The herald., 1895-06-25
TO THE EDITOR
tThe Herald under this heading prints com
munications. but does not assume responsi-
bility for the sentiments expressed.

Editor Herald What is the political
outlook for 1896? How are parties likely
to divide, and what will be the great
question on which the next presidential
election will be fought?
The free silver men, so-called, are
making q great show or energy, and talk
grandly of campaign fought out strictly
on the issue of the free and unlimited
coinage OF silver as a full legal tender at
a ratio of sixteen to one of gold. Their
campaign has already begun; the coun-
try is flooded with literature, and our
platforms are covered with speakers urg
ing the necessity of the immediate enact
ment OF a law which might well be called,
AN act to compel American freemen to
take what they do not want in payment
for their labor and its products in order
to enrich certain owners OF silver mines.
This vigorous campaign has alarmed the
leaders of the old political machine. and
they are twisting and tuning this way
and that way in desperate effort to be
sure of getting on the right road to win
the majority vote.
a cartoon graphically picturing the di
lemma of the Republican leaders. The
three Statesmen heaven save us from
them ARE at crossroads, oie marked
''gold, "the other silver down the first
of which Mr.. Mckinley has taken step
or two, while MIR. Harrison mas taken
step or two on the other, both looking
back uncertainty at "the gentleman from
Maine (Mr. Reed). who Is as yet com
mitted to neither road and is endeavor-
ing to decipher the weather worn and di-
lapidated sign board. The picture is en-
titled Which Road to the White House,
and would serve as well to depict the di-
le.nma of so-called Democratic leaders.
The fact that the leaders are SO uncertain
as to which way the people as a whole
are going shows how gladly they will
welcome any chance which will enable
them to return to road with which
they consider themselves already familiar.
There will he deficiency Of revenue TO
be provided for, caused by the failure OF
the income tax, and the Republican con-
gress will presumably pile on tariff taxes,
nominally to meet this deficiency, in
reality to benefit certain large contrbu-
tors to their campaign funds. Will the
president, who refused to sign the Viii
SON German tariff abominaton. be likely
to sign such laws as will be sent TO him
by the hext congress2 Hardly!
This the leaders will consider is the
time for which they are looking. Then
they can go along the old familiar tariff
road, which they think will lead them to
their own goal.
Blind leaders of the blind, they do not
see that this silver question is but an
otner phase of the old, old question OF
special privilege.
The logical position of the Republican
leaders, as of the Democratic ones who
are really protectionists, is with the silver
men.
"Protection!" The lend ing to certain
citizens of the strong arm of the govern
ment to force the people at large to take
their products, whether they want them
or not. That is what it really is And
that is all that this free silver" aglta-
ton means. 1t is all part and parcel OF
the same thing and can all be settled at
once If only the question can be forced
fairly before the people.
The recent decision OF the supreme
court in the income tax cases has forced
upon the country for immediate settle
ment the great question OF how to
raise federal revenue. The Republi
cans will of course welcome another cam
paign in which they can rally under the
banner of protection. Then how about
the Democrats? Can they go again be-
fore the people with specious promises
of tariff reform2 After the object lessons
presented by the last congress, can they
hope to fool any respectable number OF
voters into the belief that that means
anything else tnan a mere change CT
some OF the beneficiaYies of protection?
There is but one logical position possible
for the Democratic party and that Is the
truly Democratic one Of supporting free
trade and direct taxation. Direct taxa
ton has now been shown to mean a tax
apportioned among the states according
to population, and there is no use trying
to base it on incomes or anything else
sim ply levy upon the states Tor their por-
tion. leaving to each state the option of
raising its quota as its people think best
Thus will the intelligence and common
sense of tho people be brought squarely
face to face with the question of the abo
ltion of special privileges, and surely there
can be no question as to what the decis-
ION will be.
LAURENCE DUNHAM.