Red Lodge picket. [volume] (Red Lodge, Mont.) 1889-1907, 1896-11-21
ON ROCKS AND SHOALS
PERgLS BESEV THE PATH OF THE
AMERICAN SHIP OF STATE.
Henry WnttcrSon Thinks the COun-
try Is blind to the Rights
of the Individual.

Paris, Nov. 1S-Hon. Henry Watterson
editor of the Louisville Courier-J ournal
who was prominently urged for the nomi
nation for the presidency at the Indian
arolis convention, but whose name wa
formally withdrawn, mas remained y
this city since the election. His view
upon the result OF the national campaiSl
just closed have been furnished In an IN
te1view
The election of Mr.. Mckinley sal,
Mr.. Watterson today, 'is but the begin
s of the end Of the struggle which on
and another has been gong on II
the United States for 20 years 1t begal
in the west and south for a fiat money
No sooner was the greenback party dis
posed of than the free silver party tool
its place. Other questions being at the
front and as few of our public men art
experts in coinage, free silver was able
to commit to the new monetary deluSior
many men, who but for their ignorance
on this particular question, could never
have been reached and who were sound tC
the core on the national credit and the
safe stable circulation medium. Among
these public men was Mr.. Mckinley him
ment, reinforced by the silver mine own
ers, finally made an incision into the re
publican party and got possession of the
machinery of the democratic party. This
eliminated in the nomination and defeat
Of Mr.. Bryan. With that defeat ends the
free silver frenzy and danger Of 16 to
standard.
But the elements of disorder it has
= ~, jc-,,
1t has set into motion are left upon the
scene and we may be sure those will con-
tinue their assaults upon the life Of the
nation and the integrity of the people un-
til they are swept out of existence In
1900 Mr.. McKinley's election settles moth
Ing. 1t merely removes fiat money ana
deprecated silver dollars from among
the rocks ahead
Fean0unccs Protection.
Mr. WattersOn was pronounced in de-
claring that the union between the re-
publfcans and gold democrats could not
last.
Asked whether he did not think the
republican victory has been SO over
whclming as to carry all before it, Mr..
Watterson said: For the time being,
YES. The republican party has had in
its time great good fortune. It has shown
itself d clever opportunist. But it can
not rest its case upon the doctrine Of
protection. Neither as a policy nor as
theory. nor as a keynote can protec-
tionism hold its own or stand alone. 1t
is at war with the genius Of American
essary, if it was ever truly necessary, to
father of Daternalisln and tbs e2dtather
oG porulisn. 1t sets eE2mplTA to, tnose
who imagine that ,e.gltn my be c1e-
atld w legislation. 1t imposes grievous
burdens upon the agricultural class. Dur
ing the periods of depression it serves
both as am instigation and as a pretext
20 the discontented elements. il is the
occasion of constant corruption in con-
gress. The manufacturers themselves
ought to lead the movement to discard it.
They could have the question settled by
statesmen and save it from the hands Of
the mob. On such a line conservative
men could unite to rescue the people
from monarchism. But with Mckinley in
the presidency, this seems impossible,
and | confess / dread to think of the at
tempt to which he is committed to bring
back the Mckinley duties under the
mere pretext of supplying a deficit which
is not likely to exist at the close Of a
fiscal year.
The Country Is Snfe.
and what do you think all these
things portend with respect to the future
OF the country?'
Il think the country IS safe for the
present. That the future of the republic
will be equally assured, l devoutly hope.
But thoughtful men should not be lulled
into fancied security because we have
overcome the dragon Of reputation. The
gorgon of agrarianism is yet abroad. The
Bryan movement was the most danger
Gus because it affected 70 speak in the
name Of the people. The whole people
must come to see that there have been
mighty changes going on In the world be-
fore such a government as ours can be
both safe and free
How do you mean, Mr.. Watterson:'
"In 1900, and under the leadership Of
Thomas jefferson, the principle Of demo-
cratic government began its real fight
for life. The issue then was, Are the
people capable Of Scf-goVernment" If
jefferson had failed, the fcGeralist party
would have gone on suppressing individ-
ual liberty and consolidating the central
lie in name only-a Florcntine common
wealth, perhaps, a line of Medician
princes. But Jefferson succeeded, and
the written law Of the land was secured
to the people. In 1860 we shall have to
face the same general question in
new form, and the issue will be under
existing conditions, Are orderly govern
ment and popular government concurrent
IF we are to have any presidential
campaigns like the one just ended, they
are not safe. Unless the body of the
people can be brought to realize the
changes of century of progress, every
four years viii witness a party taking
the field in support Of the alleged rights
of humanity whose very existence is a
menace to the public order, the peace Of
society, the just balance between the
sections Of the Union, the money of the
people, the credit of the nation, and ev-
cry other good and perfect thing sup
posed to emanato from our republican
system.
fi.e Most Hnd;caI Change.
''What 40 you regard the most radical
change Of the century?'
"In 1900 we were a few millions Of pco-
pie and we loved liberty. In 1900 we are
nearly 1090JJ.Vg0 Of people and we love
money. Moreover. Individually and col
lectively, we have a great deal Of money.
Most Of this money is invested in what
are called corporations. From handful
Of individuals we have become a nation
Of institutions The individual counts for
less and less, organization for more and
more. 1t is the idosyncracy Of the hour
we live in. We may tear down the house.
but can not at one and the same time de-
stroy and occupy it. That is what Mr..
Bryan and his followers are pretending
that they can do. Meanwhile must a man
lose his Individual rights of property Re
cause he has invested his accretions in a
bank or railway, or even a trust COM
pany? That is the question we have to