Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1883-08-30
The Leading Issue.

interviews are had here and there; Opln-
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 great demand
for the leading issue. One is certain it
must be this, and another is equally
positive that it must be something else;
one 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.
The 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 light.
Has 1t 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. an issue grander and broader
than Ezere questions of tariff construc-
tons or the abstract considerations OF
purely economic measures; an issue
tudt llt Ill Vic w eSC tuu tiiC
mechanic in the East. thoroughly I'M
derstand although they may know little
of the science of government? There is
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
oil otI irl- NV
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
words of reform, and the moral
spasms of the party of ideas
and progress, lies this one con
trolling, domin ating aim,. and that is
party power. For this, any reform is
promised, any pledge made, or any po-
sition assumed. 1t vitalizes every Isl
sue, galvanizes every promise, and in
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 acclaims
of victory. Over all the qualms 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. It is
always and ever the same, ''public
plunder.'' This is inscribed upon it's
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, no
position is taken, but the party is all
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 laborer
quoted by liberal promises and in every
method and by every means known to
political strategy points are made and
positions won, until merged into one
struggling mass the party, intent upon
a single aim, and that success moves
forward to conquest and victory.
Against the victorious legions of the
Republican party, pientifully supplied
with arms and ammunition, and en-
trenched in the power and plumber of
a long and corrupt reign it is useless to
fulminat. diets or present issues. Well
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-
pies of Democracy as distinguished from
centralism, viz, individual liberty,
home rule and honest government, are
enough for the common purpose, and |
amply sufficient for party declaration.
The common people, the working mass
es, have neither time nor patience to |
fathom the mysteries of tariff and |
finance, but they know what personal |
liberty means and what honest govern |
ment indicates. Let Democratic res
toration be the aim, and considerations |
of public policy the object. Let the |
aim be first to overthrow, and the OBJ
ject afterward to reform. This is the |
platform the people want and for
which the popular masses are willing to
battle. Let us not confuse the public |
mind with many declarations, nor puzzle
the people with nicely drawn distinc-
tons upon political economy. The issues
are already joined. They are known and
read of all men, and are, in a word,
the iberty-loving doctrines of
the Democracy shall prevail, or the
remain in the power of those
who have abused its confidence and
been false to their pledges. This is the
question of the hour, transcending in
all other questions, and up
on this simple and naked proposition
the country will have to divide. Upon
some things there will have to be
for there is diversity of
opinion touching some questions, but
upon the great central idea, the triumph
of Democratic principle, there is mo d.
vision. Every Democrats knows what
he party stands for and advocates. and
t would certainly not be wise to con-
.use that large body who are ready to