The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1896-11-19


trast of the vote of Alabama and Hi
nois
The small Republican majority in
California is due to the fact that the
people are unsettled. No country con-
tains so many spectators" as this.
Farming brings no fortune, the fruit
business is a slow affair, and men and
families are stranded by the thousands
up and down this long territory. In
their desperation they have looked to
silver for relief
Not only the statesmen, but the po-
litical writer's of England and Europe
have taken an unusual interest in the
election. Free coinage meant mischief
in all the money centers. But there
were the long-standing predictions of
men like De Tocqueville that the great
Republic might not hold together, in
some radical difference of opinions.
Friends of Democracy, in its best sense,
feared disruption. Thousands of our
own intelligent people had the same
fear. Not that there would be revO-
luton, but that the mob might go to
the front. 1t might do all sorts of
foolish things. But this campaign
called out the reserved forces, the ma
tional guard, and that, after all, holds
majority of the people, even if not
great one.
There will soon be some interesting
developments. The old leaders of the
Democratic party propose to attend to
the men who kicked them out at Chi
cago, and have nearly wrecked the
party. The free coinage men will have
a hard time of it in the next Congress.
1t is quite possible that there may be
little tariff legislation during the next
year or two. The policy will be to pre-
serve harmony between the men of
both parties who stood together before
the common peril. Much will depend
upon the prosperity of the country.
Whatever be the merits of the tariff
question, it is certain that there has
been remarkable increase of foreign
trade in manufactured goods during
the last two years, and an outlet made
for the products of our skilled labor.
Oh the other hand, many of the high
tariff men believe that the Mckinley
tariff was too high.
AS Bryan has already declared that
the fight of 1900" will be commenced
at once, and his associates have issued
prOclamations to the same effect, this
will tend to the creation of a new
party, which puts conservatism on one
side and radicalism on the other. 1t is
evident, ALSO that the Southern vote
will be reconstructed. The causes
which has kept the intelligent vote OF
the South within the Democratic party
no longer exist The Republicans
abandon coercion The best men of
the South will join the Republicans, in
a large measure, especially on the tar
if question.
McKinley's election may clear the
air in another way. Prof F. A. Walk
er, in his able book on bimetallism,
claims that England and the Continent |
must settle the silver question, and |
will do it, if we let it alone. That is, |
if it is possible to use silver freely |
they will find a way to do it. If the !
gold standard is wrong, England will !
be the greatest sufferer.
All over the country for the last two |
days, the great victory is being cele-
brated. In many of the cities and |
towns of this State, even the Populists !
are joining in it. The Republicans and |
Democrats are marching !
together, and the silver men say: AT |
ter all, Mckinley may do something !
for us The press of the defeated /
party is coming out true to the Anglo
Saxon instinct, and it is saying every
where: I'VE are beaten, and We sub !
nit" Just how little Hawaii will get |
her pull out of the victory remains |
to be seen.
The Republicans are friendly |
enough, but Mckinley is a sugar bOun- |
ty advocate, and there is about to be a |
sugar beet boom in this and other !
States. Capital is rapidly being in !
vested in it. The sugar consumption /
of the Pacific Coast is about $4,000 |
tons per year, and this State already |
produces 10000 tons. Annexation |
should take place before this interest |
becomes hostile to it.
W. N. ARMSTRONG.
San Francisco, Nov. 9th 1896.