The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1896-06-16
LOOK THE PERIL IN THE FACE.

A grave peril contronts the hepuoh-
can party and the country, The sue
cess of the Republicans in the election
Of the next president is more than
probable and the responsibility is vast
ly greater than upon the leaders of
any other party.
No human power can defeat McKin-
ley, either tor nomination or election,
but Mckinley and his friends, The
Democratic national convention will be
tempest-swept by the agrarian. and its
candidates and deliverances will be an
open assault upon public and private
credit. upon vested rights and upon ma
tional honor and prosperity.
The silver craze is much stronger !
today than 1t would have been had Nc !
Kinley and his friends manfully pro
claimed their faith to the country and |
the world. They mean to maintain the I
gold standard Of value, for the reason
that they must do so II they succeed. |
but cowardice has ruled in the counsels /
OF Mckinley, and he and his friends
have thus far hesitated to declare the
truth as they know it, and as they
must maintain it if charged with the
administration OF this government.
Had the attitude Of the Republican
party and its candidates for president
been so distinctly declared in favor of
the gold standard that none could mis-
understand 1t. the free silver craze
would have been halted in its tidal
wave, and even the Democratic con-
vention might have been held to the
support Of honest money. The greatest
impetus given TO the free silver heresy
during the last year has been given
to 1t by the hesitation, equivocation
and eowardice Of Mckinley and his
friends.
try. and no one can today measure the
peril it presents to Mckinley himself
II the St. Louis convention shall tenn
porize on the subject of honest money
by failing to declare distinctly in favor
of the gold standard of value. it must
be accepted as a public confession that
the free silver craze is too formidable
for it TO confront, and this new inspi-
ration win he given to the cheap money
cause and its power increased to fear
full proportions. Indeed. with such cow
ardice on the part of Mckinley and the
St Louis convention, the defeat Of Nc
Kinley may be more than possible in
It is idle to talk about other issues
until the issue Of honest or dishonest s
money shall have been absolutely set
tied. II matters not whether We shall /
have high protection or no protection Z
until we have settled standard of
money that ranks US with the honored
nations Of the world; and If the st. I
Louis convention shall attempt to make
any issue paramount TO that Of honest
money, or even to make any other is c
sue OF equal Importance. the cowardice
IF sach action would inspire hundreds
Df thousands to support the free silver
ticket. and McKinley's election would
be endangered solely by the cowardice
Of himself and his friends.
There will be but two parties in the
next national contest. There may be .,
organizations and nomina- 1
lions, but the one issue will be sound n
,r cheap money. If the Republicans :
shall declare in favor Of the gold \
standard of value there must be a II
iquare battle and battle unto death,
,etween the friends Of honest money I
ind the destructive revolutionists who d
lnder the flag Of free silver, are aiming :,
o overthrow national credit and ma
ional honor If the Republicans Of
It. Louis shall meet this issue with Il
leroic expression, the battle will be il
Son the day and the hour that such j
eliverance is made. If the issue Of
Ionest money shall be evaded at St.
.Duis, Mckinley may be defeated by
he triumph Of the destructionists. !
T-he peril is awfully grave, and it can r
's met and overcome solely by McKin- t
~ ana his friends declaring distinctly p
n favor of the gold standard at St +
.ogls, end carrying that honest cause c
0 the considerate judgment Of the
,merican people. More than a million
and Democrats will be
eady to join any party. and to support
ny candidate, standing squarely for
onest money, and for the scrupulous ,
Of national honor. Homes
y and courage in such deliverance
would easily make Mckinley president:
owardice and equivocation may COM
,ass his defeat.
The frequency Of lynchings in south e