The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1896-05-16
The Missouri Sftuatio IL.

IN ~ oOSIpAi " CllA4OA pau -
telligent regard to the wishes of Mis-
sourI's Republican masses. 1t de-
clared for reciprocity and protection.
demanded the maintenance of the gold
standard and instructed its delegates
at-large for Mckinley. The drift of
sentiment to Mckinley throughout
Missouri revealed itself before dele
gates were chosen in any State to the
St. Louis convention. An inquiry
about three months ago by the Globe
Democrat" from the Chairmen of the
Republican County Committees show
ed that the party in the State was
practically unanimous for the Ohioan.
All the district delegates have either
been instructed for him or are known
to emphatically favor him. The State
will cast its solid o for him in the
National convention.
On the finance question the conven-
tons declaration leaves nothing 10
be desired. I'VE are u~nalterably OPP
posed to every scheme that threatens
TO debase or ~depreciate Il currency.
but to the extent only and under such
regulations that its parity with the
present gold standard a be main
tanned. In consequence re are OPP
posed to the free. unlimited and in
dependent coinage of silver at the IA
ito OF IL TO l." This expression Gov
ers the ground satisfactorily. 1t does
not make any assault on silver. The
silver now iii circulation will remain
in circulation, but it will not be al
lowed to increase. Thegold standard
will be maintained. 1t is well to keep
this phrase gold standard" ~squarely
at the front. This is no time for cir
cumlOcutions. equivOcations or dilu-
tions. Republicans in general when
they Use the word ''bimetallism' or
dinarily mean the gold standard
Let them do as the party in Missouri
and many other States do-employ
this term directly and specifically.
In 1896. for the first time in Il period
when normal conditions prevail, the
Republican party finds itself in Il
position to carry Missouri in a Presi-
Dental and Gubernatorial canvass.
During the war and reconstruction era
the circumstances we're unusual and
ap+i6,Io1 and tn, p.p,,bIi.an .,,..a--
in the State III hat time could not be
permanent. vt the outset in its career
the Republican party a necessarily
sectional. Founded to resist slavery
extension. though not to interfere with
slavery in the States where it existed,
ii encountered the active hostility of
those States and was excluded from
them. The slavery interest in Mis-
souri, va always feeble: the State
abolished slavery early in 1865, before
the thirteenth amendment vent into
operation. Moreover. the State chung
20 the Union and furnished more than
100. 600 men to the Union forces. 1t
gave more votes to Lincoln in 1860
than he obtained in all other save
States put together. Still the TACT
that it was the theatcr of war for four
years, coupled with the old slavery
prejudice. erected Il barrier against
expansion Of the Republican party
which quickly ended the party's SUI
premacy when the political disabili-
ties Of the ex-Confederates were re-
moved. The spread of manufacture
ing throughout Missouri. the subsi-
dence OF "a passions and prejudices
and the long record of Democratic
misgovernment have completely alter
ed the situation, and have given the
Republicans the opportunity to gain
entire possession of the State in 1886.
-Globe-Democr&t.