The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1896-06-27
TIME FoR REFLECTION.

ought to pursue should carefully con-
slider the situation and act with delib
Grafton. There is no occasion to
''scortch" in matter of this kind. There
is ample time for reflection and conclu-
sions should be deferred until the I'M
Outstanding is faIly Informed and the
judgment matured. The tendency is
to act on impulse and in consequence
there is often regret and humiliation.
The first question every Republican
should put to himself is this: Why
did join the Republican party2 The
answer to that question if given con-
scientiously should indicate with much
clearness whether or not one ought to
leave the party. How many Republi-
cans are there in this state who are so
on account of the party's attitude on
currency question? How many are
there who joined the party simply and
solely because Republicanisrl stood for
the free, unlimited and independent
coinage Of silver and gold at ratio of
10 to 1? How many are there who had
ever heard of l6 to when they became
Republicans? How many are there
who knew anything or cared anything
about l6 to l when they accepted the
doctrine Of Republicanism as the best
rule of political conduct? If men
would arrive at correct conclusions
they must investigate honestly and
fearlessly, therefore, any Republican
who will examine himself as he ought
to do will inevitably conclude that the
silver question had nothing whatever
to do with the formation of his politi-
cal convictions. 1t is only within the
last ten years that discussion of the
question has attained any considerable
prominence and only in the last four
years has there been that degree of
popular interest which the Importance
of the subject invites. But as yet
there has been very little impartial in
vestigation by the people generally.
The magnitude and perplexities of the
subject are beyond the ready grasp of
men in common and thus far have baf-
lied the greatest financiers the world
has produced, In consequence there
has been prolific growth of financial
schools and a rank crop of financial
mountebanks. This country has en-
joyed varied financial experience, and
there have been able advocates of every
possible kind of money, from wampum
and cOonskins, down through long
catalogue of industrial products and
every form of fiat that the ingenuity of
man could devise, until, having passed
through every degree of the financial
zodiac, we find ourselves right where
our fOrefathers stood four hundred
years agO-trying to solve the problem
of money. And right here it is well to
remember that never for a single mo-
ment, through all these years, has there
existed satisfactory monetary sys-
tenn and probably there never will be
such system while wealth and pov-
eTty continue to exist as contemporary
facts. This much is said in order to
show that the financial question is not
only of commanding Importance, but
also, one of the most perplexing prob
lens that has ever confronted man.
kind. In view of these facts, it is not
at all strange that radical differences
of opinion should exist, not only
among political parties but between in
dividuals in the same party, and that
this is true is amply proved by the con-
ditions which prevail at this time.
Now if the undecided Republican will
carefully examine the situation, he will
discover that whatever course he at
tempts to pursue viii involve him in
difficulties. On the one hand is Popu.
iism advocating unrestricted coinage
of gold and silver, but standing pre-. en-
inently for irredeemable paper cur
rency and exhibiting a pronounced So
cialistic tendency, aggravated by free
trade leanings. On the other hand is
Democracy with its perennial bloom of
incompetency and mObocratic tenden-
cies, free trade, bond issues and chronic
deficits, free coinage promises and anti.
silver practices. Assuredly, the dissat-
isied Republican can not derive much
consolation from the prospect of a un.
ion with either of these organizations.
What then shall he do? That is a
question which every man must an
swer for himself after careful delibera-
ton. We will suggest though, that the
Idaho Republican, if he be a firm and
conscientious believer in free silver, is
justified in using every honorable
means in his power to force his party
to incorporate bimetallism among its
articles of political faith.