voters
who are politically an unknown quantity
sufficient in numbers either to utterly re-
verse or strongly confirm existing political
conditions At tho next national election.
The Republicans polled in round number,
100000 and the Democrats $780, OO. a
difference of only ~ per cent, q very mar.
row margin in SO great poll. The Demo-
cratic vote, compared with that of 1883.
was practically stationary. while the Re-
publicans lost 10000 in round num-
bers. The Popuiists showed q vast
gain; they polled million votes.
Mr.. Lodge regards this Populist vote
as another unknown quantity which may
RELAPSE into the old parties or extend
into new regions. defeating the Democrats
in certain states rs it already has the Re.
publicans. Its high-blown hopes NAV
break now. or it may get another million
votes before its absurdities are understood
and exploded. Never. in a word. did the
vote at a presidential election indicate ON
its face greater uncertainty a. to the
future"
Two questions now overshadow all
others upon the decision of which future
elections will turn. One 10 the tariff. Tho
Democrats have carried the country upon
the proposition that protection is not
only inexpedieni, but that it il uncon.
stitutionai and therefore illegal and
wrong. Unless the victorious party
Is absolutely false TO the plainest
kind Of pledge which they can.
not be without counting certain defeat
they must sweep protection from the stat
ute books; must wipe out everything from
our revenue system which gives protec.
ton and raise their necessary revenue nv
methods which give no protection what.
ever. This Mr.. Lodge believes the Democ-
racy will do. If the Democratic system
succeeds in reducing prices without lower.
ing wages or inluring the industries of the
country, the country will surely keen IL
but If IL fails IL will revert to the Repub-
lican system of protection.
The other great question and the mora
perilous Of the two by far Is tina, relating
to silver. We are now buying silver and
issuing gold notes against the bullion rur-
chased. and at the same time We are do.
ing nothing 70 increase the gold reserve
which protects those notes. The bodies.
safest and surest way to settle the silver
question in the judgment of Mr.. Iodps
would be tor fresiden, Cleveland tn cali
congress together In extra session and
force the repeal OF the sherman &C, with
al the power Of new administration
The president has declined To do this
The next alternative would he ~
issue bonds. increase our rerma,e,t
debt and MAINTAIN our gold reserve
The last expedient is 20 paw our
the reserve of sios. 90 600. as I. !.
called. and We trust to luck to get Us ON,
OF our present danger. The financial si,u.
alton Mr.. Lodge thinks very serious one
for the country. and = very Difficult, one
for the Democratic party. They have
promised the voters in the South and
West free silver. while in the East they
have promised to repeal the Sherman act
. ~