St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1895-12-14
DEMOCRATIC OUTLOOK.
Ghe Party WIN Fight for Tariff Reforr
and Honest Money.

Il
now upon them. Of these the mo,
important, no doubt. is the silver que
ton. Our country can adjust itse
to any kind of tariff, but it never ca
adjust itself to q dishonest della
Fortunately the question has becom
at last the subject of constant and S,
rlous discussion. The people have pt
on their thinking caps, and with cha1
acteristic earnestness and thorough
ness are going to think the problem ou
and settle it permanently without evs
sion or compromise. Parties mus
and will adopt themselves to this si1
uation. It is not difficult to forese
I the course of the democratic party. j
1 has on it's hands radical differenc
OF opinion and a frst-class fight. |
has had this before. 1t was divide,
on the tariff question. It fought thi
out within its ranks to right conclu
| SION, then it became stronger, unite,
and victorious. 1t never would hay,
made any progress Ii it had feared t.
face the fight or halted because of dis
senters. It is now repeating that ex
perience. Everywhere it is DEBATING
the silver question. The recent victor
les Tor 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
its credit and standing By seeking har.
mony through compromise of pri1i-
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 So the democratic party, in
Its national platform and candidate.
viii stand. for sound money, and will
oppose the free coinage of silver. Both
principle and expedieney 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 1t is responsible; with its own
action in opposing and repeating the
Sherman law; and with its devoted low
atty to one who for II years has been
the most ostconspicuousa and valiant cham
p1on OF honest money and sound finance.
ANY other course invites discreditabIe
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 impor-
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 long contest over the tariff, has
passed a law which, though very con-
serVatiye measure, Is q. long advance
n the right direction. Business and in
iustries have accepted 1t, and are con-
ented and prosperous under it. DEM |
,crats are anxious to give it the test OF |
lime me and experience. Will the repub-
leans acquiesce in this, or do they pro-
,ose to turn backward to Mckinley
smi Should they nominate Mckinley
repudiating his tariff views.
ne tariff will at once become the vital
ssue OF the campaign. He represents
DISTINCTLY one idea. His nomination
fould be challenge to the country to
eturn to tariff policy which it has
efeated and discarded. The demo-
ratio party would gladly accept the
haifenge and fight the old battle over
gain; but this time it would hay,, /,
18th 1t the business interests, which
ave adapted themselves to present
onditions and demand rest from
1rther tariff changes. The issue would
between fair trial of successful /
ir1f and return to a discredited
olicy. 1
One other question is likely to be an
nportant Issue in the campaign, I
amely, the foreign policy Of our coun- j
y. Until a comparatively recent date 5
lere was substantial agreement that,I c
lch policy should not be one of con 4
lest or aggression, but should avoid y
alliances, and make Z
ashington's farewell words and the q
'oper assertion of the Monroe doctrine a
e hulwark of national safety and b
NOR. The San Domingo fiasco of
ants administration was believed to i,
We ended permanently any other il
urse But recently republican lead s.
have revived a defeated and almost is
rgotten Jingoism, and proclaimed a Il
hey OF foreign interference aud -aD= b
I distant, divided, foreign people, il
d of assimifating them and their In Is
tutions. BY interference Mt Samoa tt
ey would involve us in entangling al fe
noes with Germany and England, ie
d in responsibility unusual and I'M
cessary. By assisting Nicaragua In
sigting payment of England's claim
d the English occupancy they would
ryert the Monroe doctrine and estab- z
h a precedent which would force us y
to the foreign quarrels of every petty, Z
responsible republic of Central and Y
,uth America.
How. far these views of republican
apoists control and permeate the
,rty will be determined in its next :
invention. The democratic admins
alton. in It's conduct of our foreign
fairs. has met constant, bitter criti-
s1n. but has absolutely refused to de-
,rt from the traditional policy OF our g
,untry. and to involve her in novel and
foreign complications. Il
* not believed that conquest or colo y
IA acquisition is conducive to her
rensrtil or welfare, nor national hon t
! best upheld by tyranny over q feeble
IT friendly power. The republican j
,,.tv NAV make an issue over this {