Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1891-12-11
Ths Presidential Ousloos.

sour men OF prominence In the OPP
posing parties have been interyie we'd
since the recent elections and have ex-
pfeseod their opinions about the future.
senator Vest and Representative Mills
represent the Democratic party, and all
the better because neither oil them
comes from the East, whore that party
does not dare to ayow what are known
TO be it's real convictions and purposes.
Senator Sherman and GOvernor-elect
Mckinley represent that Republican
conviction which was controlling in the
last Congress, which has triumphed in
Ohio and other Western state and in
Pennsylvania, and they arc men OF
great personal influence in Republican
c0unsels. AL have talked freely of the
future Of parties, and it 10 exceedingly
instructive to notice the points in which
all agree, and not less instructive to
notice the points wherein they differ.
An these leaders agree that the late
elections have made the presidential
contest doubtful. Messrs. Sherman and
Mckinley point out the lines on which
they think the Republicans cannot DO
beaten, and take it Tor granted that Mr..
Cleveland will DO the Democratic candi-
date. Messrs. Vest and Mills point out
the course the Democratic party must
pursue, in their judgment, IN order to
secure success, and both declare that
Mr.. Cleveland will be the Democratic
candidate. But the conviction Of Re-
publican leaders that some things are
necessary to insure Republican victory,
and the conviction of Democratic lead
era that some things are necessary to In.
sure Democratic victory, amount TO .
unanimous opinion that tho result Of
next years contest 10 by no means cer-
tain.
These leaders al agree that the tariff
will be the predominant issue in the
next campaign, aud all profess to believe
that il will t1rn the scale in favor Of the
parties they respectively represent.
Messrs. Vest and Mills honestly believe,
no doubt, that the people wall sustain
opposition to the protective tariff, sub
stantially on tho lines preached by Mr..
Cleveland when President. Meesrs.
sherman and Mckinley believe that
the people will uphold the new protect
i've tsriff, and will defeat an attempt
to overthrow it. The latter have on
their side victories in the recent cleo
tons. The former count upon the cleo
ti0ns OF last year, and reckon that sue
cess secured In local issues In Massa-
chusetts, New York aud Iowa really
means that the people are hostile to
protection.
But these leaders differ about the sil-
Mckinley believe that it will not and
election, and will prove an important
elementin Republican success. Messrs,
Vest and Mills both manifest the utmost
anxiety to have this issue kept out Of
the presidential contest, avowedly on
the ground that the Democrats can win
on the tari1 alone. and afterward can
do what they please about silver.
Their anxiety discloses their belief that
on the silver question alone, or il that
enters as An important element into the
CanvaeS, the Democrats will be defeated.
They bold that Massachusetts, and New
York, even with the local issues which
diverted attention, gave Democratic
maiorities only because the party there
refused to ayow the purposes Ofthe party
at the West and South. 1t 10 perhaps
oil the moro evident because they do
mot say that they believe the Democrats
will be beaten ct the West, tho Farmers
Alliance having proved 3 broken reed,
and can only win in Eastern states BY
getting rid OF the silver issue entirely.
Rut how is it TO get rid OF that issue?
There II no possibility Of getting the
question settled and ont Of the way be.
fore the election comes. The dream Of
Mess!s. Vest and Mills that II can some
how be thrust aside, and the people
perruaded to intrust to the Democratic
party absolute power to settle It, in the
notion that they are really voting on the
tarln question only, IL % foolish q any
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