The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-11-19
Henry WattersOn Talks of
American Politics.
Says the East Should Learn
the SOuth's Lesson.
1T FACES A DANGER.
Let the East Cease to Hug It's
Vast Riches.
In Concentrated Wealth and Os-
tentatious Display Lies Ruin.

Paris Nov. 19.-Henry WattersOn of
the Louisville Courier-Journal, who was
prominently urged for the nomination
Tor the presidency at the Indianapolis
convention, but whose name was for
mally Withdrawn, has remained in this
city since the election. His views upon
the result of the campaign just closed,
have been furnished in an interview.
The election Of Mckinley" said Mr..
Watterson today. lis but the beginning
of the end OF the struggle which one
way and the other has been going on In
the United States for 20 years. 1T began
in the west and south with a demand
for fiat money. No sooner was the
greenback party disposed Of than the
free silver party took its place. Other
questions being at the front and few
OF our public men experts in coinage,
free silver was able to commit to the
new monetary delusiOn many men who,
except for their ignorance of this par
tlcular question, could never have been
reached and who were sound to the core
as to the national credit ana a safe,
stable circulating medium.
Among these public men was Mr.
Mckinley himself. The leaders OF the
fiat money movement, reinforced by
the silver mine owners, made an incis-
Ion into the Republican party and got
possession of the machinery of the
Democratic party This eliminated in
the nomination and defeat of Mr.. Bry-
Yer frenzy and the danger of 16 to 1
kind.
But the elements of disorder it called
into being and the issues it has set in
motion are LETT upon the scene and We
may be sure these will continue their
assaults upon the life of the nation and
the integrity Of the people until they are
swept out of existence in 1900 Mr. Nc
kinley's election merely removes nat
money and deprecated silver dollars
from among the rocks ahead"
Mr. Watterson was pronounced in the
declaration that the union between the
Republicans and gold Democrats could
not last.
Asked whether he did not think the
Republican victory had been so over
Mhelming as to carry all before it, Mr..
Warterson said.
For the time being, yes. The Repub-
llean party has had in it's time good for
tune. It has shown itself clever OPP
portunist- But it cannot rest its case
upon the doctrine of protection Neither
as policy, nor as theory, nor as
Key note can prOtecttOnlsm hold its own
or stand alone 1t is at war with the
genius of American Institutions 1t
should be no longer necessary. If it ever
was truly necessary, to the American
manufacturer. lit is the father of pa
ternallsm and the god father of Popu-
ism. 1t sets examples to those who
imagine that wealth may be created by
legislation 1t imposes erievous bur
dens on the agricultural classes. Dur
ing periods of depression it serves both
as an lnstgatiOn and a pretext to dis
contented elements. 1t is the occasion
Of constant corruption in congress. The
manufacturers themselves ought to lead
the movement to discard it. They could
II they would. have the question settled
by statesmen and save it from the
hands Of the mob. On such questions
All conservative men should unite to
rescue the people from monarchism
But with Mckinley in the presidency
TINS seems impossible, and I confess
dread to think of the attempt TO which
ne is committed to bring back the Nc
kinley duties under the mere pretext Of
supplying a deficiency
And what do you think these things
the country?"
Il think the country is safe for tba
present The future Of the republic viii
be equally assured, devoutly hone
But men should not be lulled in
20 tancied security because we have
killed our dragon of reputation The
gorgOn Of agrarianism is stiU abroad
Inc Bryan movement was most dan
BerOus because 1T affected to speak In
the name Of the people. The whole PEG
PIE must come to see that there have
been mighty changes going on in the
world before such a government as ours
can be both strong and free
How do you mean2''
In 1890 and under the leadership OF
Ihomas Jefferson the principle of Dem
OcrAtc government began its fight for
life. The issue then was are the naonIa
capable of government. The Fed
eraltst party would have gone on SIM
pressing individual liberty and consol-
idating the central power until we
should have had g republic in name
Only-a Florentine cournOnvvea th-Dar-
maps line of Medician princes. But
JEFFERSON succeeded and the written law
DL tne land strictly construed was Sc
cured 10 the people In 1900 we shall
have to face the same general question
An new form and the issue will be un-
Ger e91sting conditions Are orderly
% III
concurrent pOssibilities2'
III we are to have any presidential
campaigns like the one just ended. they
are not Unless the body of the Deonla
can be brought to realize the chances
Of century Of progress. every four
years VIII witness a party taking tba
4eld in support Of the alleged rights Of
humanity whose very existence is a
menace to the public order. the peace. Of
society, the just balance between the
sections OF the Union. the money of the
people the credit OF the nation. and ev-
cry other good and perfect thing sun
posed to emanate from our Republican
system"
What do you regard the most radi-
cal change Of the century2"
In 1900, we We're a. few millions Of
people and we loved liberty In 1900
we are nearly hundred millions of
people and we love money Moreover
individually and collectively. we have
a great deal of money Most OF this
money Is invested in what are called
corporations. From a handful of indi-
Vlduals We have become a nation of
institutions. The Individual counts for
less and less, organization for more and
more. 1T Is the idiosyncrasy of the age
we live in We may tear down the
mousse DuE cannot at one and the same
time both destroy it and occupy it.
That is what Mr.. Bryan and his fol-
lowers are pretending that they can
Go Meanwhile must man lose his
individual rights Of property because
he has invested his accretions in a