The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-11-24
LOOKING BACKWARD.

There is pleasure and profit in cast
ing a. glance backward over the re-
cent campaign Gold men and silver
men can learn much from ii, while its
lessons of all kinds should not be lost
upon old stagers. 1t teaches one thing
that none can gainsay and THAI all
should profit by, which is that when
the minds of the people are preoccu-
pied with any special political subject.
it will form the issue of an impending
campaign.
To anyone with the least political
foresight it was perfectly plain, months
before the national conventions met,
that the financial question would be
the issue. The Herald was proclaiming
this fact long, long before the ST.
Louis convention met All over the
west this was seen and it occasioned
surprise that it was not as plainly dis
cerned in the east; but it was not.
The financial question was forced upon
the ST Louis convention as an issue,
and sMajor Mckinley accepted il as
the inevitable. His heart was with the
tariff, where it always has been and
always viii be.
The report of the secretary of the
Home Market club of Boston, submit
ted al its annual meeting a few days
since, shows that it was the general
! anticipation of the Republican party
taat the tariff would be the issue. In
his report Colonel Clarke says:
Before che campaign began, suppos-
hor he rif fO = The lea Il
ing issue, we had prep aIed a line or
literature on that subject. most OF
which was standard and ali of which
was up to date. Being suddenly called
to meet a new issue from resources al
ready drawn upon, we appealed for
financial aid to another class, the bank
directors. (not the banks), in New En-
gland, of whom therefare some 5000. A
few responded promptly and literally.
but less than a quarter responded al
all The total of their contributions
was 81, SOS OF and much of this came
too late to enable us to furnish itera-
ture in adequate quantities and sufil-
GENTLY early to be distributed to the
voters by state and local organizations
for doing its educational work before
men had become so committed, or posi-
tive. or excited, that they were not
open to conviction.
The club has always devoted its
means and energies to the propagation
of the doctrine of protection. The
financial question was new to it, in
truth IT did not realize that there could
be any question but tariff, so when
free coinage came up as the issue of
the campaign it was wholly unprepared
to meet it.
Now it is assumed by the, victors that
the silver question is settled for all
time. and that henceforth the coun
try has but to give it's attention 10 the
building up of tariffs. The silver ques-
ton is settled for four years; that is
admitted, but it is not for all time.
When it rises from the earth four
years hence, like Anteus, it will be
stronger than ever, while nowhere will
be found a Hercules to graDple with
it. All this should be taken notice of
by those who now feel that their peace
and quiet will never again be disturbed.
The Home Market club admits that
its superstition regarding the issue of
the late campaign was wrong. 1t
should not make the same mistake as
to what will be the issue four years
hence