New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-10-04
CAMPAIGN STRUGGLES.
CONTESTS FOR THE PRESIDENCY SINCE
THE CIVIL WAR.

The leading article in "McClure's Magazine for
October Is entitled The Strategy of National
Campaigns-R "reminiscences of the Political War
fare Of the Last Twenty-Five Years by One Who
Has Been in the Thick of It." Opening his mar
rative with the contest between Hayes and TIL
den for the Presidency the author describes the
conditions which confronted the two parties. He
says:
tered. The great New-York politician in that cam;
PaIgn, put the Democratic party on its feet and
with anything Ike united ranks. ridden: consum,
mate master Of men having fought Iammany 70
smasher Of rings while Governor of New-York, be
lion with remarSa5le 1' skill and was easily
ihated With him for viee-PreS5idsnt ran Ih9ma 5
money man, and he was hated by the Green
huenced possibly more by the environment than
by LOGIC was. rated as Greenbacker:
The Republicans unfortunate in having to
carry all the scandals that had Inevitably followed
Rings of many kinds had sprung UP in the Fed
STal Government Jobbery was rampant in The
partment, in the Army and in Congress. More than
ter feeling. between Conkling. the candidate Of the
Grant wing, and Blaine. his principal opponent IN
The seating Of Hayes by the Electoral Commits
sion followed. after a bitter struggle
Two great political leaders Tilden and Grant, re-
tired from politics in 1880. Network appar-
entity lost to General Garfield. the Republican
candidate, and Conkng refused to hold personal
communica ton with him. Maine. at the Septem-
Der election. went Democratic and all hope for the
success of the Republican party seemed lost
But the party quickly rallied. An exposure Of the
forgery Of the Morey letter greatly aided the re-
action Mr. Conkling quickly discovered the change
and made haste to come out for the ticket in time
to claim to have caused the change Garfield and
Arthur carried New-York, Ohio and Indiana ana
were elected by PA electoral votes TO 155. The
author continues:
Political conditions by 1884 had undergone ire
mendOuS
between the Federal Administration and Conking
the tragedy which sent Garfield TO the TOMB me
Independence Of Arthur on his accession tho to me me
pubcans in the Folger campaign, which brought
to the front that and dominating figure in Ma
tonal politics, Grover Cleveland.
The Star Route scandals played prominent part
in the campaign which now opened James G.
Blaine was nominated against Mr.. Cleveland Viru-
lent personal attacks marked contest more heated
than any since the days OF the civil war. nj.
Blane's presence in this city at what was caIIeo
by the Democrats "Belshazzars Feast "a dinner
to raise money for the campaign, ATTENDED oy
manv Of the financial leaders Of New-York-and
the utterance of Rum. Romanism and Rebellion
bv the Rev Dr. Burehard were, in the authors
opinion the chief causes OF Republican dereat he-
garding the New-York State vote he says:
To all it was apparent that New-York was the gs
Carried the election. When the full returns came
in found that NJ CleTe d97 l nrg The
Republicans disputed the count Ihey clalnle "a
nd 81
Butler in Richmond County ana IN some .coS ~
of New-York and Kings County. TO the nuHOer OF
more rn 94IvsIend General Butler makes this dis
tinct charge in his published memoirs
In 1855 CIeveland's Administration was attacked
on the ground Of his tariff reform message ana the
unsettled conditions Of business harrison anu
sTor+on were nominated by the Republicans anu
air +ba result of the election hinged upon the
Empire State Senator Quay, in this campaign
took pains to check illegal voting by Democrats
through census which comprised the names an
addresses OF all those entitled 10 oallol III Nc"
York City Hill reelected Governor o. ne ne
State bv 1900 but Harrison carried II oy 44Vy'
yotss Charges of underhand dealing were maze
against Hill but these Mr.. Cleveland reiuSeu 10
believe
Harrison and Cleveland were again the canu i
dates Of the two parties in 1892 The Electoral Col
Ia.a ro,r consisted of IA votes through the ad-
mission in MI Harrison's Administrator Oh s1
Territories as States The strikes at Heh1S 20
and at Buffalo aided the Democrats whose poli-
+icisns made sharp fight in every state IN tne
49, IN addition cause which contributed
greatly 10 the success of the Democratic ucKet
was the fusion between that party ana tne FoPu-
lists OF this the writer remarks;
In their eagerness to win in this campaign tn ne
Democrats took step tnd5 s was Ss and Popuiists
IN 1896 The Peoples party had ALREADY uSs1iI ~
W eaS 'S was the Popust candidate for President
The Democrats went deliberately to work 70 I9rn
a Coalition or fusion with them 70 keep Votes aWay
from Harr isHeland was elected by landslide,
6sTee 27 Electoral votes but free silver ee
ment Of the party came into eontIol oeL t{It '
pt indeed in that election the surprising run OF
General Weaver the Populist candidate, made the
general coalition between the Democrat Is ana Top
uiists which in 1896 inevitable Mea CI re
eygd a4Sd oo H9ef idaho kansas Nevada
and Captured one vote in each OF the states Oh
North I'D Dak9a sPd o IF both the parties
spent large sums Of money
Regarding the last campaign and the one which
has recently opened the writer says in part
TIL. great campaign over the financial question
IN Isp Is ' The strategy was clear to any one who
watched the progress OF eVeIIs ;+5 be Vas q n
1arentiy certain of majority of the electoral votes
psn ne carried on throughout the West and States
Ii1-a iowa Indiana, Michigan and even minnesota
TsnerkabIe change took place in the sentiments OF
TIE farmers. This, then, hau % De COL.oue ,ir
SenaioTr 1@ittae moved The main headquarters of
~ Tty to Chicago and from that point directed
the 'hght A campaign OF education was DesuI
and vast amount Of money was expended in com
%ating the arguments in favor of the free coinage
Of silver Hundreds Of men carrying this literature
Journsyeo beT trants talked with the farmers
and reported TegqaTy 81 ln to onset this made
the most extensive speaking tour known IN Anlerl-
can P0rantcav the entire Middle West including
Kentucky. cast is electoral VoIes l1L 2
those of California and OREGON gave Mchi1iey 81
electoral votes almost IS6o reaching inc 'e
Fut what of the strategy of this campaign? The
Isgs sitbough declaration in favor Of the free
coinage of Silver at the ratio OF IS TO IS IN me
5{GaTt ire n the field The Democrats have de-
cIsrAd that anti-imperiasm Is the paramount IS
sue on that they are going TO make their hght