St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-09-11
SENSE. NOT SENTIMENT.


We trust that there will be enough
men In the Seventh congressional con-
vention this week with common sense
to prevent it frGIn doing what the Re-
publicans want it to do, and what they
are working to get it to do. A recent
letter 10 the GLOBE from Fergus Falls,
which represented the Democrats of
that district as determined to nominate
a candidate for congress, was inspired
by Republican manager of Mr.. Eddy's
campaign, and we have grounds for the
statement that they are doing all they
can to have Democratic candidate
named because they see in that their
only chance of sending another McKin-
leyiIe' to congress.
What is the common sense of the sit
uation? Here is district that in 1892,
presidential year, cast 81. 679 votes for
the congressional candidates, giving
Kelso. the Democrat, 1856; Feig. the
Republican, 1889, and Boon. the Popu-
list, 1854. There were 20, $50 votes
against the Republican, majority of
1921 or more than the entire Demo-
cratic vote for Kelso, and yet by the di-
vision of the anti-Republican voters the
Republican came within forty-three
votes of all election, Boen's plurality
being but eighty.fve. Mr.. Eddy is a
stronger man than Feig, and is being
better helped. and is there any one
foolish enough to think that with the
same division Eddy will not be elected.
But Boon is Populist. and has lot
of crazy notions about government that
are Democratic. He advocates free
coinage of silver. We grant all that,
and we are not defending Boon nor do
we regard him as an ideal candidate.
Neither Democrats nor Republicans are
in very good condition to upbraid him
for his free coinage notions, and his
other fancies are harmless; but the hard
fact is that he is in the field, the nom-
inee of his party. and the only question
Is whether it is better, not for the Sew
enth district, but for the national party,
to send Boon or Eddy to represent the
district. 1t is Hobson's choice, for the
Democrats are not in it.
Ask any Democrat what is the great
present purpose of his party, and he
will tell you that it is to continue the
march of tariff reduction until it ap-
proximates free trade. Everything else
is subordinate. The Republicans under
stand this, and in every congressional
district in the nation are striving to
prevent it. Their papers are full of ap-
peals to their readers to help stag the
progress towards commercialult r q ON
nrpnOcpd NV fI,o nornoorotc . 1Hyan
them that it is vital to return Naps s1Qf l,g
Republican representatives, as is pos
sible, because the next president may
be chosen by the house. Ii Repub-
lican majority is chosen this fall, 1t will
be pointed to by the Gormanites as
their vindication, and will prevent any
modification of the tariff this winter.
Whatever else Boeu may be. whatever
notions he may indulge himself in, on
the one great question to which our
party is pledged he is as good Demo-
crat as any and better than some. When
seventeen Democrats were found to
vote against the house bill he voted for
it. Ii reelected he will vote with our
| side for further reduction of the tariff.
| Under these circumstances can there
be any question as to the duty Of every
| Democrat who has his senses? If a man
| IS engaged in life and death struggle.
| will he refuse succor because the help
differs with him OIL some minor matter?
If attacked by dog will he stop to pick
| out some particular club with which to
defeLd himself? We confess that in
this great struggle of right against priv.
ilege we would take the jaw bone Of an
ass to smite the enemy with II no other
| weapon were at hand.
| We trust that there will be enough of
true loyalty to the great cause of cur
party in the convention to adopt some
| such resolution as this: "Resolved, that
this convention make no nomination of
a candidate for representative in con.
gress. but recommend the Democrats of
the Seventh district to vote for Halyor
| E. Boon, not because he is a Populfst,
nor that we indorse his PopHrist plat
form or approve of his ideas Of govern
ment and its uses, but because we
l recognize that tue question Of federal