Brookings register. (Brookings, S.D.) 1890-1894, 1892-09-16
BLUE DEMOCRATS.
THEY ARE ALL AT SEA AS TO
THEIR CAMPAIGN ISSUES.
Farmers Fear Repeal OF the Tariff and
Dread q Return to the Old State Bank
ing system-Republican Prospects In
the South.
[Snecial Correspondence.l

the South.
Especial Correspondence
WASHINGTON, Sept. 12.--The political
situation as viewed from this standpoint
is extremely encouraging to the Repub-
licans, while the Democrats admit quiet
ly that the outlook is very blue for
them. The overwhelming evidence OF
the value of the tariff legislation enact
ed by the Republican party two short
years ago, which evidence came to the
surface in the report of Commissioner
Peck, has alarmed the Democrats.
Democratic Endorsement Of Mckinley
Tariff.
Scarcely had the figures given by Sec
retary Foster in this correspondence
been made public when they were sup
plemented by an equally striking an
nouncement Of the value of the McKin-
ley law, which announcement came
from Democratic source. These two
statements fairly took the breath away
from even the most hopeful Democrat.
1t left them scarcely leg to stand upon.
With the evidence of a prominent Demo-
crat that the wages of over quarter of
million of people have been increased
to the amount of over $6, ,OOO, 900 in New
York state alone under the first year of
the Mckinley law, there is disposition
to drop the tariff issue.
No Issue for Democrats.
The difficulty, however, is that nothing
is left worth making an issue. That the
great battle must be upon the line laid
down by the Democratic convention of
free trade against protection seems to
be evident, and the leaders here admit
that the contest has gone too far to
make it possible to change the issues
now. The force bill cuts no figure in
the mind of the average citizen because
he knows it simply means fair ballot
honestly counted, and the average citi-
zen is not willing to go into campaign
against that right.
No Wildcat Banks Wanted.
The only other issue left is that of
state banks, and the Democrats are get
ting very weary of that. Advices from
all over the country show that not only
the business men but citizens generally
dread the thought Of the return to the
old state bank system and to the un-
stable currency which it furnished when
| it was in operation. Hence the propo-
sition Of the Democratic platform to re-
move the tax of state bank currency is
proving one of the most unpopular prop
ositions that has made its appearance i'll
the platform of either of the great par
, lies for many years.
Republican Prospects in the South.
The reports received from the south
ern states indicate that the Republican
prospects in a half dozen of them are
good. If the Republicans set themselves
actively at work in West Virginia, Vir-
ginia, North Carolina, Alabama, Ten
nessee and Louisiana there is reason to
believe that they may break the solid
south in many spots. If they are de-
termined and active both in their Or
ganizations and in seeing that they have
a fair vote and fair count there will
be number Of electoral votes from the
south for Harrison and an increased
number Of Republican congressman
from that section. Hon. Thomas Settle,
candidate for congress from the Fifti.
North Carolina district, talking upon
this subject said:
THE prospects of the Republican
party in North Carolina and other
southern states were never brighter
The Democratic party is in a sad state
of confusion. 1t endeavored to placate
the Alliance, but the Alliance could not
be placated."
| Protection Strong in the South.
What are the issues upon which
the Democrats are making their fight?'
"The offices. That is all they have to
fight for. The protection sentiment has
grown so strong in the south that they
dare not make fight on that"
Farmers on Tariff and wildcat Banks.
Two subjects seem to be interesting
the farmers of the country very greatly.
One of these is the continuation of the
present tariff system, and the other is
the danger of a return to the old state
banking system which troubled them so
much years ago. No class OF people
suffered so much from the losses and
business annoyances attendant upon the
state bank currency as did the farmers.
The people Of the cities and towns, es-
pecially the business people, had means
Of keeping themselves well posted on
the value of the various kinds of bank
notes that were put afioat by the banks,
but the farmers had not this opportu-
nifty.