Delaware gazette and state journal., 1896-07-02
WIN The campaign Of 1880 be Repeated.

WIN the Campaign of 1860 be Repeated:
In the course of very interesting
editorial upon the pending political
campaign, the Baltimore Sun compares
the Democratic situation to that of
1860, when the party, although it COM
prised large majority of the voters of
the country, allowed itself to be rent
in twain over the slavery question, and
made the way clear for the election Of
minority President The silver
question, the Sun says, holds the same
position this year that the slavery
question held in 1860, and threatens
like disaster to the Democratic party.
1t says:
The practical question to be settled
st Chicago is whether the Democratic
party shall repeat, with the silver issue
substituted for the slavery issue, its CO.
iossal blunder OF 1860. The Republican
party was beaten four years ago on a
square stand-up fight on the tariff
Issue, and for the first time since Bu-
chanan's election Democratic Presi-
dent had majority of ITO in the elec-
toral college and a plurality on the
popular vote of over $50, 900. There is
no probability that the mind of the
nation on the tariff question has ma
terially changed within the past four
years. In spite of the noise made by
the high tariff musicians in Mr..
Hanna's band-wagon there is no sub
stHntial Indication that the people
Renerally--as distinguished from the
manufacturing monopolists who want
TO write another tariff bill for revenue
for themselves only-desire TO return
10 the Mckinley revenue policy. The
Mckinley act was not raising revenue
enough and what il did raise was raised
10 bad way, essentially unjust, be-
cause it showered favors on the special
classes that framed it and oppressed
with extortionate taxation the great
mass of consumers. These things we're
true four years ago and they are true
now. The Republican challenge to
fight the battle of 1892 over again ia
one, therefore, that the Democratic
party need have no hesitation to take
up. McKinleyism has captured the
Republican party, but that is simply a
case of the Dutch capturing Holland.
The larger jury of the whole people
has not been captured by Mckinley
Ism, and so far as the tariff issue is
concerned we have no fear of reversal
of the popular verdict OF four and sis
years ago.
But the Democratic party-,invinci
Bile if it stands united on the ground
that gave it victory in 1892 and on the
consistent record made by its admins
tration since that rime-will be shat
tered and broken and turned out o.
power, possibly for period as long al
that to which it was doomed to stay ir
nunC1tttnn hk- thn Gniit Of 1scl IL Il
permits the dividing wedge of Popu
iism to rend it in twain at Chicago
1t must maintain its own historic prin
ciples-a revenue tariff, honest money
biased on intrinsic value, with ever,
dollar worth one hundred cents, eco
Domic administration and the old pa
triotic, yet pacific, foreign policy o
the fathers. 1t must find candidates
and frame platform TO represent thos
historic principles without breakin;
the unity of the party, or it will go I,
certain defeat next November, and il
that event no man can fix the date o
its return TO the confidence of the ma
tion and the control of its government
1t is, indeed, as the New York Demo
Gratis say, a crisis in the history OF tn
party the gravity Of which sit woulI
be folly 70 ignore and impossible t
NAaRECiolN'
1t is, indeed, unfortunate that th
Democratic party of the country ha
permitted its organization to be cap
tured by the fanatical advocates of fre
silver coinage, to such an extent tina
free silver candidates upon free silve
platform are now practically assure
as the outcome of the Chicago conyen
tion. And with such leadership, an
such a financial declaration, disastl
and defeat will be the portion of til
party at the election in November.
With sound money platform an
sound money candidates, the Demt
cratic party would find the road to vi,
tory straight and easy one to trave
1t could then meet the Republicans O
the issue of the tariff, which the
leaders are striving 10 bring to tt
front, to the exclusion of the financi
issue. But with the Democratic part
committed to the dangerous doctrine
free silver coinage, the cause OF hone!
money will he not only the paramount
hut practically the sole issue of Il
campaign. And in such contest, II
party organization that stands as Il
advocate of debased currency vi
meet with an overwhelming defeat
Ea
In an editorial advising the warrir