San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1896-07-23
MORE LIGHT WANTED.

ties are terribly in earnest, but
this does not give them a certifi-
cate of soundness for their theories.
At the same time it is wise to recol-
lect that the battle is not always to
the. strong, nor the race to the
swift, but that the fellow with the
most determination is pretty apt
to get there. Grit can give brains
odds every time and then whip
him. All that is left of political
prudence, sagacity, determination,
bigotry, psrtissnship and hatred
of Republicanism, outside of the
gold standard wing Of the Democ-
racy, is combined with the Popu-
lists and free silverites Of the coun-
try to defeat the platform and the
nominees Of the st. Louis conven-
ticn of last month. While Ii is in
order to respect the honest convic-
tions of those who differ from MS,
it is not wise to accept their con-
victions for facts, nor base an &C.
ton upon their prejudices. There
Is some truth mixed with what
the silverites advance, and were
it not so there would be no
use of contending with it, for it
could not stand alone, but it is the
half truth in it that hurts, and out
of which destruction is coming as
lightning out OF cloud. The
American people do not take kind
ly to any monetary system that
looks to the retirement OF silver as
money, equally with gold, stand.
ard of value and medium OF ex-
change. The acts OF the present
Administration have all tended
directly to discredit silver, but
they have done a greater mischief
in discrediting the revenues Of the
country and reducing them below
the self-sustaining point, entail
ing upon the country in time OF
peace great increase of the pub
lie debt. This naturally has re-
suited in the stagnation Of all in
dustry, for the people were not
paying their way, and the money
that should have been paid to home
producers was sent abroad to pay
the bills OF foreign manufacturers.
Democratic prejudice against pro-
tective policies will not admit
this, and so the whole burden of
present distress is laid at the door
Of the sound money house. The
distress is apparent. The cause is
not SO readily seen. In the an
certainty the free silverites have
jumped to the conclusion that
more money is needed, while In
fact 1t is more work, more oppor-
tunity to earn wages, more home
markets in which to sell both
labor and its products, more Of
that which brings money that is
needed. While their position is
the result Of their misapprehen-
sion Of causes, it is equally true
that they are terribly in earnest in
endeavoring to meet the evil as
they see it. They will move
heaven and earth to force upon the
country their free silver policy
with all its attendant evils,
and threaten the country with
being successful in their plans. De-
nunciation counts for nothing,
only intensifies popular feeling.
The bulk Of the people are looking
for light, and this campaign must
be one of earnest educational work.
That the managers Of the McKin-
ley campaign 80 see 1t, is matter Of
generalization. Education Is re-
quired. The people must be taught
that it is not the money question
that hurts so much as question
of adequate revenue and home pro-
duction protected. Also that the
Republican party does not desire
gold monemetalism, but the free
circulation of gold, silver and
paper money under such agree