The Portland daily press., 1896-07-01

ing about Republican success. But in
all probability that cannot be done.
From causes which it is useless to con-
sioer the currency question seems to have
suppianted for the time being TIN tariff
IN the public mind, and with that
question designated by public sentiment
as tine Leading issue of the campaign and
with no reasonable hope of icing able to
seno 1t to the rear it seems to us that it
would be not only useless but hurtful
TO the Republican campaign to
oweli too much upon the tariff.
Ihere is no doubt as to the position of
the Republican party on that
question. Every body knows it's record
ON the subject and knows what it will
10 II 1t is given control of the govern
ment. The voters who want protection
more than free silver will give 1t their
SURFACES. The man in whose mind the
sarlfr question is uppermost and who be-
lleves in protection will give it his vote
anyway. He needs no appeal. His ex.
perience OF the past four years of Demo-
cratic rule is more eloquent and con-
vlnclng appeal than any campaign orator
or newspaper can possibly mako.
But it is to be feared that throughout
the West there are many men who have
heretofore been Republicans whose heads
have been turned by the silver craze and
who are looking to free coinage and not to
protection as the panacea for all their
Ills. These men, or great many of
them, 1T is to be feared, will appear Ia
the ranks of the Populists or the free sill.
YER Democrats. How formidable a body
they are nobody can definitely know I'M
til they stand I'D in November and are
counted, but there are signs that they are
numerous enough to make their loss a
severe one unless it can be made good.
Now the only possible recruits to take
their places are the sound money Demo-
Gratis. They are already repudiating the
Chicago convention in advance and are
showing disposition to vote the Repub-
lican ticket because Of its attitude upon
the currency. These men may be need
ed i'll November, not only to insure a
Republican victory, but what is far
AAA,io AhApOi Nahu w QO4o6U uil6 SUuUlll6S
Of the Blands and the Altgelds to debase
the currency. One effect of constantly
holding up protection before thsir
eyes will be to make 1t harder for them
to vote the Republican ticket.
While they would doubtless be willing to
it were necessary to ensure sound
currency, they would very likely object to
having it publicly rammei down their
throats. The dose would not be
pleasant for them in any event,
and it might be made SO offensive
that they would not take it even
tor the sake of sound money
The Republican party would surrender
nothing, and abate nothing from it's
allegiance to protection by pursuing
the policy we have suggested in case the
currency issue should be the paramount
one of the campaign. 1t would not i'm
pair in the slightest degree it's ability to
reduce to practice it's profession in regard
to the tariff if given power. 1t would
deceive nobody. 1t would simply be
refraining from making it unnecessarily
difficult for all the believers in sound
currency, as defined in the Republican
platform, to unite to save the country
from grave danger that threatens it,
The contest between the gold standard and
free coinage bids fair to be an exceeding
ly fierce and exciting one, and though
we believe the former will triumph still
the issue is doubtful enough to render it
advisable to welcome all the support that
can be hnd without sacrificing any prin-
ciple or making any promise that will
conflict with Republican professions.
The silver leaders are straining every
nerve to induce all the believers in free
coinage to sink all differences and
Unite in one supreme effort to elect
President committed to that policy. It
would seem to be the part of wisdom for
the men who believe that that policy
would be disastrous to the commercial
and industrial progress of the country
and paralyze business for years to come
to follow their example. A sound mon
ey victory is sure to be a protection vic
tory as well.