Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1891-12-12
Suggestion that the Result of the
Election Should be Regarded
as Settling It.
Other Important Matters Claim
Attention and Merit
Consideration.
A Sound Position by Which All
Republicans Can Consist
emily Stand.

Milwaukee Sentinel. In recent article
the Sentinel pointed out the close analogy
which exists between the situation OF the
democratic party in sthe country at large
and the republican party IN this state, the
one with reference to popular education,
and The other with reference to the free
coinage of silver Each thinks it would
lie for its interest to be freed from the is.
sue with which it is more or less identified
in the coming presidential canvass. The
democrats claim that they wish to make
that canvass turn solely upon the tariff
question: and the republicans will be very
wiling TO accommodate them in this re-
spect.
Thus far, however, all democrats who
have expressed themselves respecting the
course which they recommend for adoption
by tkeIr party, fail to give any assurance
10 those who are opposed to free coinage
as to the action OF the party on the subject
an case II should gain control Of the nation
al government. They simply propose to
ignore it in the party platform but reserve
the right to take it up when IN power. 10
those who think free coinage an Issue Of
vital importance and that its adoption
would bring incalculabe evils upon the
country, the proposition to ignore it until
after the election is eminently unsatlsfac-
tory.
they can very reasonably demand that
the party, if it wishes to keep the free
coinage issue out of the canvass, shall de-
clare against the enactment OF d free COIN
age law. The republican party can be
trusted not to antag0nlze such declara-
tion, and thus the issue will be disposed
Of.
A similar course should, in our judg-
meut, be adopted by the republicans OF
Wisconsin with reference to the educa-
tional issue. There are a large number
of voters who are in harmony with us
mon all national issues between the
parties, but wLoare likely to vote with our
opponents while that issue remains unset
tied. To ignore it In our platform is not
to settle it. Without some distinct and
authoritative declaration on the subject,
we shall be charged with still entertaining
the purpose Of making the instruction of
children in reading and writingEn the legal
language of their own country obligatory
1t is true that such purpose does not
seem very atloCiOus, but we have a con-
siderable body of voters who have been
persuaded 80 TO regard it. Under the cir
cumstances, unless this educational issue
VI paramount in importance to any other
in our politics it should in our opinion,
be dropped. We do not think II is Of
paramount importance We supported
TIE position taken last year by the re-
pu5hCans of this state upon the education
al question earnestly and conscenuousy.
1t is of course no argument for aban-
doning the advocacy Of a policy that 1t
had failed 10 secure a popular majority
Popular majorities are often wrong, and
almost every good cause is won onli after
series f defeats In the case under con
sideratl the question TO be determined
is whether thu educational issue is of such
moment that all other issues should be
treated as subordinate 10 1t. We do not
think that it is. The Bennett law which
brought it into existence was passed with
out opposition II would in all probaOil
ity have remained a dead letter on the
statue beck If no opposition had sub
sequently been raised TO 1T. When not
only its special provisions but the rlght OF
the state torfquire children 10 be taught
TO read and write the language OF the
country WAS challenged. we defended that
right and maintained Its PROPHECY.
Neither The Sentinel nor the republican
party ever insisted that the Beunett law
should he maintained in all its features.
after quoting the republican platform
OF late years on the subject, the Sentinel
concludes
Nothing is demanded in the above
which is not required by Law of the
state of Ohio that has been in existence
for Years. apparently without detGlmeDt to
religion, or race, or language, and with
out arousinQ the hostility OF any part OF
the numerous foreign-born population 81
that state. The Ohio Law has been con-
Cured in alike by republican and demo-
cratic legislatures aId governors. ONO
contains a large German population both
Catholic and Lutheran, They have not
complained Of the law, and yet we have no
reason to believe that the German Catho-
lies and Lutherans Of OHIO are less friend
Iy to their own language or less loyal to
their religion than the German Catholics
and Lu'berans Of Wisconsin. in this
state, however, the question has become 30
involved with religious and racial pre-
ludices. and in view OF questions OF nation
al policy, which We regard as OF greater
importance that are to be determined IN
the next presidential. canvass, we think
the Republicans of Wisconsin may without
Inconsistency agree to accept the result o.
he last election, so fas as educational
policy Of tue state Is concerned, as settled.
W would not nave tnem d1cpt Tue course
proposed by the democrats Of the silver
question ana invite voters who are opposed
to the republican platform Of last year, re-
fIe1ting education, 10 help them " In VIC
tory for the policy Of protection, re-erying
the right 10 Uetr8y those voters direct"
the victory is won The only honest cJuISe
will be either to adhere to the platform Of
lar; year. Or 10 declare that the result Of
the last election Is accepted as a definite
settlement o. the iss1e, and f1ithfuiy and
Loyalty act in conformity with such de-
claration. The latter Is the policy which,
m our judgment. tue best interest Of both
the party and the country warrant The re-
publcans Of this state in adopting.
THE ALLEGED NsPIRACIES.