The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-07-25
CAMPATGN HYsTERIA.
washington Post.1

/ L W 6SA1ElE lOA1 OSA-l
The New York Tribune in recent is
sue states that the Rev. DR.. Theodore
l. CuyIer intends to take an active part
in the campaign against free coinage.
The Tribune says that the doctor be-
came very much excited the other day
when talking of the blatherskites and
ragamuff1ns, as he called the free silver
men, It is said he viii devote good
deal of time ito getting the religious
press to take up this fight, just as they
did the slavery question Among
other things DR.. Cuyler is reported to
have said, is the following:
Il believe this is even more danger
Gus crisis in the history Of our country
than when South Carolina fired upon
1 the flag of the Union. Then every boot
| black and every hod-carrier could and
| did fight against the enemy. This dan
| ger is more insidious and can only be
fought by those who have an intelligent
knowledge of the subject"
| Comparing the existing situation to
! that of 1861 Is getting to be a habit with
many writer's and speakers. We see
! such remarks as those of DR.. Cuyler in
scores of anti-silver newspapers, and
they have been heard from pulpits in
various cities. But it seems to US they
are gross exaggerat tons of fact and are
unwise and impolitic for other reasons.
! The proposition to change the coinage
laws by constitutional methods may in
volve serious consequences, but it is a
direct appeal to the people, to the SOW
ereign power of the republic. The law
making power of this country is clothed
by the constitution with the authority
to do what the Chicago platform calls
| for in relation to silver. We hope, per-
haps as earnestly as DR.. CuyIer does,
that it will not be done, but we do not
think it decent or advisable to hurl ugly
epithets at the million of honest men
who demand it. There is no ground for
impugning the motives, decrying the in
telligence, assailing the character or
questioning the patriotism Of those mil
lions. And if the religious press, I'M
der the Inspiration of DR.. Cuyler, should
decide to take up this fight it will
do well to remember that a cause which
is supported by a majority of the states
in the senate, a movement that has
steadily grown in strength for more
than a dozen years, a movement that
Is supported by some of the best men
of all parties, is not to be checked by
calling its adherents "blatherskites and
ragamufFins."
Where is the necessity or propriety
of Juggling in our great war on an oc-
casion like this? We are not engaged
in an armed conflict in which the issue
is the existence of the Union. It is hys-
terica1 guSh, unwarranted and harmful
to speak of this peaceful, lawful, and or
derby political canvass as a more dan
gerous crisis in the history of our coun-
try" than that of 1851. So long as par
ties advocate only such things as the
constitution permits, and confine their
agitation to lawful means, there is no
occasion for hysteria. Meet them with
reason, down them With arguments.
squeIch them with votes, but don't fly
into fits and go to throwing mud. We
hope, at any rate, that the religious
press will have religion enough to keep
it on plane of decency.