New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-09-24

~ 1Frorn The Weekly TribuneD
ask the readers OF Tho Tribune TO take
Aird's-eyc view of the elections which have &C.
cured in the United States since one year ago
No one will forget that In the fall or lS9- 'he
elections were adverse to the Republican party
In that election the Democrats carried the Ma
t.onal House Of Representatives by majority
b Of over eighty. They also gained control OF the
Senate and elected a President by large ma
jority in the electoral college.
r. ON wear ago the Democrats had been in con-
troll OF the Government for six months. during
that time the policy which they proposed 10
follow had been fully outlined and Congress hau
been In extra session over one month Inc
people OF the United States were growing
alarmed at the threatened legislation OF Inc
rarty in power. The course which the De'"o
Gratis intended to pursue had come to be well ui'-
derstood IN every nook and corner OF the oni'eu
States
During the last twelve months Congress mas
been In almost constant session and the regis
,aton desired by the Democratic party mas
been enacted 80 far as they have had the ability.
Their policies have been during that time dis-
cussed in and out OF Congress- have been the
subject Of articles IN the entire press OF the
United States and have formed the themes OF
controversy upon the rostrum ana stump
throughout the length and breadth OF inc iaho'
In all this intellectual contest one question mas
taken the precedence Of all others. The question
of Protection to American Industries, a i've ques-
ton for the last one hundred years in the Ohi'eo
States has never been more fully and carefully
discussed in any year than during the ias'
twelve months The Democratic party started
out with declaration Of war and externiinauon
against that system. They claimed to have be-
hind them the vote Of the American people at the
elections in 1892 Their position on that point
seemed we'll taken.
PERFIDY AND DISHONOR
For thirty-fve years the Democratic party
had done little in this country but ma lauit
with Republican measures, take the negative Oh
all questions and oppose nearly all the laws pro-
posed and adopted by the Republican party.
For the first time in thirty -four years they were
compelled to take the affirmative. 1t became
necessary for them to formulate plan of their
own For the first time it became necessary
for them to do something. This was new s!tua-
tion II required far different ability from that
which the party had BEEN accustomed to exercise
for MANY wears They prepared their new tarin
law. however and the Wilson bill was passed
through the House. 1t went to the senate
There, II was tinkered and changed until no
one could recognize the original bill. Ihen
followed the disgraceful scenes in the Commit
tee Of Conference
The letter of the President favoring the
Wilson bill, and denouncing the Senate DILL
was written, and one day made part OF
1.-The Congressional Record" The conduct OF
the conservative Senators was denounced oy
the President as "perfdious and dishonor-
able" Those Senators returned the comph-
ment by an open attack upon the president
himself and succeeded in proving beyond
b. doubt that the Senate measure had been well
b understood by the President. and had been In
dorsec by him. The proof was overwhelming
that the President had been playing doupie
with the Senate. Then followed the pacK-
down Of the House. the passage OF the Senate
bill and the refusal Of the President to veto
the same To-day that bill is the law or the
land
WHAT THE PEOPLE SAID IN 1888.
now come TO the main object Of this article
I desire 70 call the attention OF the readers OF
The Tribune to the new verdict upon TINS ques-
ton which has been rendered by the eiecuon IN
several States within the last twelve months
Within one year large number OF states nave
held elections and in each one the main question
submitted to the people has been that OF pro-
lection against Free Trade. The merits OF 'he
Mckinley bill have been pointed out In contrast
cratic marty. In the November elections OF last
year several States rendered their verdict. New
York for the first time in many years went large
" Republican electing the Republican State
ticket and Republican Legislature.
New-Jersey did the same thing. The people OF
that State returned a Republican Legislature IN
both branches. New-Jersey has been sohdly
Democratic for several years past
The State OF Iowa had Democratic Governor.
That State alsc went Republican in 1893 by
- large majority.
Massachusetts, with Democratic Governor
. also elected the entire Republican ticket by
o large majorities.
The state Of Ohio which had been barely car
ried in 1892 for Harrison held most exciting
election The Democrats nominated for Gov
ernor Mr.. Larry Neal. the author OF the lree-
trade plank in the National Democratic pat
form adopted at Chicago. At the opening OF the
campaign Mr.. Neal boasted Of being the author
Of the free-,rade clause Of the platform and re-
asserted his belief In the doctrine. The Republ-
cans OF Ohio accepted the issue. and nominated as
their candidate for Governor William Mckinley
1r.. the author Of the Mckinley law From the
start Major Mckinley did little else In his nu-
rnerous public speeches except to defend Pro-
lection and attack the Chicago platform. / was
personally engaged in that contest for seven
weeks l know whereof l speak. No question
had any prominence in that long and heated bat
tie, except the simple question OF Protection
against Free Trade. The verdict rendered by
Ohio was emphatic and complete. The defeat OF
the entire Democratic party was overwhelming
Their candidate for Governor was beaten by a
plurality Of over $4,000. No one will ever con-
tend that the decision in Ohio was rendered upon
any other question.
RHODE ISLAND IN 1894
Then followed early in the spring OF 1884, the
election in Rhode Island. This is a small State.
hut full of manufacturing industries. The State