The Portland daily press., 1896-09-17
COURAGE COUNTS.

When the political campaign opened in
this state there were many conditions
existing which are supposed to be con-
duciye to the propagation of such doc
trines as are preached by the silveIites.
The agricultural industry in which a
large part of the people of the state are
engaged had been depressed for some
years, many industrial establishments
were running on short time. and the
outlook for early improvement in either
of these branches was not bright and some
years before IN period of hard times
similar to that existing doctrine cog
nate in character to that which the sill
verites preach had been potent enough
to sweep the Repu blican party out of
power and accomplish political revo-
luton. Furthermore the Republicans
had been disappointed by the result of
the St. Louis convention and while there
was plenty of respect for the candidate
there was little of enthusiasm.
Signs were not wanting at the begin
ming of the campaign that some OF the
Republican leaders were nervous over the
issue which had been thrust upon the
country by the Chicago convention, and
were inclined to try and substitute for
1t the tariff issue, ON which the views
of tho people were better understood and
in presenting which they themelves had
had longer practice. There IS no ques-
ton that If the advice of sons of those
w ho took mart In tho eorJv oopforopoos
of the campaign had been needed, an
effort would have been made to side
track the currency question and bring
the tariff to the front as the predominant
ing issue of the campaign No such
effort could havs been successful. but the
attempt would have done good deal of
harm inasmuoh as it would have left m
impression that the Republicans were
afraid to meet the money ISSUE and fur
nished the silver people with some very
valuable ammunition. Luckily the
great majority of the Republican leaders
were possessed of courage and had faith
in the good sense of the great majority of
the people, and instead of evading the
currency question they decided to take
up boldly the gage the Chicago conyen-
on the free silver issue.
The result has shown the wisdom of
the Republican decision. Not only was
every Republican vote held which
could have been held by tariff appeals,
but the pressing of the currency ques-
tion split the Democratic party in
two, and made nearly one half of 1t ao-
tive or passive allies of the Repub-
licans. And while this was accom-
plished the Republicans have sacrificed
nothing of thei, convictions on the
tariff and made no concessions to the
Democrats on this point, unless it be the
concession Of not needlessly examining
down their Threats an unpalatable doc
trine. From the standpoint of mere
policy 1t would have been exceedingly
foolish for the Repu blicans to have at
tempted to make the tariff the predomi-
mating issue of the campaign. From any
other standpoint it would have been
more than foolish, it would have been
cowardly evasion of thtir duty to boldly
and openly combat SO dangerous and dis
honest heresy as was promulgated By
the Chicago convention on the currency.
The green back orazs gained the control
of this state it did because of the neglect
or timidity of the Republicans. Had the
same Indifference or timidity been man.
ifested when free silver raised it's
head we should have had much differ
ent verdict to record than that of Mon
day.