The record-union., 1896-08-15
REASON AND JUSTICE AND CALM
NESS.

The "NeWS-Tribune" Of Detroit says
that there are two kinds of dirty po-
litical work; one is to throw mud at the
candidate and the other is to throw
dust in the eyes of the people. That is
as true as it is witty. And this sug-
gests that after all there is in all this
debate Of the monetary, the tariff, the
questions, and likewise in the consider
alton Of the economies of settlements
involving railroads and their indebted
ness to the Government, a call for
nothing but the coolest and most dis
passionate debate. Why there should
be in any of these things mud or dust
throwing, much less heat passion and
anger, no one can show.
No questions of a financial, CONNER
cial or economic characteg ever have
been or ever will be settled in passion.
When all hot contention is over and
the demand for rest becomes irresisti-
BILE, these issues are settled or adjusted
upon lines Of cool reason drawn from
the wells of experience and the truths
OF logic.
What we want in this Campaign of
education" which will not close with
the ides Of November, but rather have
just begun, is strong debate, but not
passionate debate. There is neither
strength, gain nor conviction to grow
out Of denunciation, vituperation or
charges of wrath. He who seeks
ia the debate to array supposed classes
against each other; to inflame men who
have against those who have not; men
who manage against those who serve
in management; genius against muscle,
and brain against mechanical skill, is
so far from bringing about adjustment
Of issues that he is making them wider
and sharpening them to the fashion of
a sword blade
It Is simple truth to say and none
know 1t better than the politicians,
that when 1t Is shouted TO the worker
and wage Garner and capitalist and
manufacturer, that the decision of the
silver question at the polls in Novem-
ber for or against the arbitrary and un-
yielding demand Of one platform, or
according to the theory and demand
OF another that breaches bimetalIism
that Is opposed to recommendation, the
result will not settle the issue For
Tbot ua y,o,1et wait fnr t{y,,a opd axDari =
ence TO determine. Nor is it honest
toward the people to say that any of
them who are at all intelligent upon
the questions believe for one moment
the tariff question, will Immediately
and at once so change conditions as to
afford to American industries and
American workers the protection they
SC much need.
For that. as in the other case, there
must be legislation and adjustment
What we are passing upon, therefore,
in this campaign, Is ideas backed or
not by reason and experience. When,
therefore, there IS charge of malice
by either side. attempts to throw dust
in the eyes of the people, and effort to
make them believe that upon the ball
lot they east in November their whole
welfare fmpends. or that the destinies
OF the republic and the fate of Ameri-
can commerce and industries wholly
depends, there Is pursued an unwise
and foolish course and dirty political
work Is INDUCED in.
It is true that the decision in Novem-
ber will have an influence one way or
the other In working out the problem
of affording the industries and workers
OF the country protection. 1t VIII have
an influence in determining the none
tery policy of the Nation. 1t will have
an influence in determining whether
business wisdom and common prudence
are to prevail, or whether in the pres
erce of palpable discomfort and unrest,
passion Is to rule, class distinctions are