The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1883-08-23
The Leading Issue.

Interviews are had here and there; opin=:
ions are expressed upon this man and
that; lines of policy foreshadowed; and
all the movements which indicate great
political commotion are evident to the
most casual observer. There is per-
ceptible seeking, and a great demand
for the leading issue. One is certain it
must be this. and another is equally
positive that it must be something else;
bne Insists that measures are demand
ed, and the other, that the need Of the
hour is men, born leaders, who can
sway and influence popular opinion:
Tho most Numerous crowd are they
Who insist Upon the tariff as the great
issue-some wanting to leave it as it is,
some wanting moderate protection and
some others as much of it as the party
will stand, but all are firmly persuaded
that unless there is an issue there is no
use making fight.
Has it ever occurred to the Demo-
cratic leaders that there is an issue now
before the country, and one that has
attracted public attention for some
time, sn issue gfahder and broader
than mere questions of tariff 6onstruci
tions OF the abstract considerations of
purely economic measures; an issue
that the farmer in the West and the
mechanic in the East thoroughly un-
derstand, although they may know little
of the scien6e of government? There is
such an issue; it is wider and deeper
than all others, and it may be ex-
pressed in few words: Democratic
control because of Republican greed
and corruption. View it as you may,
and argue it as you please, that is the
real issue; all others sink by compar-
ison. 1t is the one issue which the
country can understand and upon which
the battle may be safely fought. Back
of all the broken promises, the honeyed
wofds of reform, and the moral
spasms of the party of ideas
and progress, lies this one con-
trolling, dornin ating aim, and that is
party power. For this, any reform is
promised, any pledge made, or any po-
sition assumed. 1t vitalizes every is
sue, ga!tanizes every promise, and in n .
fuses life and vigor into every cam
paign. The reality of the present lends
strength; the prospect of the future in
spires hope, and together they open the
safe of the capitalist and the heart of
the ambitious, until the sinews of war
flow in streams, and the excitement of
party conflict widens, into the aeclaims
0f victory. Over all the qua1ms of
conscience which honest men may feel;
over all the demands which reformers
may make; and over all the breaks and
bolts which independence may organize,
is heard the slogan of party strife and
the watchword of party conflict. 1t is
always and ever the same, "public
plunder.' This is inscribed upon its
banner, and by this sign they conquer:
In this common desire all factions min
gle and all forms of belief agree. The
Stalwart marches by the side of the
Half Breed, and the Free Trader and
the Protectionist sink their differences
for the party good. Platforms are moth
ing; the past is blank and the future
a question, but the duty of the hour is
success. If anything is popular it is
praised and accepted; if questioned, nc
position is taken, but the party is al:
ways all things to all men for success
The soldier is remembered by patriotic
mention; the negro placated by re-
newed assurances; the capitalist inter.
ested by secret pledges; the laborel
Iquieted by liberal promises and in every
method and by every means known tc
political strategy points are made and
positions won, until merged into one
struggling mass the party, intent upor
a single aim, and that success move:
forward to conquest and victory.
Against the victorious legions of the
Republican party, plentifu1ly supplied
with arms and ammunition, and en-.
trenched in the power and plunder o
a long and corrupt reign it is useless tx
illuminate edicts or present issues. Wei
defined principles of policy may serve
as standards around which the thought
full may rally, but the moving, propell
ing power must be the defeat and over
throw of the enemy. The true princi
Piles of Democracy as distinguished from
centralism, viz, individual liberty
home rule and honest government, art
enough for the common purpose, apt
amply sufficient for party declaration
The common people, the working mass
es, have neither time nor patience tt
fathom the mysteries of tariff ant
finance, but they know what persona
liberty means and what honest govern
ment indicates. Let Democratic res
toraton be the aim, and consideration
of public policy the object Let the
aim be first to overthrow, and the OBJ
| ject afterward to reform. This is tn,
platform the people want and fo
which the popular masses are willing tx
battle. Let us not confuse the publ,
mind with many declarations, nor puzzle
| the people with nicely drawn distinc
tions upon political economy. The issue
are already joined. They are known anc
read of all men, and are, in word
whether the liberty-loving doctrines OF
the Democracy shall prevail, or th
country remain in the power of thos,
who have abused its confidence ant
question of the hour, transcending il
Importance all other questions, and up
on this simple and naked proposition
the country will have to divide. Upol
some things there will have to be
compromise; for there is diversity o
opinion touching some questions, bu
upon the great central idea, the triumph
of Democratic principle, there is no di
vision. Every Democrat knows wha
the party stands for and advocates, an,
it would certainly not be wise to con
fuse that large body who are ready t
vote with us upon the simple PROPOSE
ton of change of rulers by draggin.
in a lot of issues certain to lead to dis
agreements and doubts. The countr
was carried in 1876 by the cr
of Democratic reform, and j
can be carried next year b
the straightforward proclamation
of Democratic doctrine. This an
tagonizes no special interest nor section
1t means freedom and good govern
ment for all, and every man who want
to see this restored again will rang
himself upon the Democratic side. LIE
the men nominated be the pledge of re
form, and the principles of the part
the platform. With men whose devo
tion to Democracy can not be questione
and whose administration can be safel,
relied on to bring about an era of goo'
feeling and public confidence, the part
may appeal to the voting masses fo
support, and enter the campaign wit
all reasonable hope of success Indeed
with nothing to produce division an
| n. Hor