St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1896-02-10
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THE COUNTRY DRIFTING.

An article In recent issue of the
New York Evening Post sets forth
with great force and clearness the nm
settled condition of politics in all par
ties and in all sections of the country
owing to the absence Of firm prircin1e
and strong conviction among party
leaders. 1t is based upon the answer
said to have been made by Senator
Brice to the question of what would be
the outcome Of attempted legislation
by this congress. He replied:
Nothing, nothing. We are going to drift
along that's all. The senate is drifting the
administration is drifting the Democratic
party is drifting the Republican party is
body and everything is drifting.
There is good deal of truth in this
description of the situation by gen
tleman who has, at least, never been
accused Of lack of political acumen:
and who, having nothing at stake at
present, can afford to say what he
thinks. AS the Post observes, when the
Democrats came into power in 1893 they
were pledged to a tariff policy utterly
opposed to the principle of protection.
That policy was but poorly expressed
in the house bill, and was defeated and
made almost ridiculous in the senate.
The Republicans came into power a
few months ago by an equally decisive
vote Of the people. They were supposed
to have a positive policy The only
product Of 1T thus far has been worth
less, evasive tariff bill. and still worse
than useless bond bill. Both were die
tated by the personal ambition of
Speaker Reed and the earnest desire of
Republican members to avoid doing
anything that might cost them votes
at the coming election
The Post remarks that nobody to-
day cam say what makes a. Republican
Or Democrat" The parties are both
divided on the silver question. There
are opponents in both parties of the
policy Of retiring the greenbacks. There
are Democrats who stand by protec-
ton, and Republicans who believe that
return to McKinleyism would be fatal
There is no order or discipline in the
ranks Of either party. Neither one. at
the present writing, can raise a stand
ard on which single positive princi-
pie Of practical legislation, expressed in
definite terms and not in meaningless
concentrations, could be emblazoned
without seeing whole platoons of its
supporters march off as deserters to
the enemy. 1t is an almost unpar-
alleled situation to exist only nine
months before presidential election is
to occur. The people may well be
bewildered with the variety and insin-
certify Of propositions made to them:
and look hopelessly about them to see
man and party Of positive and
coherent convictions to which they
cam attach themselves.
The drifting process cannot go on
forever. 1t always makes for demor-
alization and disintegration. The men
who are so afraid to express positive
view lest it should offend somebody
and cost vote, are, by that very cow
ardice, loosening ties that bind to
them the great body of their honest
supporters. The shifting Of positions
and the lodging Of issues by both
parties in the past, the attempt to
harmonic contradictory views and to
keep all sorts and conditions Of men
Gagged in the same party by offeri>~
them Jumps of sugar. is a failure The
whole country is waiting today for AT
.Ssue with meaning and a man wit =