The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1896-11-14
a wORkINGMAN.s VIEW.


If any one thinks that the working
man does not take an intelligent in
terest in the political questions Of the
day, or have an intelligent compre-
hension Of them, we commend him to
the study of an article which appears
In our columns this morning over the
signature Of zone Of the Working
men," and which deals with the poll
teal outlook and current political
issues. We have seldom seen a more
thoughtful, calm and adequate ex-
preston of opinion than this. The
writer measures perfectly the impor-
lance of present issues and their re-
latfon to each other He grasps the
great central proposition that the free
silver crusade grew out Of the pro-
tective system, of which it is logically
and essentially part. His idea of the
way in which a tariff works out so
that in no event does the working
man himself get any benefit of it, ex-
cept after long time and by resort
to strikes or other means of acquiring
part of this legislatively conferred
profit, is quite correct. The working
men Of this country are studying poll
teal and economical problems as they
never did before, and as the working
people of no other country in the world
ever did. If all OF them should, as we
believe that all Of them eventually
will, reach the conclusions here set
forth, it will be an admirable thing for
the future of party politics and Of the
country
In one respect, however, our cores
pondent seems to us to take a wrong
view; and one whose narrowness is
out Of keeping with the remainder
of his communication. This is the posi-
ton assuming that the Republican
the polls by an overwhelming vote of
the people, is not open to advice or
suggestion as to it's course in congress.
Here, we think, the writer is altogether
at 1du1l I1C CSlldlllly 10 50 III the OK
preston he uses about "humbly beg
ging" Mr.. Mckinley and his associates
to do or not to do this or that thing.
There is no begging" or "supplication"
whatever about the position of a voter
who, having taken an intelligent and
earnest interest in the progress of this
P9n1TQiQrT shall frpoIN
his opinion of what the real interests
of the country call for Our CORES
pendent should remember that, al
though while Mr.. Mckinley was a can
didate, he was the candidate of the
Republican party, now that he is elect
ed he will, or ought to be, the presi-
dent of the whole United States I'm
doubtedly, the policies to which his
own party is committed will stand first
with him. Yet it would be a strange
doctrine, unknown to US and foreign
to the peoples good, if even those
who voted against Mr.. Mckinley
should not have the right Of free ex-
preston Of their opinion, and If it
were not even their duty to say to the
president-elect what they believed to
be at once his duty and his opportun-
ity For this reason, we have stated,
and shall probably state again, the
folly, Or worse, of a revival Of tariff
legislation at this time, when the bust
ness interests of the country need
rest most Of all, when the currency of
the country needs reformation, and
when this issue was the only one
heard of in this campaign.
Mr.. Mckinley may or may not heed
this advice. 1t is good advice, all the
same. 1t is not a humble petition or a
supplication, OF anything of the kind.
1t is not demand that the support
which sound money Democrats. mis-
takenly we think, gave Mr.. Mckinley
be recognized by touching the tariff
lightly. 1t is simply the expression by
a citizen of the United States of what
he believes the highest good Of the peo-
pie of these United States requires.
That the views of our correspondent
naturally harmonic fully with our
own confirms US in the belief that they
are the views of a very large majority
of the people Of this country. and. as
such, they ought to be urged freely
upon public attention and to be pre-
scented for the consideration of the par
ty that is to hold the presidency for
the next four years. and to be in con-
them.