The Lafayette gazette. [volume] (Lafayette, La.) 1893-1921, 1895-03-16
REPUBLICAN, PLANS.

REPUBLICANS PLANS.
A scaiy scheme Hoodwink the Pre-
ducinH Classes
Republicans in the national legislne
ture arc beginning to show their
hands. There has been doubt ms to
the policy which they would pursue
when they assume responsibility for
congressional action next winter. or
earlier, If On exxra session shall be
ordered. Upon the one vital question
before the people this republican party
is as hopelessly divided as the democ-
racy. Cleveland and Bland DIRE not
more widely separated than are John,
Sherman and Teller. With every
leader of the republican p1rty In
Dental nomination In 1896. aN1 aeels-
ing to SO shape his course As ia hold
New England without estrangin:s :hc
Agricultural and mining states Of the
west, there is little hope for Intelligent
and radical currency legislation from
that party.
Observers of the game Of po1itscs
have wondered what card the reput-
licans would plays they eeeun in-s
clined to put the currency question into
the discard. Recollection Of the buai-
ness depression which attended the un-s
to deter the republicans from taking
mp tho tariff again. But It seems 4ha1
they hold the tariff q safer issue 60 dis
cuss than the currency, and VIII try to
shift the course Of political discuasious
to it.
Their plan L. simple. They eliminatas
from the currency problem every thing
but the least important factor-uame-
ly. the maintenance OF the ono hum
bred million dollar gold reserve This,
they assert. can easily be kept at that
point if the tariff is so amended - to
n la 70.
reform the currency they would Inc
crease tariff taxation, and upon tho
manner in which this increase shall DO
made they expect political discussions
to center for the next two years. It In
an astute scheme, and democrats of .
certain sort may be expected to join In
it. The east does not want the cur.
rency question exhaustively discussed,
because it knows that the whole force
of the argument will be against its po-
sition. It does not want national
election to turn on the money Ques--
ton. for it knows that in such event.
the west and south would unite Tor its
discontinue.
The people, particularly we OF tlaos
west. mpst not be hoodwinl<ed by this
shrewd repu bGcan scheme. It may b0
admitted at once that If the revenues
may be maintained, but that i'm no way
alters the question As matters now
stand the nation is borrowing money
in order that bankers and gold export.
ers may get gold to sell at profit.
Under the republican plan the people
would be taxed higher to the same end.
Toward remedying the actual evil
which lies ut the bottom Of currencv
agitation the republican scheme would
accomplish, nothing. The nations
money would still be on the gold basis
with gold appreciating. and tho prices
Of products and OF men, therefore, con-
deprecinting. As the produc-
ing classes always pay the tariff taxes
republican domination will mean
higher taxes for them Az they chiefly
uffer from the appreciation Of gold.
epublican hostility to bimeta1lism in-
ures the continuance Of their present
lis. They should and will unite to OPP
,ose any further power being vested in
he party which believes in dear dol
ar and cheap men.-Chicago Times