The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1896-02-19
MKlNLEY,s PLATFORM.

M'klNLEN'S PLATFORM.
Governor McKinley's recent address
was an event OF more than ordinary i'm
portance to his party and to the country.
with a much wider popularity through
out the West than any other candidate
for the presidential nomination. there
were reasons why his utterances On the
great political issues OF the day should
command degree OF public attention
which would be accorded to those OF no
other man. not even excepting Mr.. Reed.
For II any Republican leader is entitled
TO speak for the party as an authoritative
exponent OF its creed he is that man.
In his Chicago address he laid down the
lines OF the Republican policy on these
issues as he understood them and as
they are understood by the Republican
party from one end OF the country 10
the other 1t was a formulation in
broad outline of the Republican platform
for 1855 a protective tariff; reciprocity;
sound money: the Monroe doctrine: in
these phases. but first and foremost OF all
in prOteetiev tariff. he sounded the
keynotes OF the campaign. The recog-
nized apostle OF the gospel OF protection,
it cannot be said that, in the over
shadowing prominece he gives to pro-
tective tariff. he has given Z; undue EN-
phasis. For it is The distinctive princi-
pie OF the Republican party. Sound
money and the Monroe doctrine are the
exclusive tenets OF no political party.
But protection to American industry is
the distinguishing. as it is the cardinal,
article OF the Republican faith. In this
it stands in radical opposition to the
Democratic party. In whatever else the
Democratic party IS divided-wide apart
as are its Southern and Northern fac
tions on the money quetsion-it is sub
stantially united on a revenue tariff and
the nearest approximation TO free trade
Major Mckinley is clearly right. there
fore, in putting the tariff question and its
involved reciprocity markets in the fore
ground as the commanding issue Of the
campaign as between the Republican and
Democratic parties
II he aceords a secondary place to the
money question it is from too exclusive
preoccupation with the tariff principle.
and not from any lack Of clearness or
holiness in his statements OF the gener- (
ally accepted view OF the Republican at
titude on that question. He declares ,
that the Republican party stands for (
honest money: for a currency OF gold,
silver and paper with which to measure
our exchanges that shall be as sound as
the government and as untarnished as its
honor" The Republican party" he /
added. would as soon think OF lower
ing the flag OF our country as 10 con- /
template with patience or without pro-
test and opposition any attempt TO de-
grade or corrupt the medium OF ex-
changes among the people. 1t can be
relied on in the future as in the past
to supply the country with the best
money ever known, god. silver and paper,
good the world over" II this statement
of the Republican position is defective in
scientific precision it is comprehensive
enough to satisfy all the advocates OF
sound money. 1t is a forecast OF the
probable platform declaration of the ST.
Louis convention on this subject
But while Major Mckinley assigns the
f-,'
the platform. it is not for him or any
enc to say what may be its relative inn
portance in the campaign. For that will
depend on the attitude Of the Democratic
party If the national convention OF
that party should be controlled by its
free silver element. as is not unlikely,
instead of a secondary place. the sound
money plank Of the Republican platform
would prove its most important feature. :
The contest would turn chiefly upon that
issue. If, on the other hand. the Demo-
cratic platform and candidate should
represent its sound money faction, Il Is
true that for all practical purposes the .
money question would cease to be an
issue. But in view of the possibilities .
it is Of vital Importance that there shall .
be no failure TO place the Republican .
party on the solid rock Of sound money,
and no getting down in the mud to angle
for the free silver vote with bats Of weak
and paltering equlvocation that catch no
fish, and disgust and ALLEVIATE the honest
mind OF Americans.