Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-09-13
THURSDAY. go. SEPT. Is, 1894
Maine-Reed and Mckinley

The speeches made by Mr.. Mckinley
and Mr.. Reed In Maine pending the late
election In that State had very little
to do with the Republican victory there.
Those speeches were more remarkable for
what they did not contain than for what
they did contain. The tariff was the
subject which both Reed and Mckinley
chose to maize the leading topic Of dis
cussion. though. of course, thew did not
entirely overlook the pension-list. the ere
belious" disposition Of the southern peo-
pie, and the injustice done 10 the negroes
OF the South in so legisating as to cause
them rather TO retire from politics than
10 try TO defeat the all-conquering white
man. Maine, let us say here, is Republ-
can just as several OF the Southern
States are Democratic-that is, Maine is
rooted and grounded in the Republican
faith as those Southern States are rooted
and grounded in the Democratic faith.
We have Just said that the speeches of
Mckinley and Reed in Maine were more
remarkable for what they did not con-
tain than for what they did contain.
We had in mind the fact that in his
speech at Bangor last Saturday Mr.. Nc
kinley said not a word on the subject of
the income-tax. Nj. Reed coolly over
looked the same subject in his speech
two weeks ago. They dared not challenge
The Democracy to a discussion OF this
mUch-denounced feature of the new tariff
bill Expressive silence told the story as
elOquently as a volume OF words could
have done IT. Maine thus voted in the
lark on the income-taX question.
Are we to understand that the RepubIl-
Can party VIII acquiesce in the income
FAX? or has that party no opinion on
this new method Of raising revenue to
support the Federal Government? or
Is the incOme-tax so popular. even in
Maine. that the Republicans dare not an
tagonze 1t?
Again: Messrs. Reed and Mckinley.
though leaders Of the Republican party.
had nothing TO say on the occasions jus,
mentioned in opposition to the silver
policy Of the Democrats. Mr. Reed some
time ago indicated in an interview with
The representative Of London paper that
the silver question had two sides to it,
and he had not yet spoken his last wor>
On that important topic He has since
said nothing more definite that we know
or touching silver. Nor did Mr. Mckinley
tackle the silver problem in his Bangor
speech. Ii was a subject which 1t would
seem he was afraid to attempt 10 dis
cuss until he knew definitely how Reef
stood affected towards 1t. All that Nc
Kiney ventured to say on this point, so
far as we are advised, was when In
speaking Of Democratic professions Of
friendliness to silver he declared that
the Democrats were against the use o.
silver in all the branches Of the govern
ment. including the Executive, when they
got into power. Mr.. Mckinley expressed
10 views of his own, but contented him.
)elf with saying what We have Just re-
peated as TO the manner In which the
Democrats have treated silver.
If there are involved in the elections
Tor the next House of Representatives
my questions more important than the
silver question and the income-tax ques-
hon. we do not know what they are. But
NessTs. Reed and Mckinley allowed these
questions TO go without discussion in
Maine. and made themselves parties to
suppression Of them.
SO the Republican victory in Maine as
We said yesterday. was a victory gained
in a measure by ignoring the two ques'
ton on which the next presidential and
congressional elections may turn. Maine
has not committed herself either 10 bi-
metallism or 10 monometallism. Reed
and Mckinley have declined also 10 COM
nit themselves on the same subjects.