The Canton times., 1896-06-19
Political Outlook.

In our opinion. for too many unans-
werable reasons too numerous, and Ut
terly useless to mention here now, Tor
this country to come to a free and un-
limited coinage Of silver would be the
precursor of the direst calamity that
ever befell the great masses OF our peo
ple since the foundation of this govern
ment. War, pestilence and famine
would pale into insignificance. We do
not believe however, perilous as the
situation appears, that this country
will make such a stupendous mistake
and sacrifice. The republican party
will save the acountry aided by the
sound money democrats just as it did
during the war with the war democrats.
Whilst this will be infinitely better than
free silver domination-yet for the great
producing classes it will be extremely
unfortunate, because the protective
tariff and corporate combination
it fosters perpetual robbery of the
agricultural interest, that with the
margins now left to farmers they can
not stand. Grinding poverty is the
perpetual doom as long as this policy
prevails. The conservative element Of
the Democratic party is the best friend
the farmer has ever had, but in the
South they have listened to the siren
pleadings of ambitious politicians as
they did In Secession-and have ruined
the only party that could save them
1t is useless task for a patriotic, hon
est, sensib BILE, disinterested man to at
tempt TO control anc influence sthe
masses; they followed the fire eating
democrats in Secession; they followed
them in the Grange--in the Alliance
and in the Free Silver issue. Any
further efforts on the part of the gold
S andard element in this State to
steer the tide of opposition is useless.
'Ephriam is welded to his idols" The
question arises, in u great rational is
sue frought with SO much peril is 1t
right for the honest statesmen and
to let party fealty outweigh
conscientious convictions and
duty. A very large element of the
Northern democracy will not do so. 1t
is question for every mans own con-
science to. settle. We believe republl-
can will be elected President and that
Congress will be republican, and con-
free and unlimited silver
will stand no possible chance of triumph
ing. 1t is our opinion that the Demo-
cratic party will 60 to pieces. Its
downfall will be the result of the domi-
nance in its organization OF the same
ultra element that has permeated its
all the way down from its
fatal and direful error Secession. The
Dnly President it has ever elected since
1860 has been on tariff reform and
sound money, and to-day this man and
bis principles are dispised and tramp
led under foot. For one-idead ia
natic the Southern democracy stands
lncqualed. What will be the outcome
Of the future, remains to be seen, but
as there is no longer any immediate
danger of negro domination the health
full political interest Of the country de-
nands more than one party, and it will
assuredly come. In what shape We
are not prepared to say, but if it stands
for sound finance, free trade, political
purity and for the strong hand of pow
er to protect the masses against, pro-
lection, corporate tyrany, gambling
and transportation exactions it will
win before the people IN the end.