The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1893-08-11

80 III tCtSs az 0s AE~tfSft
The Ohio election and the Tariff
The Philadelphia Press this norm
ing uses the following expressions in
the opening of an article on tho Ohio
campaign -
The Democrats of Ohio accept the challenge
which the Republican nomination of Governor
Mckinley fairly carries with it by nominating
the man who perhaps better than any other
stands foe the free trade declarations of the
Democratic party.
There is evidently an intention on
the part Of the Republican party
mana ,ers to make the Ohio election
q ire in the light of a review of the
judgm mt pronounced last November.
Ii Governor Mckinley happens to be
reelected, we will be told that the
people of Ohio have awakened from
tleirInadness and pronounced against
the tariff reform which they so heart
lily endorsed in the recent National
campaign.
1t is by no means sure that Governor
Mckinley will be reelected; but it is
among the possibilities. He is per-
sonally popular. His recent business
misfortune have created a good deal
of sympathy for him. 1t is true his
administration as Governor has not
excited any enthusiasm even in his
own party, but it has been safe and
respectable. Taking one thing with
another, we are almost inclined to
concede him an equal chance in the
coming contest, especially as his OPP
ponent is not a persona grGtG to a
good sized section Of the Ohio Demo-
cracy. But we are not inclined to
admit in the least that the defeat of
Lawrence Talbot Neal would involve
any condemnation by the people of
the principle of tariff reform. Mr..
Neal holds opinions IN the silver
question which would make him an
impossible candidate in an Eastern
State, and it is by no means certain
that they will find favor in the eyes of
Ohio's voters. 1t seems to me that
the tariff will play an insignificant
part in this campaign. Probably
Governor Mckinley and his lieuten.
ants will make all the capital they
can of it. 1t will be a campaign of
calamity bowling; but in spite of that,
we believe the result will be deter
mined largely by other elements.
But assuming that the tariff be-
comes the determining issue, assum-
ing that the people elect Governor
Mckinley, it is plain that such a
Judgment pronounced at such a time
is of little moment and should have
little influence on the minds of states
men. These are panic times. and the
public mind is puzzled and confused.
Large bodies of voters are as little
capable of forming sound. opinions
under the influence of fear and anx-
iety as are individuals. Indeed it is
an axiom that crowds lose their heads
far more easily than individuals. The
people considered the question of
abolisiing the Mckinley tariff and
substituting something else during
the last Presidential campaign. They
had been considering it. indeed,
directly or generally, for five years
before. They reflected coolly and
calmly. There were no outside con-
ditions to distort their views. There
was no tremendous boom in business,
and there was no serious depression.
The years were good average years.
Can any one pretend that the vote
of a panic year can be matched
against the deliberate and overwhelm'
ing determination of such an election
as that of last November. Is the
hasty scrinmage of a few months Of
care. industriously worked up by an
INSCRIPTIONS partisan press to offset
the cool analysis Of theories, the full
and free discussion of facts, and the
consequent emphatic assertion oil
principle. No, the work OF the Re
publican press will be in vain. The
Democratic Congress will not be de-
tered from doing its duty by any
artificial reaction stirred up by an ap'
poat to unreason and alarm. The
robber tariff must and will go as soon
rs the silver evil is remedied.
Judge Abbett's Conduct OF tho
Shann Case.
In the capacity of trial judge as il
every other that he has filled befor
the public, Leon Albeit wins ney
glory by the of mind ant
character which he brings to the per
Torrance of his duty. In his con
duct of the case, he has extorte'
praise even from the State Gazette
Judge Albeit has shown a disposition
inthls ease to get out the truth. h
does not propose to have it go to til
jury n mosaic of trivialities and tech
nicalities, of commissions and suppress
sions. He wants the facts brough
out and laid before the twelve mel
who are to pass upon them, and h
viii not allow the bubbles of lawyer
to stand in the way.
W ~ 4 49, 1-~- -