The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1892-04-27
views Of Senator Quay.
rs0m the Nsssh AnssE.esa Rsrser.

Fson the Sczsh AH.sfiesn Review
The Man or the Platform Personality or
Principie-whieh is more potent in national
politics Shoald party fesity depend upon
the character Of the candidate rather than
upon the issue he IS put forward 10 rsp.s-
sent
These are the questions Suggested BY the
topic You furnish They are broad, hIstors-
eally considered bat as they concern tie
politics Of the United States to-day they may
be briefly and readily answered.
The conventions Of the great Political par
lies Al Minneapolis and ChicAgo next month
VII present 70 the electors two ean5idafes
for the Presidency. They win slso plsce
before the people their statements Of belief
and opposing theories Of legislation and ad-
Elinistation- The candidate successful a.
the election viii be charged with the duty
Of administering the oeice of Chief Exscu-
tive 50 ss to carry oct, wherever practicable,
the priacipiss enunciaied by his party
simultaneously with his nomination.
Thus, once in four years IS presented 70
our people choice not only between men
but between policies Of governnent The
relative importance Of either varies wiki the
year, almost with the hour. It IS affected
by domestic industrial conditions By com
mercial affairs and prospects. and by foreign
relations Practically, then, the relative
value Of the msn and the platform auctuate.
with the changing political conditions The
battle Of 1884 was contest Of personality.
Issues were obscured by fights Of missiles
aimed a. the cha-ac. er Of the candidates and.
the-result was believed BY many to have
been determined neither By the strength Of
the batteries OF abuse nor the accuracy Of the
artillerists, but By skilful jugglery with the
ballot-boxes ofa limited and thickly popu-
Isted portion Of single State.
The campaign Of 1888 was pre- emineatiy
one Of issues rather than Of Candidates.
Abuse was practically eliminated and the
preference Of voters for either candidate was
a ar less important factor than was the
sense OF voters upon the question Of protec-
ton to American industry. Upon this the
Republican party won, though the Demo-
cratic candidate va. weighted By the fact
that his campaign was an effort to make him
/ bis own successor. Somewhat IN liae with
the anti-thiri-terrn idea IS a theory-plA.tic
as yet, but tough and indurzting 70 conVie-
tion-of the imPoIicy Of attempting a Pre=i-
I Dental reelection
I Owing 70 the enormity and the zutAgOn-
isaas Of the corporate and material Interests
/ Of the country, the clash Of dissppoinimsnis
and resentmsnsz in personal ambitions. and
the almost exact eq Iipoise OF parties, the re
tention Of President, no mater how wisely
I and impartially and skilfully politically
speaking be may have discharged the duties
Of his high ofsc-, Is difieull, and the Demo
cratic candidate would certainly have been
much stronger in 1Sss bad be Tot been
elected in 1854.
Ifthere was any perversion Of the ballots
in 1884 there was none al the pivotal points
Z in lSSS. Personal factors in this campaign
were the unassailabie chArzcter Of the Re
publican candidate and his marvellous faenlty
for discussing day after day, great and
varying public questions in speeches all dif
faring in form and without an error Of treat
ment or bluuder Of expression
The campaign Of is92 vii again be con
ductsd upon principle rather than personal
;ty. This Is demonstrated in advance Of the
conventions by the varying prospects Of az
least two Of the azpirants for the Democratic
nomination, which rise and fall as the 6nan-
ciai issue promises to become more or less
prominent in the platform of that party.
Tha Pa-rbfi-sr candidate uTiTf raprese1s :
definite industrial policy already framed in
law. and 4 currency Of stable v1lu. in
domestic and f1rzisa transactions
The other question, that Of party fsalty'
oaght never to arise, bee1ase the party Or
CARNATIONS ought 70 be 50 sensitive to pub
lie opinion sad so wisely led By those ind1-
entail in council, as never % evolve canii-
date unworthy OF bis souce- When the
question is raised It Is always unfortunate,
not merely as affecting practical results. but
a. diYerting the attention Of the uesses from
policies to persons.
such a campaign is one Of preiudiee rather
than education. However, Is party crgan-
i-stions have wrought since Presidential
nominations have been made BY national
conventions. there has been no occasion when
voters ought not fairly 70 base their choice
/ Of parties upon platforms rather thsn upon
candidates.
r. 5. QUAx.