The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1892-1907, 1896-03-28
WE CAN'T AFFORD IT.

0AIO MIA MAnCn 80, loSO,
------------------ 1T
WE CAN'T AFFORD IT.
There never was Q time when the Re
publicans could better afford defeat in
idaho than at present. The only ones
TO be seriously injured BY it are the Of
fice seekers, and incidentally the people.
Therefore . coalition OF the Democrat
and Populists is rather to be desired. 1t
means the final disruption OF one or the
other of these parties and the immediate
simplifying of political issues. 1t means
the blending and union OF two essential
elements OF Popalism and Democracy
and substantially the revival Of the old
greenhack party OF 1876. The one vital
principle OF Democracy is free trade and
the one all controlling vagary of Pop
ulism 10 rag money. There 10 wide
vein of greenbackism running through
Democracy and free trade notions dom
mate Populism. The absorbing passion
OF both is office. With SO much in COM
mon, these two parties naturally draw
together and they will mix and blend in
perfect harmony. In fact, the Idaho
Democrats are principally odshoots OF
the old greenbaek party, and Populism
is simply greenbackism under another
name and few extra trimmings
Therefore a coalition OF Democrats and
Populists simply means the adoption OF
n common name. 1t is probable that a
fusion in the name of free silver would
win, and rs no serious damage would
result to the nation as \ whole, We might
stand the local affection for the good
that must ultimately result. The ex
psrisnce would satisfy the people OF
Idaho for whole generation, ~ it would
take the people about that long to re
cover from the calamity.
The foregoing is from the Malad En-
terprixe and would have had earlier
attention had We supposed that it was
to he made current in the state by being
reprinted from one journal to another
With all due respect to the Enterpris Sc
We want to call a halt here and now on
the proposition that there never was a
time when the Republicans could
better afford defeat in Idaho than at
present." and that "the only ones to be
seriously injured in this defeat are the
Office seekers and not the people," We
regard the present issue as the creates,
one which the people OF Idaho have ever
confronted or may confront within 4
generation. Ii the great cardinal princi-
pie OF Republicans, SO often enunciated,
-bime,allism and protection, not one
but hoth-shall fail at the ensuing cleo
ton in Idaho and other west ern states.
til. people will not be merely incident
ally injured but may be totally wronged
Tor more than a generation. The loss
OF this great saving principle in COM
mercial and industrial stfairs-its defeat
in Idaho-would rivst the gives upon
the pc ople OF the United States so that
they would with pain and suffering, loss
and di.pair, work out thsir enfranchiss-
ment from the evil which might have
been averted ii this state and those
surrounding it would have acted with
intelligence. We are of the opinion
that the people of Idaho can not afford
to go into Democratic and Porulistic
combination; but that almost unani-
mously they can afford to follow the
banner upon which il inscribed "Protec-
ton TO American labor and free and I'M
limited coinage OF silver at 10 to L."
Out OF the chaos OF political conditions
is coming this strong, splendid creation.
Six months ago We could not tell where
to look for the light. The only party
which, rs = party, stood for the free
and unlimited coinage OF silver was the
Populist party; and it had so many isms
that were irreconcilable that no serious
man. not bound up in the organization
OF Populism, would admit for moment
that the triumph of that party was pc g.
sble, or would be beneficial. But the
stand taken by the silver senators from
tina west in the senate recently has
demonstrated that the idea OF this
mighty truth abides in the Republican
party, and with it is the courage to
enunciate and carry it to success. BIZ
melallisn and protection, as combined,
is distinctly Republican principle; it
is reconcilable; it cannot belong to any
other party, unless it shall be reje ted
by the Republican organizatIon-and in
that case it will be the organization that
has gone estray and not the principle Of
Truth which is lost. Our advice to the
Kepublic ans Of Idaho Is to fight as they
never fought before. They must win.
The fate of generation depends upon
their victory. Let no man be deceived
with the solace that the rights OF the
people will he preserved if Democracy
and Populism shall unite and sweep the
state. They would but rush from on.
evil to another evil worse confunded
no great truth can be impressed upon
the legislation Of this country by the
tabor OF Idaho if it shall be directed into
luch misleading channel.
With much which the Enterprise gay .
We agree; We only object TO that portion
which says that "the people Of Idaho
ran afford a victory of ropulism and
democracy united this year. We think
this is the one appoin.sd hour to win 4
triumph which shall be enduring in be-
half Of civilization. That triumph will
lie certainly achieved if the people Of
This great state shall come forward to .
man in support of the truth which 10
now impressing the country from the
senate Of the United States that bimet-
ALIEN and protection are one and in
divisible, and must and shall win for
the sake OF humanity.