New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-04-24
THE ONE ISSUE ABOVE OTHERS.

II Is n sppclal gift of sclfgovcrnment that
the people settle one thing at Il time. While
philosophers. closet thinkers, professional re-
formers practical politicians. spoils hunters. and
men whose minds grasp but one idea of religion
or of temperance are all pulling in contrary IL
rections. the plain people. as Mr.. Lincoln called
them. are wonderfully likely to seize upon the
one thing which they can settle for all time. and
to settle that so that 1t stays settled Ihs year
has given an astonishing illustration of that
faculty There are all sorts Of cross-purposes III
the air. but they count for nothing. because the
people have determination to put an end 10
foreign warfare against their Industries under
the color of Free Trade theories. lie who does
not perceive that an intense and uncompro-
missing desire for full and impartial protection
completely submergeS all other aims and inter
ests in this Presidential contest has been read
ing current news with blind eyes.
The silver boltcIs and the Democrats thought
they could force a different issue upon the peo-
pie. They have only succeeded in making the
demand for Protection more Overwhelming
When they stopped all reform of the tariii. ana
even had the audacty to prevent srihcient IN
crease of revenue 10 meet necessary cxpendi-
lures and prevent borrowing. they were unaware
that they were in fact dealing the dcathblOw 10
agitation for silver coinage They deliberately
forced the people to choose between Projection
with q gold standard and no Protection WIN
debased currency. The people have been chooS-
Ing, and the declarations Of Republican conven-
tons in every State from Maine To Oregon tell
the result. Silver advocates, who had been ire
sstbe in the politics Of their own States. nave
been so completely buried under popular ma
iorities for Protection that they have been com
pelled to take their choice between staying out
of the National Convention altogether, or going
there as the pledged opponents Of silver coinage
State after State which has for many years
cast no vote that was not for silver has thrust
out of the way, as hostile 10 American indus
tries. the attempt TO sacrifice Protection by di-
yiding it's friends on the monetary question
Every practical man sees that the single issue
of Protection has submerged every other In the
selection of delegates to the National Conven-
tion Differences of locality or personal prefer
ence count for nothing The one Irresistible pur-
pose has been to nominate a known and certain
champion of the protective policy. Machines
have been broken in some States, and forced 10
submit In others with more or less humiliation
just as if they had no power whatever, because
| everything else had TO yield. If conventions
| have favored Morton or Reed or Allison, II has
| been always with the belief that he would go as
| far as anybody TO defend home Industries. and
with the unconcealed intention to take the man
who should be found in convention the best and
safest representative Of that one object
| The politicians will find II safe not 10 disregard
| this popular demand. They cannot get re
| spectacle vote in convention for any man who Is
not absolutely committed by his past record t'
the full protection Of American industries. and
they cannot afford to make that issue subordi
nate to any other Political managers are blunt
" informed that the question this year Is mo-
whether one candidate or another best suit'
them, but whether one candidate or another viii
most surely draw to the Republican ticket Tho
support Of millions of wOrkngmen, and thus
make certain thorough reconstruction OF the
| tariff. The sooner leaders understand this sit
uation, the less will they get hurt by collision
with a resistless popular demand.