The Americans have been going through their November elections of
State officials with unexpected results. The Re- publicans have won everywhere, especially in Ohio, where Mr. McKinley, author of the Tariff, is elected Governor by a majority of 70,000, and New York, where the Independent Democrats joined the Republicans and defeated Judge Maynard, a man suspected of falsifying election returns, by a majority of 100,000. Republicans also carry their nominees in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. The elections were not usually political, and in New York were not political at all, but their general drift is supposed to indicate a strong reaction in favour of Protection. As Mr. Cleveland has three years of power still to run out, and his majority in the House of Representatives can hardly be destroyed, this will not prevent Tariff Reform; but it may make it much more difficult. The people, it is said, are depressed, and therefore out of temper with the Government ; but they undoubtedly elected Mr. Cleveland with a mandate to stop the purchase of silver, and to lighten the McKinley Tariff. He has obeyed the first order, and will try to obey the second ; but his move- ments are hampered by the condition of the Treasury, which cannot do without some substitute for the duties to be re- mitted.
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