The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1867-10-17
THE REPCBLICAA PARTY AND
"sIDE IsSUEso

Inc St. LOUIS psMOcrdt, is an article on
= Pendleton, the Financier," has some sen
sibls reflections concerning the relation of
the Republican party to the financial, bond.
taxation, md other matters which the party
pronounced side issues during the recent can.
vas, There is no sense, wisdom, nor policy
in attempting to ignore questions whictth the
people feel interested in, and are not dis
posed to ignore. The Republican party was
damaged largely in all the States in the recent
campaign, by an attempt en- the par. OF
large number Of those who, on the stump and
through the press, spoke for the party I'd
pooh pool" the whole "bond" subject.
There we're too many Of the people who had
an idea that this was . matter that nearly
concerned them, and not to be "pooh.
poohed" away. The public mind became
excited; the subject was an sbstruse one !;
they had no clear or we'll defined ideas re-.
gsrding it; the Democracy promised some
thing plausible, however disastrous in lis nl
innate workings. But they urged the plaus
IDLE part only. The Republican party prom.
fsSN uosnieB3 ioi INC uioas peIt explained
nothing. 1t was a Democratic strategic
measure, and that party 90. the benefit OF it.
Republican inactien and indifference to
this subject didn't work we'll in the late cleo
tions, twill work yet more barn if per
sisted in.
The Democrat says:
The number Of people who know anything
about finances is amsxingly small. The
number who understand that it costs u nation
more to repudiate debts than TO pay them il
inhnitessimal. Accordingly. 81 the tirst
blush, the Democrat plan strikes great man,
men somew hat favoraby. The Republicans
appealed stroagiy to the sense of duty and
to the love of national honor, but i. ia pain.
full truth that upon topics in which the peck
ct is involved the people Of this country stand
IN some need OF education, and their appeals
were too often like eloquent speeches IN an
unknown tongue. The tax payer could no,
exactly understand about the national honor,
but he could feel the greenback in his pocket
and could wish that he had two instead OF
one.a democracy promised him t~o. There
fore, some Republicans stayed a. home To
consider the matter, while others, q few III
number, voted the Democratic ticket
We do not spprshend that the people OF
this country, upon mature consideration, will
vote for reputation. When the slbiec,
comes 10 be discussed, honest men will feel
that Reputation is viiainy, and sensible men
will see thai il is folly. Mr.. peudletcr' q
scheme, like many other tricks of dema,
gogues, takes better nj first sight than IL ever
will again, for people will sonn discover that
some money and some taxes are a great deal
better than no money and no taxes 10 pay
the debt with greentmeks would remove a
part OF our taxation, It - true, but i, would
make every mans dollar possessed or earned
and due worth less than ffty cents The
tnan whose salary is four dollars day would
then receive ia actual value lees than two d oil.
lars Can we afford 10 get rid Of lax.psying
By giving Away more than half Of all our
earnings aud incomes? This is not the worst
Rspndistion tuesns.' national bankruptcy.
Which one of the smooth tongued dema-
goSues who advocate this scheme will assure
our working people that business viii not b.
prostrsted, that their employers will not be
forced 10 shut up shops, that. in short, the
workers themselves viii not he thrown abso
lateiy out Of oil employment for an indefinite
time, BY tbis " new way TO pay old debts r.,
We judge that the people, whenthey come to
think soberly and act in earnest about thi .
matter, VIII not be in haste to adofss policy
80 ruiUous mot even "a the hope Of getting
rid OF debt paying and tax -paying,
But heetee,ion is = warning TO the Repuh.
lican party that this subject has been neg
iected too long, aud that while the people
needto be educated BY = general discussion
OF business questions, they must also be sat.
'ishsd w q wiser attention TO the business in.
terests OF the country. Loyalty il . good
thing, bat the people DO not see that LOYALTY
uecessarllv Involves hivh taxea Hnmsn,..
and equality OF rights are good, but Congress
might possibly have done justice to the negro
aud stih gwen some attention to neglected
business interests. If Republican leaders do
not presently attend to the business want. OF
the country, the people will begin, however
mistakenly and blindly. to try to rid them>
selves of burdens which they know ore great,
err than Is necessary. What sort Of worl
will be made Of it il We leave Democrats 10
do IL, We can judgs from Mr.. Pendietou'
plan BM ifnss do NOS want the business In.
terests Of the country turned over to Demo.
cratic handling, the Republican party mus
tax a care of them itnelE