San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1896-08-01
WASHINGTON LETTER.

that the Republicans drop the
tariff as an>issue, as bait to Sc
cure tie votes OF the gold Demo-
Gratis for Mckinley and Hobart, as
about the most astounding exhtbi-
ton of political gall ever witnessed
in this country. The cornerstone
OF the Republican party is its be.
lief in a protective tariff, end as
soon as it has the power it will put
that belief into practice again,
with every confidence that it will
restore the prosperity OF the coun-
try to what it was under
wise Republican government in the
past. 1t is perfectly true, as
claimed by the gold Democrats,
that a sound currency has be-
come one OF the main issues of
this campaign, but 1t was Demo
cratic tariff tinkerlng and the per-
sons OF Mr.. Cleveland and his ad-
ministration, which made it an
issue. Believing this, and that a
protective tariff will bring back
prosperous times and remove the
causes which have made the ques-
ton OF a sound currency come to
the front, the Republicans could
not for a moment even consider
such a proposition as the abandon
ment of the advocacy of a pro-
tective tariff. If gold Democrats
wish to support Mckinley and Ho-
bart, on one the best platforms ever
adopted by a national convention,
well and good; but il they do not,
also well and good. The Republic
cans can win without their votes,
and have no inducements of any
kind to offer them. The only ad-
vantage to be had from their votes
will be to add to the Republican
majority and consequently to the
force of the rebuke which the coun-
try will give to the men who dared
to make q presidential campaign
on such a platform IS that adopt
ed at Chicago, and practically re-
adopted by the Populist conven-
ton.
According to Mr.. James Nc
Dowell, a mem Der of the Republi-
eau central committee, OF South
Dakota and Representative Pick
Ter, of the same state, both Of whom
are now in Washington, the bolt
ing Of Senator Pettigrew is not en-
dorsed by sufficient number Of
Republicans to put the state in the
doubtful column. The congress.
sional committee has received
quite a number Of letters from
democrats announcing their inten-
ton to vote for Mckinley and
Hobart. The following from q
Virginia farmer is a fair sample !:
81 have always been a moss. back
democrat, but 1 can't stand free
silver, populism and anarchy all
at one dose, and / believe that Nc.
Kinley Is our only hope for good
times again. 1 was fool enough
to advocate free trade, but have
come to the conclusion that IL the
farmer is to get good prices there
must be mouths to fill; and with
out money to buy with, the mouths
must go empty, while plenty OF
work alone will give the money
Senator Proctor, of Vermont,
paid flying visit to Washington
in connection with national COM
mittee business. AS 1t would have
been an obvious waste of words to
have asked him how things polit;-
cal were in his own state, which
has never since the Republican
party organized voted any other
way, he was asked what he thought
of the general outlook. He replied
in an aggravated Yankee drawl
which he uses upon occasion,
"Well, / don't believe that the
American people are entirely crazy
yet, 30 l feel pretty safe as to re-
suits"
There Ia a rumor in Washington
that somebody has got in aLead
of the Bryan managers and en-
gagged Madison square garden
in New York City, in order to pre-.
vent the holding of the Bryan
notification meeting there next
month. The rumor may or may
not be true, but 1t can be set down
as certain, If it be true, that nc
Republican money Is being put uI
for any such foolish purpose. The
Republicans would not care If Mr.
Bryan made speech in New Yorl
City every night between now ant
and election day, because they
know that nothing he can say
there or elsewhere will proven
the election of Mckinley and Ho
bart.
1t will be long time before tn
country has had such another ex