The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1896-02-19
POLITICAL COWARDS.
ONE is AFRAID AND THE 9TH
Err DARE NOT.
1t Is the Duty of the Rank and File
of the Old Parties to Get
Together.
The Philadelphia American.

The Philadelphia American.
Within six months both Republican and
Democratic parties will be called upon to
name their candidates for president. yet
neither party has any definite policy The
assumed leaders of the Republican party
announce no policy. In Congress Messrs.
Reed and Allison have assumed the role
of inaction; outside of Congress Messrs.
Mckinley and Harrison give no express
sion Of their views and shirk the respon-
sibility of leadership. AS to the position
of the aspirants for the Republican pres
idential nomination on the great question
before the American people, the question
to which all others are subordinate, the
country is in the dark. Those who are
making the greatest efforts to secure
What they seem to regard in the light Of
a prize only, ignore the question, avoid,
when possible, giving any expression OF
their views if indeed they have any, when
confronted with the question take an
equivocal position or give a meaningless
answer capable of any Interpretation
which in the future they may think wise
to give it, and in all things, subordinate
principle to what they consider to be po-
litical expediency. To lead they make no
efort The responsibility entailed with
leadership, OF proposing or advocating a
definite policy such as will lead to res
toratiOn of prosperity they shun Their
one aim seems to be to do nothing that
can anenate any section of voters in the
party. Looked on purely as a game OF
politics they are pursuing a mistaken
policy 1naction, vacillaton, cowardice,
does not win popularity and gives any
thing but strength to candidate. The
candidate who takes an equivocal posi-
tlon on any great question, runs the risk
or alternating his friends and he cannot
hope to win thereby the support of his
enemies. Such a candidate may thereby.
and by promise Of political preferment in
the event Of success, win the nomination
from a convention Of politicians but
such candidate cannot have strength
before the people,
When the opportunity was presented
to the Republicans in Congress by the
presidents financial message to announce
dehnite financial policy, policy around
which the suffering masses or the people
would have rallied. and made Republican
victory In the coming campaign assured
Republicans in the house, under the lead
or Mr. Reed, failed to take advantage &
the opportunity. On the contrary they
Stunned the responsibility, they an
nounced no policy and took an equivocal
position. They expressed their opposition
to a contraction of the currency by the re-
tlrement of the greenbacks and treasury
notes. yet they gave their approval to
legislation that contemplates their virtual
retirement by boarding in the treasury
They avoided any expression in favor Of
the gold standard, they insisted on MAX
ing the bonds, the issue of which they
unwisely approved. payable in coin. but
they gave no indication Of taking as
party positive and Independent action
looking to the restoration of silver Fin
ally they passed tariff measure by
which they repudiated pledges given be-
fore election. and under the guise of ex-
pediency, temporarily abandoned the prin-
cipie of protection and gave their support
to a revenue measure. 1t Is true the
house but carried out the program Of Mr.
Reed, but the house must bear with him
the responsibility AS evidenced by Re-
publicans in Congress. the party lacks
a policy, lacks principle, lacks the cour-
age necessary to lead. The cowardice OF
the assumed leaders. leadership that the
majority of Republicans have not the
courage. if they have the inclination, to
repudiate. is dsrupting the Republican
party.
And while the Republican party is
drifting rapidly into a state of chaos be-
cause of a lack of policy, the Dem cratic
party is in no less a chaotic condition.
The Republican party has endeavored to
avoid the necessity of putting forward
policy. the leaders are at sea and the rank
and file of the party disgusted.
On the other hand. while the recog-
niZed leaders of the Democratic party
have in general taken decided and open
stand on the great issue before the people
and have urged positive action. they have
been unable to unite on a common pol
icy, and the party has split into factions.
The result is the voters who have voted
with the Democratic party are in the
dark, as are the Republicans, as to where
the party to which they have given their
support in the past stands.
There are Republicans like Senator Tel
Ter, as there are Democrats like Senator
Jones Of Arkansas, who have the courage
Of their convictions. and are doing all in
their power to bring the politicians in
their parties and the place-seekers to .
sense of their duty to their country and
their parties, and to induce them to either
advocate a definite policy or to stand
aside and permit others to speak for the
parties, and give expression to such q
definite policy as will command the re-
spect and merit the support Of the people
But, unfortunately, Selfishness and Its
oncomitant-cowardice- in the self
appointed councils Of the Republican
party and the moneyed interests in the
Democratic party are powerful and un-
compromising. AS result there is more
hope of unison Of action between patriotic
voters Of all parties, who put principles
above partisanship, and have above all,
the interests of their country at heart,
than there is between the place-seeking
politicians who have been permitted to
take the leadership in the Republican
party, and the Republicans who are dis
gusted with a policy Of inacton. or than
there is between those Democrats who
have shown independence and a desire to
put the interests of their constituents be-
fore the interests Of Wall street, and those
who are submissive to the administration
and subservent to the interests Of the
money-lenders.
1t is therefore, the duty of those of all
parties who do not hold principle SUBJ
servient to political expedency, and who
put patriotism before partisanshp, to
come to a common understanding among
each other, unite on a common policy,
join in the PRONUNCIATION of a definite pol
icy and unite, and at once organize for
political action.
1.-The Little Statesman" contains about