Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1896-04-09

The Reason For It.
When the Republic assures the edi
tor of this paper that he, in connec
ti0n with other Democrats of greatel
prominence In this State, ..wouli
catch itn should be not keep in line
with Governor Stone and the Post Dis
patch. it shows that it neither compre.
hends the political forces at worl
among US, nor the people moved By
them. It wholly misapprehends the
sources from whence the Governor and
its rival derive their strength. No one
under ordinary circumstances would
take an abiding interest in the politi-
cal fortunes of William j. Stone or
David r. Francis, outside of their i'm
mediate followings; no one would be
greatly interested in the chickering's
between the Republic and the P0st-Dis-
patch. The dispute would bore the
readers of each paper until majority
of them would pass it over with feel
ing of regret that SO much valuable
space had been used to so little pur-
pose.
But the circumstances are not ordi-
nary. A vast majority of the Demo-
Gratis of this State believe that delib-
crate attempt is being made to cut
their party adrift from its ancient
mornings, and to abandon its time
honored principles in matters of f.
nance. They see leaders turning their
backs upon the principles of lifetime
at the dictation of an administration
professedly Democratic-an admins
tration placed in power by their votes,
but which they have come to regard as
being guilty of as foul treason as ever
disgraced the annals of political histo-
ry. In 1898. they saw their ST. Louis
organ fall into the hands of the Tory
element and at once cast behind it
principles that it had advocated for
twenty years, and enter upon course
of dissimulation and double-dealing,
at once ridiculous and disgusting.
At the beck of Wall Street they be-
held John G. Carlisle, Roger @. Mile,
Josiah Patterson, the Louisville Cou1-
ier-Journal, with poor old Henry Wat
erson. like shorn Sampson. bound to
its chariot wheels. and in this State
John c. Tarsney. David R. Francis,
and others whom they have trusted,
turn their backs upon their past and
take the road to the Re-
publican camp.
They have heard consistency sneer-
ed at as the virtue of little minds
They have seen platforms. put forth in
the most solemn and authoritative
manner, ridiculed by those who help
ed to construct them. They have lis
tened with astonishment to the denun-
citation by party leaders. of traditions
born with the party as being fulmina-
tions of the Populist, until they are
to suspect that their below
ed organization is honeycombed by a
vast conspiracy to completely place it
in Tory hands and destroy its useful
ness to the people. They have no
personal feeling against any man or
class of men; but they are determined
that the cause of bimetallism and its
champions shall not be assassinated in
this State, if they can help it. Wheth-
er right or wrong, they have come to
look upon Stone, Vest Bland, Cock
rell, and the editor of the Post Dispatch.
as champions of bimetallism; and Fran
els, Maffit, Norton, and the Republic,
as fighting under the yellow flag of
Wall Street. So long as Governor
Stone, Mr.. Bland, and Senator Vest,
lead the people in the path they wish
to travel, their methods will not be
apt to be called in question. Mr.. Johns
may stretch his ears until they are
long enough for fire escapes; Colonel
Phelps may let the whole travelling
public ride upon his strength; and
Fred Lehman may go into the Sound
Money campaign until the legal af-
fairs of his railroads are hopelessly in
volved; but they will find themselves
powerless to injure Gov. Stone or the
Post Dispatch so long as they continue
true to the people,.
Had the Republic not changed its pol
icy when it changed its management,
it would have retained it's old place in
the hearts of the rank and file of the
party. 1t would have occupied the
place that is now occupied by the Post
Dispatch Had Mr.. Francis stood upon
the campaign professions that he made
in 1888 he would not now be an object
OF distrust to a large majority of the
men who then honored him with place
and power. In the last year. under
the management of Col. Jones. the
Post Dispatch has become the acknowl-