The weekly tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1891-1894, 1893-09-29
BLAND'S VIEWS
lie Says Free Coinage, Free Trade and
an Income Tax Should be the West
ern Democratic Watchw1rd.
Nothing hut a Bold Policy Will Save
the Democratic Party in the
state of Missouri

LEBANoH, Mo, Sept. 25.--"Free coin
age, free trade, and an income tax ought
to be the watchword Of the western
democracy now" said the Hon. Il. p.
bland in an interview here yesterday.
"The eastern democrats do not under
stand tariff reform as we do. They in
sist on free raw material, but tariff on
manufactured products sufficient to give
them an advantage over foreign produc-
crs. The tariff question cannot be per-
manently adjusted because the tariff
must be changed from time to time as
the necessity of the government may re-
quire or as experience may dictate. But
the silver question is Fundamental. 1t is
an issue between the producing classes
ana debtors as against non-prouucers
who live upon fixed incomes and credit
ors. Whether the basis Of our money
shall be fixed on silver and gold, both
coined without limit, or upon the single
gold basis. as / low proposed an" prob
ably will be adopted in congress, is
question of the greatest moment. As
long as we are coming silver and tie gov
ernment has a law upon its statute
books which looked to its continued use
and it's final restoration it might for the
time being be subordinated to other
issues, as it was last campaign but now
that this is to be repealed and we are to
be remanded to the single gold standard
no issue cad be superior to that OF the
restoration of silver Nothing but a
bold policy, Immediately adopted by the
democratic party in this state will save
it from disruption" Continuing. Mr.
Bland said:
1.-The democratic party must take the
aggressive. If it suffers itself to be put
on the defensive on these questions 1t IS
lost. If the party stands out on an ag-
gressive policy without any apology
whatever for the administration. the
people may be held together under the
standard. but they cannot be held other
wise"
Have you any policy to suggest to the
Democrats cf the state?" was asked.
1T will not be great while before the
question: Will the democratic party
support the administration policy? will
come up. The sooner the democratic
leaders take cognlzance of that fact the
better. The democratic party is prac-
tically dead in this state today, and the
voters are in condition to be led away
from the fold. The party ought to be in
condition to give promise of what will
be done. People are already wanting
to know which wing of the party is
in control whether those who are
sound on the money question are to
be put in the lead or those who
support the administration. The diff
Guilty with the democrats now is they
are all discouraged. They are down and
dead. | don't think it would be much
trouble for the democrats OF this state
to hold their own and to bring into line
many of the opposition and independent
voters if they would go to work promptly
and declare against the Cleveland policy
on the money question. If they under
take to defend or apologize for that
policy they will loose the state certainly
If they remain quiet much longer they
may loose it, ! would urge immediate
meetings of the democracy in every
county in the state. The bestowal Of
patronage by the administration ma!
influences the politicians, but il SHOULD
not Ee permitted to influence the people
Tho people should meet in their school
| houses and courthouses and discuss thC
situation now. while their voices may b(
effective in shaping the policy Of III,
party