The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-08-18
THE REPUBLICAN, ISSUES.


lest the Republican party be left without an
issue in the coming campaign. The question
of protection, it thinks is an absurdity, since
there is no free-trade party, the Democratic
party being divided on that question but not
an advocate Of free trade. 1t can not be
truthfully denied that there is a very consid-
cradle portion Of the Democratic party that
believe in the doctrine of free trade, and
would be glad to have it put into practice.
So great ise that branch of the Democratic
party that there is danger Of it overshadowing
the main part of it. It is a constant menace
to the business interests of the country, keep
ing manufacturers in doubt what is best to
do There will be an issue here; for the Re
publican party will, in the future as in the
past speak out unequivocally on this ques-
ton, while the Democratic party will probably
continue to blow hot and cold according to
the locality in which it gives utterance to its
opinions.
The World then to uches on the fact that
there has been evinced disposition on the
part of extremists in the prohibition move
ment to not only cut loose from the Repub-
lican party but to do all within their power to
cripple and to kill it. That this will not sue
coed is morally certain. Political parties can
not be killed for spite. If they are to be got
rid Of it will have to be with good reason,
for the people of this Republic are too wise as
whole to organize a campaign for spite. Be-
sides, there will come feeling that the Re-
publican party offers the best solution and the
only practical solution of this very vexing
question, so that those who believe in astrict-
er regulation of the traffic will feel greater
confidence in appealing to the Republican
party than to that political organization that
is too cowardly to say just what it does mean
on this very important question. The Re-
publican party will not be scared out of hav-
ing an issue on this point. 1t will go before
the people with what it believes to be the best
policy in this respect, and will expect to win
in the end.
The World pretends to believe that the Re-
publican party is afraid of the labor move
ment. On the contrary, the Republican
party is again ready and willing to place its
interests in the hands of the workingmen of
the country, remembering that it is the only
party that has ever done anything of perma-
nent service to the labor interests of the coun-
try, and is to-day the only political organiza-
ton that has any settled policy on this issue.
The Republican party expects to go into the
shops and mills built up under Republican
patronage and ask the men there to give it
their votes. There has been war between
Democracy and Republicanism for years over
the issue whether the industries of America
should be protected. The Republican party
intends that the battle shall go on as long as
the Democratic party cares to champion free
trade There is an issue ready made on this
point
AS to the loss of the October States, the
Democratic party will probably suffer as
much from that as will the Republicans.
Democracy has been an adept in carrying
elections by foul means, as was shown in the
was instructed by wire to expend $1,000
more in the purchase of votes. The World
further thinks that it will no longer be pos
sible to make a bugaboo of the Democratic
party, now in power, which "has improved
the business of the country, elevated the
public service [sic1 despite some undesirable
appointments, raised the standard of the nation
al honor, done equal justice to all sections and
obeyed the Constitution" There are diff
ferences of opinion on this point. There will
be several tissues" raised among these claims,
and the people will be appealed to to choose
between what bias been given by the Demo
cratic administration and what should have
been done.
There is no occasion for the fear that the
Republican party will be without an issue.
There will not only be an issue, but there will
be drawn a platform that will appeal to the
suffrages of the public in manner that will
carry conviction. The narrow plurality of
less than /, 100 in the State of New York was
not enough to demonstrate that the people of
the country had no faith in the Republican
Marty esnecial1v in view of the fact that tha
majority of over 100, 900 of two years previous
had been swept away, and the President now
in the White House got there on the slightest
accident imaginable and one that will never
occur again. The Republican party has never
suffered for want of distinct policy, and, as
rule it has been just the opposite of that Of