Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1893-05-25

TIE LOUISVILLE CONVENTION.
STRIKING 1vidsnee OF the Moribund
Condition- Of the @. O. r.
The convention of the republican
clubsi n this city, in 50 far as it was ex-
pected to agree upon and foreshadow .
national policy, upon which the party
could unite aggressively and hopefully
for future action, must have been q
great disappointment to the republicans
throughout the country who wish to
see their party restored to vigor and
power.
It is true that the convention had no
authority to make q binding proclama-
ton of principles and purposes for the
party. The object of the clubs is to
work for the success of the party's plat
form and candidates, rather than to
make those platforms and candidates
But the membership of these clubs is
drawn directly from the most active
elements of the party. 1t comes from
the rank and file, who bear the burdens
and night the battles which the official
leaders plan, and there is no
doubt that the republicans who
met for conference in this Louis
vile convention were thoroughly
representative of the party and fully
as competent to speak for it as if they
had assembled in response to the call of
the national committee and had been
selected by the customary machine
methods by which delegates to ma
tional convention are accredited. More
over, it was the first general and repre-
sentative assembly of republicans since
the defeat of the party last year, and,
under the peculiar and unprecedented
circumstances, there is no question
whatever that this meeting was awaited
with unusual interest, and that it was
confidently relied upon by the more
hopeful members of the republican par
ty to set in motion, not merely the par
ty machinery, but the forces which
should inspire and direct the next re-
publican campaign. The roll was not
only to be called and the lines re-
dressed, but the clarion keynote" was
to be sounded, under which the next
battle was to be fought and the last
defeat retrieved.
what was the result?
The "boys" met and had good time.
They elected officers and made speeches
-good-natured, conventional speeches,
just such as we usually hear when a
lot of good fellows get together and
have nothing to do but elect officers
and make speeches. The only careful
ly prepared address, and the one from
which most had been expected. was
that of President Garrison, which, as
party shibboleth, fell dead from his
lips. 1t was significant that the one is
sue to which Mr.. Clarkson gave most
conspicuous place in his address and
which was nearest his heart, the race
question as political question, is now
clearly obsolete, and has been so pro-
nounced not only by overwhelming
verdicts of the people, but has been so
acknowledged by the republican party
itself. Aside from this Mr.. Clarkson
suggested nothing in his address which
is not acceptable to democrats or which
is not question of comparatively triv-
ial import or of such erratic nature
that no party, outside perhaps of the
populists, would dwaddle with it as
national issue.
The democrats would be very willing
to have Mr.. Clarkson's race and agrarian
issues adopted as the next republican
platform, but the address, after all,
was nothing more than a catalogue of
Mr.. Clarkson's personal opinions. Its
were ignored in the resolu-
tons adopted by the convention. which
must be accepted as its only authorized |
Let US search these for national
keynote"
Re ferring to the republican platform
Of last year, they declare in favor of |
the establishment of a system of arbi-
tration for adjusting the differences
that may arise between capital and
labor. Nobody objects to arbitration,
Il capital and labor want it, but whether
the government is to take it in hand
and enforce it is a matter which the re-
oublicans are at liberty to make a
political question if they
choose.
They declare faith in the secret bal
OF No national issue can be made of
his, for the democrats have done more
han the republicans to establish this
ballot, and will cooperate with them
suu al OtAcT DstEJkcS 10
One term for the president is urged.
No national issue can be made of this,
or there are as many democrats as re-
,ublicans who favor the restriction
The Monroe doctrine is reaffirmed- No
democrat opposes the doctrine, and all
democrats will fight,if necessary, to en-
orce it.
This leaves two other questions which
'ur friends propose to make great ma
ional issues, upon which the hopes of
ne republican party must rest for flu
ure success. These are option dealing
md woman suffrage.
The democrats have never been fool
sh enough to commit themselves to
The republicans are well
ONE to it. AS for woman suffrage the
democrats will not favor giving the
,allot to woman until she wants it.
How do the republicans of the enun-
ry like these ringing keynotess Has
t come to pass that a once great party,
which has done so much to shape the
history of the country, is now reduced
o the issues Of anti-option and woman
uffrage? Are these the momentous
questions upon which, according to the
remarks of President
Tracy, the republican party is to go
marching down the ages, gathering
enewed honor and glory with each
ucceedinC year?"