Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1896-06-19
The Republican Tin God

: i'"VA. ~ ~. Louis. McklnleN was
the logical candidate for the head OF
the ticket, for his name had become
the synonym oil all there was in the
Republican creed-protection-up to
the time that wealth saw an oppor-
tnnlty for making a " corner" on the
government coinage. Whether Nc
kinley possesses the brains of Allison
or Morton, or the decision and nerve
OF Reed, matters but little. Expert
ence has shown that the absence of
either OF these qualities in the Nations
executive may be supplied by tact.
After Grant and Hayes, the mental
caliber OF q Presidential candidate may
pass for nil if backed by military rep
utation or returning board.
The other good thing the Republi-
cans did 1T st. Louis was to declare for
the gold standard. That was, of
course, proper for party of the tradi-
tons which attach to their progeni
tOrs-the tories and the whigs-the
party that is always allied to the
moneyed influence and stands hat
in hand to invidious class distinctions.
Protection built up the fortunes of the
multi-mil!lonaires. as the gold stand
ard is now piling up wealth in the
vaults OF the Alexanders of finance.
The few words about international
agreement" to remonetize silver, is
thrown in merely as the rattle that
may please some Of the babes. 1t is
not contemplated with seriousness.
1t is the politicians device for entic-
ing into the trap those whose keen
scent has aroused the suspicion that it
is delusion and snare.
That it will result in failure is shown
by the action of the delegates from Col
orado, led by Senator Teller, Idaho,
Utah and Nevada, who retired from
the convention and refused to be
guided by its mandate.
Although the nomination was made
yesterday afternoon, at 8 %, the Con-
yention went through the form OF sub
hitting the names of Allison, Reed,
Morton and Quay, but the result OF
Hanna's mastery manipulation was
apparent when Ohio was reached and
cast her 46 votes for Mckinley.
The secession of the silver delegates
was made a matter of much sympa-
thetic side-play, and only the calcium
light and red fire were needed to make
it quite dramatic. Senator Teller's
plea for silver was listened to patient
~ and greeted with applause. As the
silver delegates, about 40 in number,
passed out of the hall, the utmost ST.
lence prevailed. A look OF sorrow and
regret, the dispatches state, rested
upon the faces of the delegates and
the great audience. 1t was a pathetic
scene never to be forgotten.
The platform declares for protection,
favors reciprocity. endorses Harrison's
administration and condemns Cleve-
lands, without word of commenda-
ton for his fostering care for the germ
which constitutes the life of the party !;
opposes the use OF public money for
sectarian purposes, to catch the A. p.
A. votes; favors restoration of peace in
Cuba Gas who don'D; denounces the
President for vetoing pensions OF the
photographer at Gettysburg and of
widows who seek restoration to the
payroll after suspension by marriage
on death OF second husband, and favors
restriction of foreign immigration.
The financial plank, of course, consti-
tutes the gist of the platform. Re-
publicans may shout for protection,
for they have done 80 so long that
their mouths are still in shape for it,
but nobody seriously wants or contem-
plates much change. The multi-mil-
lionsires have other interests to sub.
serve, and they have direc ted just how
that their ally, the Republican party,
shall give aid and comfort, in return
for the money that will now flow from
the vaults on Wall street to corrupt
the ballot and pervert public senti.
ment.
The hope OF the people, in such an
lies in their earnestness.
The floating vote may be purchased,
but the owners of homes will care
more for the means of making live
lihood anil return of prosperity than
the price that wealth can pay, and the
vote will be pretty nearly what is now
indicated, a majority in most of the
States of two to one for bimetallism
and business revival.
The financial plank reads:
"The Republican party is unre-
for sound money. 1t caused
the enactment of the law providing for
the resumption of specie payments in
1879 since then every dollar has been
as good as gold. We are unalterably op-
posed to every measure calculated to de-
base our currency or impair the credit of
our country. We are, therefore, CD.
posed to the free and unlimited coinage
Of silver. except by international agree
ment, which We favor, and until such
agreement can be obtained the existing
gold standard should be preserved. We
favor the use Of silver as currency, but to
the extent only that its parity with gold
can be maintained, and we favor meas
ures designed to maintain inviolable the |
money of the United States, whether
coin or paper, the standard of the most
nations of the EARTH"
Garrett A. Hobart, at New Jersey,
was nominated for the second posi-. |