The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-07-30
Mr.. whitney,. Advice to Republicans.

To the Editor of the indianapolis Journal:
1 greatly admire Hon. w. c. Whitney.
He has convictions; that is to his credit,
but, greater still, he has the courage to
avow them. no matter how absurd they
are. For instance. he sees in the Demo-
cratic proposition to debase our currency
such a threat to disturb values and to Grip
pie commerce at home and abroad that he
cannot join hands with his co-Democrats
in bringing it about, while on the other
hand he recognizes safety and prosperity
to the country in the Republican PROPOSE
ton to maintain the existing gold stand
ard. just as they have for a quarter of a
century or more. in spite of the assaults
of Greenbackers and the opposition of the
Democratic party as such. but aided all
along by the Clevelands and the Hills and
the Whitneys of the party. who, on the
money question, newer co-operated with
the party as such. Just what to do in such
a case perplexeS such Democrats as he,
but he sees a possible way out; just let
the Republicans beg pardon for having all
along pursued a line of policy which not
only, paid the debt (which was bequeathed
to them by long Years of Democratic in
competency or dishonesty, but which car
ried on a long and expensive war and then
paid off most of the war debt and brought
greenbacks to par with god and silver,
and left millions in the treasury, with
enough revenue coming in to not only
meet current expenes. but to continue re-
ducing the debt, and let them promise to
not pursue that line of policy any longer,
at least until this silver question is set
tied. and he and such as he will vote for
Mckinley in a forgiving frame of mind.
Now, there is nothing new or alarming
in such a suggestion. Every once in a
while. all down the ages. a good man or
two has wanted to cooperate with the
Christians of his period. but they could not
unless those other Christians would re-
nounce al their distinctive notions and
come and join them, the only true Chris
tian3 in the world. The other Christians
did not most always do il. but kept on be-
lieving and doing just as if no such an alb
lau hing at the modesty which sought
unity on a platform so very narrow.
Just so the Republicans, duly thankful
to Mr.. Whitney for his advice. seem in
clined to talk tariff and reciprocity and re-
trenchment and reform. and everything
period of good wages. steady employment.
full treasury. low interest and high prices
which obtained everywhere when the Dem
ocrats undertook n job that has proved TO
be too big for their capacity. OF course.
Mr.. Whitney will not vote for Mr.. Nc
Kinley. He believes in protection and its
correlated measures. But doesn't Mr..
Whitney? Mr.. Sewall. the Democratic can
didate for Vice President, does with all his
heart and a good share of his money. for
secure protection to ship building. and he
got il. not only in the Mckinley bill. but
in the Wilson bill. He is sound on protec-
ton. And did not the Democratic owners
of our encaustic tile works hang around
Congress for months TO retain protection
After all. il depends very much upon
whether a fellow has anything to protect
whether he is a protectionist or not.
Indianapolis, July %. L. L. SEE.