New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-05-06
THE THREE CORNERED FIGHT.

THE THREE TIUHAs
The amusing old story of the triangular duel
is to be reproduced this year in the Presidential
contest If Administration Democrats can have
their way They are firmly determined not TO
shoot at the PrOtectionists. but at the silver
men, Now, the silver men are equally anxious
to shoot at the gold Democrats. And the great
body of the people want to shoot at the men
who are responsible for the Wilson tariH ana
the prostration of American industry If MI
Cleveland would kindly get himself nominated
again, and hector his Democratic and Populst
friends into the nomination Of Bland or some
other silver candidate, we should have lovely
triangular fight. Only be 1t noticed, the Pro-
tectonists are quite able and ready to shoot both
ways While they hold up the Administration
and the last Democratic Congress to public con-
demnation for prostrating American industries
they have another gun equally well loaded for
the silver hghwaymcn, who refused any RELIEF
for the Industries Of twenty million wageearn-
ers until fifty thousand silver miners and mine
owners could have their way. That makes the
fight unfairly one-sided The Administration
and the silver highwaymen will both get shot
while shooting at each other
1t Is amusing to find some Democrats who
imagine that this kind of fight may throw the
election into the House. Probably they do not
know that the House which would in that case
elect Is the very House now supporting Mr.. Reed
as Speaker That the Republican candidate
would be elected in that House need not be
stated But the notion that division between
gold and silver Democrats and assistant Demo
Gratis may throw the election into the House Is
one which does not call for much discussion. 1t
H. oil nhiaction that thouph
deadly enemies, Cleveland and Bland. gold and
silver Democrats. can easily contrive to help
each other by putting up tickets only in those
States in which the one or the other has
chance If either has any conviction which
would prevent participation in such game, the
public has not detected the fact. But how
would the allied enemies fare!
Some months ago The Tribune ventured to
predict that Protection would sweep ont of the
way silver and every other obstacle in several
Of the States west Of the Mississippi then repre-
scnted by silver men 1t has cleaned up Kan
sas Nebraska and the two DaGotas, so that they
stand as Iowa ard Minnesota did three months
ago. in line with the Republican host. Oregon
does also, and California, already represented
by Congressman who voted against free coin
age, and Washington, which Is not TO be outdonc
by Oregon in progress toward good things. are
expected to take their stand in the same great
army But Mr.. Kerens whose knowledge OF
Missouri Is borne out by results thus far, de-
clarcs that Missouri will give her electoral vote
also to the Republican candidate, and talks Of
her iron and zinc and lead interests and her
manufactures as If they were all normal schools
OF Republicanism. they really are. Bland
could not carry even his own district against
Projections he tried 1t In 1894 Cleveland could
not carry district in the State. Which Of the
two allied tickets shall be set up in Missouri?
If both, the Republicans will gain largely from
both.
Saying nothing at present Of any State south
If the Potomac and Ohio except West Virginia,
there are with that State 222 electoral votes
east Of the Mississippi from States which the
Republicans carried at the last elections. Iowa,
Minnesota, Nebraska. Kansas and the two Da-
kotas have AZ more, SO that the solid body OF
Protection and sound-money States can cast 269
votes. and California, Oregon and Washington
nave 16 more. There people who fancy that
Mr.. Cleveland could carry New-York. in view
Of local issues, even against the demands Of
wage-earners for Protection. There are other
people who imagine that Ncw-Iersey is going
the same way Well. New-York and New-Jer-
Scy nave 10 votes, WHICH tdheu ltoiu the IT.
lection and sound money phalanx would leave
223, and Oregon alone of the Pacific States would
make majority. But there Is at least as much
probability Of Missouri. Tennessee and Ken
lucky voting for Protection with their A. votes
as there is Of New-York and New-Jersey voting
against it. Two tickets against Protection a
silver and a Cleveland ticket, would mean defeat
at the start in any Of these States, Eastern or
Western. An elaborate conspiracy to put up
only one ticket in each against Protection would
settle the business against silver conspirators at
the West. and against Administration Demo-
Gratis at the East
This three-cornered duel will not work 10 the
satisfaction of anybody except the Protection
lists Even they would rather have somebody
manly enough to resist them. II the silver men
nre getting ready to be bought by Wall Street"
as cynical Democrats at Washington say, very
| good: In that case there will be square fight