Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1893-06-03

as competent to speak for 1t 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 a ma
tional convention are accredited. More
over, it vas 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
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 a good time.
They elected officers and made speeches
-good-natursd, 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 a
party s%hibboleth, 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 a 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 a question of comparatively triv-
ial import or of such erratic nature
that no party, outside perhaps of the
popnlists, would dwaddle with it as a
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
suggestions wereignored in the rcsolu-
tons adopted by the convention, which
must be accepted as its only authorized
expression.
Let us search these for a national
Keynote"
Referring 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,
if capital and labor want it, but whether
the government is to take it in hand
and enforce it is a matter which the re-
publicans are at liberty to make a
national political question if they
choose.
They declare faith in the secret bal
lot. No national issue can be made OF
this, for the democrats have done more
than the republicans to establish this
ballot, and will cooperate with them
and all other parties to maintain It.
One term for the president is urged.
No national issue can be made of this,
for there are as many. democrats as re.
publicans who favor the restriction.
The Monroe doctrine is reafirmed. Nc
democrat opposes the doctrine, and al
democrats will tight,i If necessary, to en-
force it.
This leaves two other questions which
our friends propose to make great ma,
tional issues, upon which the hopes O.
the republican party must rest for flu
ture success. These are option dealing
and woman suffrage.
The democrats have never been fool
ish enough to commit themselves te
anticipation. The republicans are wei
come to it. AS for woman suffrage the
democrats will not favor giving the
ballot to woman until she wants Il.
How do the republicans of the ,.coun'
try like these ringing keynotesS Ha.
1t come to pass that a once great party
which has done SO much to ashape the
history of the country, is now reduced
to the issues OF anti-option and woman
suffrage? Are these the nfomentou.
questions upon which, according to thu
commendable remarks of President
Tracy, the republican party, is to e
marching down the ages, gathering
renewed. honor and glory with eacf
succeeding year,"
The truth is that this convention ha.
illustrated in a most significant manner
that the republican party has accom-
plished its mission. 1t may continue Il
live awhile in name. but it will only b
In name, affording another illustration
Of putting new wine, and wine alto
gether different from the trademark
brand, in old bottles Louisville Cour
ier-Journal.