New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-09-17
THE SITUATION.

To appreciate the true meaning of the election
IN Maine il is necessary to 60 back to the Sep
tember preceding the Presidential election OF
1880. when the Democrats. who had for some
wears voted for Garcelon, and the Greenbackers.
who had voted for Smith. united forces for
Plaisted and gave him nearly 1900 votes more
than both factions had cast the year before the
Republicans also raised their vote above preVl-
Gus high-water mark, but not enough. ac-
cordng TO the county clerks returns so that
Plaisted had plurality of $50. the vote returned
being 147, S45-the largest ever cast IN the state
Those years of shame and fraud when the whole
Democratic vote was swayed by party feeling
to unite with Greenback repudiators and 10 up
hold methods as censurable as those OF Hill ana
Maynard in New-York, brought after them an
unbroken series of Republican victories. But
even in that time Of unparalleled excitement IN
Maine the Republican vote was about l3.OoO
less than it has been this year. and in place OF
defeat by slight plurality. the Republicans now
have q clear majority of about $1,000 over au
factions.
II is just this experience. teaching that the
cheapmOney disease never RACES with such force
again in State where it has once been con
0uered which gives the strongest ground Tor
hope at the West Somewhat earlier. twenty
three years ago, "Foghorn Allen was elected
Governor in Ohio on the soft-money issue. ana
1t took a tremendous fight to beat him win
Hayes by scanty plurality in 1870, bnt the
State has never had that disease since. Gov
ernors Hoadey and Campbell have, indeed. been
elected. largely on the tariff issue and local queS-
TONS but both diseases have been SO cured that
the 92 900 plurality for Governor Bushnell last
year is likely TO be eclipsed by the majority Tor
Mckinley Indiana and Michigan have both
had the softmoney disease. but the great ma
jorty in those States for Republican Congress
men in 1894 indicated an effectual cure. and
Michigans plurality OF 10000 in lSa' mas
an aspect of permanence The Popusts nave
absorbed a large share of the Democratic vote
in Minnesota but the 5000 Democrats who
would not vote for Populist in 1894. led 10y
Mr. Lawler. lately member of the Democratic
National Committee and candidate for Governor
in 1892. will cast many votes to support Palmer
against Bryan.
The Western States would all be far NOR"
doubtful than they can now be considered by
anybody If it were not for the great influence
of the tariff question. Michigan, Wisconsin ana
Minnesota all have many thousand iron miners
whose interest in that question is intensified by
the closing of about half the iron works in the
country All the Central States. as was recently
shown. have a strong Interest in the wool qles
ton and the losses sustained by the experiment
of Free Trade in wool amount to many millions
All are also exposed to competition across the
Canadian border with many agricultural and
other products. 1t Is with sound reason and
genuine patriotism that the Republican man
ayers have steadily kept before the people or
the Western States the same principles which
secured the victories Of last year and 1894. and
II Is not now doubted by any well-infOrmed per
son that some Of the Far Western and Pacific
States will be held to the Republican cause by
their desire for protection Of Industries.
The speech Of Senator Wocott Of Colorado,
supporting Mckinley and Protection, was greet
ed by an audience Of 1000 people at Colorado
Springs on Tuesday evening. 1t Is worth while
to remember that Mr. Wolcott Is not merely an
eloquent orator; not q man who trusts his imag-
nation for everything. like Mr.. Bryan; but a re-
markably level-headed and practical political
manager also. as are Senator Shoup of Idaho
and Senator Warren of Wyoming. Senator Car
| ter OF Montana has also declared for Mckinley.
so that the boilers are opposed In every silver
State by the Senator who has greatest knowl-
edge OF management and largest practical OK
peYlence in political affairs The attempt TO fuse
| Democrats. POpuliss and silver boilers has not
proved q complete success anywhere: in Idaho.
| for instance the combination has promised the
seat of Senator Dubois TO "A Populist. Nowhere
is there such agreement as 10 indicate that nearly
the entire vote Of the various factions can he
united for Bryan. How great the loss may he as
In the Pacific States, Kansas, Nebraska and the
Dakotas cannot now be Judged but 1t Is already
evident that the power Of the Protective cause
is doing much to defeat the silver craze even
where II Is strongest.