The Houma courier. (Houma, La.) 1878-1939, 1896-10-17
WHERE THE FIGHT WILL 81

WHERE THE FIGHT WILL Be
NassEities 81 Congress WIN DetermIn4
the Frts OF the Issues.
Il win be well for the people to bear
in mind while they are c~anvassing the
political situation that the election Of
the Chicago candidates will not neces-
sarily mean the triumph of free sill
yer any more than the election OF Nc
Kinley will mean the defeat OF that
widespread delusion. Of himself the
president Of the United States can do
nothing to eject the monetary change
which the free silver men seek to bring
about or to prevent it. All that he
can do in either case is to approve such
a bin as congress may pass. Under the
civil service rules as now in force he
can do but little compared with what
he once could to affect the congress
sional vote by the distribution Of pat
ronage. He may by his message urge
a curse upon the attention Of congress
but there is nothing in the constitution
or the precedents which imposes on.
congress the duty of paying heed to his
recommendation. 1t Is exceedingly inn
portant, therefore, to see to it that the
congress elected next November is
sound upon the money question. If
that is done it win make comparative
" little difference so far as that ques-
ton is concerned who shall be elected
president.
There is sons rcnson for the belief
that twill make quite as little differ
ence so far as the tariff issue is con-
cerned who shall occupy the WHITE
house during the four years beginning
on March 4 next. The tariff declaration
Of the Chicago platform is ell that
could be desired; but it depends, also,
on congress whether the success of the
candidates pledged to it shall have
any effect upon the national policy.
The same is true as to the tariff plank of
the st. Louis platform, which has no
merit except that it carefully ~refrains
from the reenactment of the Mckinley
bill. No matter how strongly the can
didate of the republican party may be
committed to it or regard himself as
committed, he can do nothing to change
the tariff until congress shall give him
the opportunity; and congress will not
give him the opportunity unless there
shall be a majority of the members COM
mitted by their constituents to the tar
if doctrine laid down at st. Louis.
There seems to be no present reason
to fear that there will be any com
%raanding majority in the house of rep
~resentatives either for free silver or for
high tariff. There should not be on
this account, however, any neglect on
the part of those who are opposed to
either or both to put their opposition
into something stronger than words
and to make it felt in the congressional
caucuses and conventions and later a;
the polls. The real battle Of the cam
raign is to be fought in the congress
sional districts, and early preparation
should be made for it. No man who i
obnoxious to the people because CT hi
views on either of the subjects names
should be permitted to secure an cleo
ton under the pressure of On assume,
necessity for carrying the ~presidentia
ticket. Under the Australian syatem
which covers now so extensive a range
the voter is not compelled, as no ono
was, to vote for an Objectionable con
gresham because he finds his name On
the same ticket and marked with tn
same party label as the candidate 70,
the presidency.
So far as tariff changesare concerned
there is one other aspect of the situation
which must be taken into considera
ton. The senate stands committed t.
free silver, and, except through death
there is not likely to be any materia
change in that body in that respec'
when the new congress takes it's seat
It9istolerably safe to assume that, ever
II a'lhigh tariff house of representa-
tives is chosen, it will find it impossible
to secure any tariff legislation excep
at the cost of a free silver rider. .Prac
tically, therefore, the only way il
which either high tariff legislation o.
free silver legislation can be assured
is by the election of a congress commit
ted to both. This, under existing con
ditions, seems to be the least likel.
thing to happen; but, at the same time
nothing should be left to chance.-De
troit Free Press.