The Sully County watchman. (Clifton, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1894, 1891-12-19
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
entity Stand.

democratic party in ;the 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
be 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
willing 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 their party, fail to give any assurance
TO those who are opposed to free coinage,
as to the action of the party on the subject
in case it should gain control of the nation
al government. They simply propose 10
ignore it in the party platform, but reserve
the right to take it up when in power. To
those who think free coinage an issut of
vital Importance and that its adoption
would bring incalculable evils upon the
country, the proposition to ignore it until
after the election is eminently unsatisfac.
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 II free coil.
age law. The republican party can be
trusted not to antagonize such declara-
tion, and thus the issue will be disposed
of.
A similar course should, in our judg-
ment, be adopted 10y the republicans OF
Wisconsin with reference to the educa-
tional issue. There are large number
of voters who are in harmony with us
upon all national issues between the
parties, but wLo are likely to vote with our
opponents while that issue remains unset-
tied To ignore it in our platform is not
10 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 writingi the legal
language of their own country obligatory.
1t is true that such purpose does not
seem very atrocious, but we have a con-
siderable body of voters who have been
persuaded SO to regard it, Under the cir
cnmstances, unless this educational issue
is paramount in Importance to any other
in our politics, it should in our opinion,
be dropped. We do not think it is of
paramount Importance. We supported
the position taken last year by the re-
publicans of this state upon the education
al question earnestly and conscientiousiy.
1t is of course no argument for aban-
doning the advocacy of policy that it
had failed to secure popular majority.
Popular majorities are often wrong, and
almost every good cause is won only after
a series Of defeats. In the case under con-
siders tion, the question 10 be determined
is whether this educational issue is of such
moment that all other Issues should be
treated as subordinate to it. We do not
think that it is The Bennett law which
brought it into existence was passed with
out opposition. 1t would In all probabil.
ity have remained dead letter on the
Statue book II no opposition had sub
scquently been raised TO 1t. When not
only its special provisions but the right of
the state to require children to be taught
tn read and write the language of the
country was challenged, we defended that
right and maintained its propriety.
Neither The Sentinel nor the republican
party ever insisted that the Bennett law
should be maintained in all its features.
After quoting the republican platform
OF late years on the subject, the Sentinel
concludes
Nothing is demanded in the abo, e
which is not required by q Law of The
state of Ohio that has been in existence
for years, apparently W thout detriment to
religion, or race, or language, and with
out arousing the hostility OF any part of
the numerous foreign born population Of
that state The Ohio law has been con-
Cured in alike by republican and demC~
cratic legislatures ald governors. ONO
contains Il 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
ly to their own language or less loyal TO
their religion than the German Catholics
and Lu'herans Of Wisconsin. In this
state, however, the question has become o
involved with religious and racial pre-
judices, 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 OF
the last election, so fas as educational
policy of the state Is concerned, as settled.
We would not have them adopt the course
proposed by the democrats Of the silver
question and invite voters who are opposed
TO the republican platform of last year, re-
specting education TO help them win VIC
tory for the policy of protection, reservmg
the right to betray those voters directly
the victory is won The only hont st course
will be either to aoherc 10 lie platform Of
last year, or to declare that the result OF
the last election Is accepted as IA definite
settlement of the issue, and faithfully and
Loyalty act in conformity with such de.
claration. The latter Is the policy which,
in our Judgment, the b, st interest of both
the party and the country warrant the re
pubicans of this state in adopting.
THE ALLEGE ED CUNsPIRACIEs.
John She rmnn on the Bistory of the Silver