Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1895-11-21
OUTLOOK OF TIE DEMOCRATS

The Party VIII Fight Tor Jari6 Ho1oxU
and Honest Money.
So much for the past. OF what con.
sequence are the questions now immi.
nent, and the position of the parties
now upon them. OF these the most
important, no doubt. is the silver ques-
ton. Our country can adjust itsed
to any kind of tariff, but it never can
adjust itself to a dishonest dollar.
Fortunately the question has become
at last the subject of constant and Sc
rious discussion. The people have put
ON their thinking caps, and with char
acteristic earnestness and thorough
ness are going to think the problem out,
and settle it permanently without eva
sion or compromise. Parties must
and will adopt themselves to this sit
uation. 1t Is not difficult to foresee
the course of the democratic party. It
has on its hands radical difference
of opinion and first-class fight. 1t
has had this before. It was divided
on the tariff question. It fought this
out within its ranks to a right conclu-
sion, then it became stronger; united
and victorious. It never would have
made any progress if it had feared to
face the fight or halted because of dis
senters. 1t is now repeating that ex-
perience. Everywhere it is debating,
the silver question. The recent victor
les for sound money in Kentucky,
Iowa and Ohio show the effect of full
discussion and make it certain that the
democratic party will not commit it
self to the silver heresy, nor weaken
sxu nj cfo nd I,xyc h ,.-
mony through compromise of prin-
ciple. Harmony will come, as it did in
the tariff, when the party, through
struggle, takes and obstinately holds a
sound position. I confidently predict
that in 90 the democratic party, in
its national platform and candidate,
will stand for sound money, and will
oppose the free coinage of silver. Both
principle and expediency suggest this
course. 1t is in line with the tradi-
tions and past of the party; with its
platforms and principles; with the
whole record of it's administration, for
which it is responsible; with it's own
action in opposing and repeating the
Sherman law; and with it's devoted 10y
atty to one who for IL years has been
pion of honest money and sound finance.
Any other course invites discreditable
defeat.
While the silver question is likely, in
the next campaign, to be uppermost in
the public mind, the tariff will, no
doubt, as in the past, be an issue be-
tween the parties and the subject of
much discussion. Between the parties
there is radical difference on the prin-
ciples involved, but just how inpor-
tant the issue is to be depends largely
on the action of the republican congress
and national convention. The burden
rests upon that party. The democracy,
after a long contest over the tariff, has
passed law which, though a very con-
sentative measure, is long advance
in the right direction. Business and in
dustries have accepted it, and are con-
tented and prosperous under it. DEM
ocrats are anxious to give it the test OF
time and experience. Will the repub-
licans acquiesce in this, or do they pro-
pose to turn backward to Mckinley
ism? Should they nominate Mckinley
without repudiating his tariff views,
the tariff will at once become the vital
issue of the campaign. He represents
distinctly one idea. His nomination
would be a challenge to the country to
return to a tariff policy which it has
defeated and discarded. The demo-
cratic party would gladly accept the
challenge and fight the old battle over
again; but this time it would hav.
with it the business interests, which
have adapted themselves to present
conditions and demand a rest from
further tariff changes. The issue would
be between a fair trial of a successful
tariff and a return to a discredited
policy.
One other question is likely to be an
important issue in the campaign,
namely, the foreign policy of our coun-
try. Until comparatively recent date
there was substantial agreement that
such policy should not be one of con-
quest or aggression, but should avoid
"entangIing alliances" and make
Washington's farewell words and the
proper assertion of the Monroe doctrine
the bulwark of national safety and
honor The San Domingo fasco of
Grants administration was believed to
course. But recently republican lead
ers have revived a defeated and almost
forgotten jingoism, and proclaimed
policy of foreign interference and an
nexation. By annexation of the Ha-
allan islands they would have the
country try the experiment of govern
ing a distant, divided, foreign people,
and of assimilating them and their in
situations. By interference at Samoa
they would involve us in entangiing al
iances with Germany and England,
and in a responsibility unusua! and I'M
necessary. By assisting Nicaragua in
resisting payment of England's claim
and the English occupancy they would
peryert the Monroe doctrine and estab-
lish a precedent which would force us
into the foreign quarrels of every petty.
irresponsible republic of Central and
South America.
How far these views of republican
iingoists control and permeate the
party will be determined in it's next
convention. The democratic admins
tration, in it's conduct of our foreign
affairs, has met constant bitter criti-
cism. but has absolutely refused to de-
part from the traditional policy of our
country, and to involve her in novel and
everlasting foreign complications. 1t
has not believed that conquest or colo
1.ial acquisition is conducive to her
strength or welfare, nor national hon-
or best upheld by tyranny over feeble
but friendly power. The republican