The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-07-28
Western RenubIicanism.


On Wednesday of this week there
simultaneously assembled in the west
three Republican state conventions
those of Illinois, Iowa and Wisconsin.
The platform of each is before us, and
gives the basis for some interesting
comparisons. Naturally, the most inl-
portant single subject treated in either
of the western platforms is that relat-
ing to the currency.
The Illinois platform "lavors BIZ
metallism and believes in the use OF
gold and silver as money metals on II
parity of values with complete inter-
conyertibility under such legislative
provisions as shall make the purchas-
ing or debt-paying power of any dollar
coined or issued by the United States
the absolute equivalent of that of any
other dollar so coined or issued"
The Iowa platform "adheres to the
declaration of the national Republican
party in 1892 on its monetary policy,
reaillrms It's belief that the interests of
the country, its farmers and working
men, demand that every dollar, paper
or coin, issued by the government shall
be as good as any other dollar; does
not want monometallism, either of
gold or silver, but pledges itself TO con-
tinue to work for bimetallism, to be
brought about by all tit means within
the power of the government" The
Wisconsin plank, with admirable
brevity, covers the whole ground by
saying: 1.-THE Republican party is in
favor Of honest money. We are op-
posed to any scheme that will give the
country deprecated and debased cur
rency. We favor the use of silver as a
currency to the extent only that it can
be circulated on parity with gold"
When it is remembered that each Of
these states, only short time ago, was
overrun by Populists, bent on free sill
yer coinage; and when it is recalled it
was predicted, even shorter time ago,
that the silver question would be the
dividing line that would wreck the
Republican party and array the east
against the west, this cordial unanim-
ity of Republican sentiment in the
three pivotal northwestern states is sig
nificant. A similar platform utter.
ance few days earlier, by the Repub-
licans Of Minnesota, whose nominee
for governor, Kunte Nelson, is con.
spicuous champion of sound money,
taken in connection with the utter
ance just quoted, destroys utterly the
Democratic hope of success through
fatal Republican dissensions over sill
ver.I
No less important are the expressions
of these platforms on the tariff. The
Wisconsin and Iowa planks cordially
reatfirm the Minneapolis national
plank and renew their pledges of fealty
to the protectivepolicy; but the Illinois
plank goes even further. 1t is worth
quoting in full, special attention being
asked for the latter half:
We earnestly maintain the right and
justice Of the American doctrine OF pro-
lection to American industries. In raising
the necessary revenus to maintain the
government we are in favor Of such duties
on competing imports as will best tend to
the development OF the resources Of our
own country, of the labor Of our own
people performed at wages which put the
comforts OF life within easy reach aud se-
cure good prices for the products alike of
our farms, our mines and our workshops,
and we believe that articles that cannot be
successfully produced in this country, ex-
cept luxuries, should be placed on tins free
list. We further believe that without la
Dor there is no such thing as raw material
Of any practical or marketable value and
no tangible thing OF value that it does not
require labor to produce or utilize, and
hence the importation OF socalled raw
material free Of duty Is an interference
with the system of protection to American
labor and should only be permitted when
the raw material is unobtainable In our
country.
Here, again, with the addition, as
before, Of the Minnesota plank which
earlier favored "a protective tariff with
duties equal to the difference between
wages at home and abroad, with re-
ciprocity to give new and enlarged
markets." we have substantial agree
ment; disproving effectually the low
tariff plea that the agricultural revolt
of two years ago was q permanent
change instead Of a transient scare.
We must close this cursory review
with the Illinois Republicans esti-
mate of Altgeld. 1t is thoroughly rich
enough for dessert: 1--WE arraign the
present Democratic governor of Illinois
as the most conspicuous case of misfit
in official life. From the day on which
he began to debase the penal, reforma-
tory, charitable institutionsand public
parks in the state into inGrmaries and
asylums for politicians, to the present
time, he has shown such wonderful
aptitude in doing the wrong thing at
all times that the people of the state,
irrespective Of party, await with undis-
guised impatience the expiration of
his term of Office" SO say we, all
of us.
THE VIGILANT is undoubtedly a
good yacht for the social purposes for
which it Is intended.
Tho Nicoraut,a Oanai