The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1896-03-04
DISSOLUTION.
REPUBLICAN, PARTY IN THE AcoN.
iES-HISToRY REPEATS ITSELF.
The Money Question is Breaking Up the Repub-
lican Party in 1895, Just as the Slavery
Question Did the Democratic
Party in 1856.
Senator Carter's speech, Feb. IS,

Senator Carter's speech, Feb. IS.
1896.
''At this momentous point the spark OF
genius appeared in one of the most deter
mined men this country has ever known.
When the history of our times shall be
written. Mr.. Cleveland will be accorded
the honor of having displayed the most
marvellous political tact of any man of his
time"
Mr.. Carter then referred to the finan-
cial and tariff legislation favored by the
administration, and paid his respects to
the Republican senators and representa-
tiveS who operated with the Democratic
administration to bring about the repeal
of the Sherman silver law, and in speak
ing of the suggestion of the president
that the greenbacks should be retired,
said
Again we hear the Republican mag
pie chatter A horde of presidential as
plrants rushed to political suicide, yelling
Sound money The press of New York
city leads the procession-'Sound money
is their cry. Under the cover of this cry
the president protected himself and his
administration from unjust criticism for
the most shady and iniquitous transac-
ton in the public finances the world has
ever known" (Referring to the repeal Of
the purchasing clause of the Sherman
act) Then continuing, he said, in part:
In due time the present congress as
sembled and the president does not call
for more revenue, pertinently insisting
that the revenue laws are all right, but
calling for authority to issue bonds so as
to facilitate the retirement of the green
packs and his operations in an increase
of the public debt. There is some doubt
about the success of the operation. Nut
terings are heard about the previous
bond sale-when, 10. and behold, there
comes another exhibition of genius A
venerable dispute of the age of three
score and ten, concerning a strip Of
swamp land in Venezuela, is pushed up
on the country, with a Warlike demon
stration, and we are profoundly Informed
that the same hand that authorized the
tearing of the flag at Honolulu will sus-
tain the government at all hazards, even
to the terrOrp of war. By this time the
Republicans of the East became used to
bobbing up and down like cork on the
water at the suggestion of the president,
and Instantly we see resolution passed
apprOpriating 100000 for a commission
to advise the executive on points on
which ample facilities for information
were at the time at his disposal.
"The president understood the string
upon which to play-he played the part
of an artist. In the midst of the warlike
excitement following on the evening of
Dec. 20, just three days having been al
lowed to work congress and the country
up, another message followed, in effect
renewing the call for the retirement of
the greenbacks and authority to issue
bonds. Conservative men were swept of
1v
referred to the first, and an impressive
warning was suggested to the country.
Who could think of a party principle at
such juncture. We were pursuaded
that was was upon us. Under pressure
of this artificial but exacting and exciting
situation the revenue and bond bills
were passed by the house. The record
shows that three and one-half hours
were allowed for the consideration of the
revenue measure and about one day to
the consideration of the bond bill To
insure it's speedy relief, the Republicans
dropped their own principles on economic
legislation and in lieu thereof accepted
three distinctly Democratic heresies on
the tariff horizontal revision, ad valorem
duties and the Wilson BILL as founda-
ton for a revenue scheme, and they pro-
ceeded to its enactment, fOndly hoping
that the president might conscendingly
favor it with his signature Or his suffer-
ance. The bill reaches the senate A
substitute is reported for it. Certain pa
triotic Republicans, forgetting the plat
form of 1892, on the tariff question, for
getting all the traditions of their party,
seek to have Republicans in this cham
Der who are devoted to bimetalism and
protection, two elementary principles of
Republican faith, put in a position as to
apparently be compelled to vote against
one of their principles in order to secure
the success of the other Some gentle
men who pretend to understand the stu
ton refused to cooperate To the can
did judgment of honest men l leave the
determination of the questions relating
to the fidelity of the Republicans in this
senate to their party principles.
ut is high time Republicans who claim
to be within the party should take their
cues from the party platform, rather
than from the White House. If it shall
occur that this senseless crusade against
Republicans who believe in good faith
in the Minneapolis platform, when it de-
clared for bimetallism as well as pro-
lection. shall be carried to such an cx-
tent as may result in the adoption OF
President Clevelands scheme by the St.
Louis convention submit the Republic
al euCCeoo VIII w ieHueieu utterly I'M
possible. IL the platform of 1896 an
nounces to the country, in conjunction
with the action of reports bearing on the
two conventions. that the plank of BIZ
metallism adopted at minneapolis was
delusiOn fraud and d snare, il would
be just as we'll for the Republican party
not to make nomination at st. Louis at
ALL"
MASS MEETING.