The record-union., 1896-08-01
BUSINESS AND POLITICS.

story is told Dy new IOrk paper
concerning a matter that is much
mouthed In this campaign. A Georgia
man was In New York inveighing
against the money men of Gotham.
and declaring that "the money power
Of the East" must be downed, and that
the best way In his estimation to do it
was to support the Chicago ticket
much as he disliked some of its plat
form declarations.
This Georgia man. Mr.. Venable.
has held high positions in his State
and Is Iagely interested in manufac-
turing and other Industrial enterprises
down there. When he had ceased his
vttuperative defamation about "the
money power of the East and its de-
signs upon all things, a. friend asked
him the nature of his business in New
York, and he replied promptly that he
had come to the city to borrow money
to erect the finest Office building in the
South.
This answer, taken in connection
with Mr.. Venable's denunciation of the
East for "clutching, clutching," and
money lending, leads "Harpers Week
ly" into some sage reflections concern
ing confused conditions of mind among
people who look upon 'the money pow
er in the East" as something in the ma
ture of dragon of borrid mien and de-
vouring propensities.
To denounce money, 1t is said, is
politics, but to secure its investment In
ones enterprises is business. 1t is
disingenuous plea We have no defenses
to make of usury, nor of corners. trusts
and combines among the dealers in
money or commodities; business and
politics may be wide apart at some
points, but they should not be. What
la good business for the people ought to
be good politics for the people also.
The moneyed men Of the East are ex-
ceedingly convenient fellows when
there is a business enterprise to be
promoted; they ought not, therefore,
simply because they deal In money and
handle capital, to be such especially alb
horent fellows when 1t comes to poll
tios. II business and politics are not
the same thing this year. they are so
closely related a. to be practically in
separable-
The protection policy OF the Republi-
can party Is q business policy, and, SO,
too. la the reformation of the flnan-
cial system which the Populistic De-
mocracy insists Is the only issue in the
campaign. 1t is business issue,
though it does not and cannot take
precedence OF the graver issue of which
protection Is the heart.
The whole truth Ia, that SO far as
moneyed men are concerned, their In
ferests are best conserved by the high
est condition Of prosperity among all
the people. 1t follows, therefore, that
is they are as shrewd and far-seeing
as they are charged with being, they
are not, as Is insisted, seeking to crush
the people and fasten vicious clutch
upon the throat Of prosperity. AS we
have said, we nave 40 oeIeHseS 10 make
of money dealers and money lenders;
they are to take care OF their own con-
Germs; but 1t is not commitment
to their advocacy to suggest that the
money lender and the money dealer,
each presupposes the money borrower
and the money user.
What we do insist upon, however, is
this. that Ii vituperation, abuse and
cursing are deplorable in a campaign
as to parties and candidates.; IL foul
designation by titles of opprobium and
epithets of contumely, If scurrility and
assault upon motive ought to be put
out of a political campaign and honest
debate in honest language. strong, Wig
orous and decent, take the place. then
the same rule should apply in speaking
of any and all business that IS inter-
woven with national politics.
The money men are entitled to just
as fair play and just as decent treat