The Portland daily press., 1896-06-10
THE MOST PROMINENT ISSUE.

Many, and perhaps most of the Re
publican leaders, would like to place the
tariff question In the van in the coming
campaign. There is practical unanimity
in regard to it, and the party could pre-.
sent q solid point on that subject. The
currency question runs somewhat across
party lines, and no position which the
Republicans can take upon it will receive
the unanimous support of all their voters.
Henco there is a positive tactical advan-
tage in making the tariff the principal
ISSUE
But there are two reasons why in all
probability the leaders will not succeed
in this purpose. First, it is NIT the cues
ton that is uppermost in peoples minds.
Let man take up a newspaper, no mat
ter where issued, and the chances are
that for every allusion to the tariff which
he finds in it he will find a dozen to the
currency. Occasionally he will find an
editor arguing that tho tariff ought to be
tae question, but the news columns of the
vary issue that contains this argument
will be full of illusions to the currency
and absolutely bare of reference to the
tariff. Newspapers publish the things
that people are most interested in, and
II one finds them filled up with news
about the currency il is bscause they be-
love that the currency question is I'D
permost in peoples minds. And it is
the people that determine the issues of o
campaign and not the leaders. Tho lat
ter are often influential in selecting the
candidate. but they are almost absolute
ay lnpotsnt in fixing the issues. II the
country is discussing the question of free
silver and ignoring the question of the
tarln 1t is as certain as anything in the
future can be that free silver will take
precedence of the tariff Us an issue in the
oluIpaign. We have had one election al
ready this season. 1t took place il Ore
gon whore the sheep industry is a large
one and where in consequence tho cues
ton OF protection is of much importance.
yet there is no evidence that that oues-
ton figured there in the slightest degree.
The whole discussion related to free sill
Yer aud the maintenance of the existing
gold standard. Parties split I'D on that
question. The discussion goiuz on in
TIE newspapers, in legislative halls, on the
street. indeed everywhere, is over the cur
fency aud not over tho tariff. The lead
ers however much they may desire to,
cannot steio this current. They will be
forcsd into it and swept along by it.
Another reason why the tariff cannot
be made the principal issue is because the
Democrats will run away from it. To
make an issue thsre must be advocacy
and resistance. Two opposing parties
are necessary to contest But everything
indicates that the Democrats are going to
refrain virtually from making any resis-
tance to the restoration of protective
tariff. 1t is the currency question that
is being made prominent in their con-
ventions. and at Chicago we shall hear
very much abont free silver and very lit
lie about free trade.
Republicans might as we'll make up
their minds therefore that the pr;nc1pal
issue of the coming contest is going to
be the currency They cannot pash it
one side if they would. They must meet
1t, and the more squarely they meuu it
she better for them and for the country.