, 1896-07-22
WEDNESDAY, July %, 1896.
FIDELITY TO CONVICTIONS.

une NeW YORK commercial AdEertlS-
er insists that the question of protec-
ton has been settled already. The elec-
ton returns, it says, OF 1898, 1894 and
1895 showed plainly where the Ameri-
can people stand on the tariff, and the
before us must all turn on the
money question.
Ocean, that hardly had the candidate of
the free trade democracy been inaugur-
ated before the people repented of their
folly. and there are no signs of any re-
action from that repentance; but it is
none the less true that the election Of
William ]. Bryan to the presidency
would he an even greater triumph of
free trade than was the election of Gro
yer Cleveland. He is one Of the most
ultra free traders that ever entered the
house OF representatives. If he were
elected president he would enter at
once, and with the enthusiasm of mex
perience, upon the ASK OF completing
the work which Wilson began. Free
trade and free silver would be the al
pha and omega Of his policy.
1t is true, however. that from the
standpoint of a strictly educational
campaign, the remaining labors of the
protectionists are light. The people
could not be fooled now by the soph-
isms and downright lies which were
employed so effectively by the democ-
racy four years ago. But the danger is
non the less real because it has as
sumed a different form.
Some insects have the courage of self
defense, however great the odds against
them. while others seek safety in feign-
ing death. Four years ago the democ-
racy was as full Of pluck and grit as a
hornet. The republican elephant was
stung into flight and defeat. But now
the other tack is being taken. No cat
erpillar ave "curled up on, the floor
with greater celebrity, and feigned more
completely to have lost all interest In
subsequent proceedings" Whether
goldites or %silverite, every democrat is
only too willing to let it be inferred
that free tradeism is dead.
The republican party cannot afford to
be fooled in this matter. 1t is one of
too great practical Importance. It is
withal poor politics. There are a great
many republicans who would vote for
free silver if they could do it without al
SO voting for free trade.
There is no reason why the republic
"a party should weaken in the avowal
and maintenance of any feature of gen.
uine republicanism. 1t is true that
there are some democrats who propose
to vote the republican ticket. There
may be more or there may be less by
November. But that it nothing. There
Is no reason why the republican party
should abandon any of it's principles or
weaken in their support. 1t elected the
present congress on the issue of pro-
lection, but owing to the fact that both
the president and senate were anti-re-
publican no legislation to secure the
protection they voted for could be Sc
cured. In such a situation to abandon
a contest only half won and shift the
issue to n chosen by the enemy would
be the height Of folly. The Inter Ocean
does not advise the ignoring Of the free
coinage issue, but insists that protec-
,tion, being the issue on which republic
cans regained the confidence Of the peo-
pie. must be kept to the front or there
Is danger Of again losing that conf
dence.