Arizona weekly citizen. [volume] (Tucson, Ariz) 1880-1901, 1896-07-18
REPUBLICANS AND SILVER.

Numerous inquiries have reached this
Office from silver republicans as to how
they can support the st. Louis tickst
and platform without heing adverse to
the great cause of blmetalllsm and free
silver. These letters attest in every line
the earnestness which marks the
character Of the true pairi1: who
desires to vote right, and th ) re,
therefore, deserving the attention q lhe
public generally.
Those who are in doubt on this issue
have not read the st. Louis platform
clearly, nor do they understand existing
conditions rightly. The st. Louis plat
form does not declare fo- the gold stand
ard. On the contrary, it pledges the
party and its candidate for the presiden-
cy to promote international bimetsllism.
This declaration is certainly not ad-
verse to the movement toward the free
coinage of silver. As a matter of fact
some OF the most earnest advocates of
silver have long advocated just such
course, and all free-silver men can con-
sisten tly support ii as first step toward
the accomplishment of what they SO
much desire.
The issue becomes better understood,
however, when We consider ir in relation
to the whole situation. A vote against
the st. Louis ticket and platform would
be q vote sgainst not only bimetsllism
by international agreement but against
the protective tariff system and Americ-
an industry. 1t would be vote against
the party OF efficient government in favor
OF the party of bnngiing and misgovern-
ment. 1t would be to turn away from
the soldier candidate Mckinley and all
that his heroic record in war Rna peace
represents, to ally ones self with the
crowd ruled by the anarchist Altgeid of
Chicago, or the ignorant and sectional
Tillmsn of South Carolina.
III we turn from the nation at large
coast we shall see abundant reasons
why all intelligent and conservative
business men and workingmen should
remain t:ue to to the republican party
and give an earnest supper. to the St |
Louis ticket. La California the silver |
question is not an issue. All parties |
are pledged to it. Republicans, dem
ocrate, populIsts ard prohibitionists are
agreed on that issue. Every candidate |
for congress from that state, no matter |
on what ticket be runs, will be favor |
able to free coipsge. The dividing |
issues with US are those of protection |
against free trade and of capable men |
against Incompetency and bung~
ling. The democratic administrs-
tion failed as much from weak |
men as from bad measures. /
The party could not act together on any
subject, and the result was fissco in
every branch OF the government and in
every administrative department.
The first issue before us is the restor-
stion of prosperity, the revival Of indus
try, the employment OF idle men and
the re-estabiishment st Washington Of /
q government capable OF dealing with /
great questions in statesmanlike way.
When we have provided work for the |
people, enacted tariff that will yield a |
revenue to the government, turned the |
balance Of trade in our favor and have |
at the national capital body OF able,
resolute and united men to manage the /
affairs Of the republic, We will be in a
position from which we can 60 forward /
to bimetallIsm without danger 30 our |
finances or disturbance to our indus |
tries, and it is to that end therefore that |
all true bimetallists should work during |
the campaign and vote on election day.