The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1896-07-29
CHARAoTERIsTICALLY MARROW


into one pledged to uphold the national
credit and honor. 1t processes not to
understand what overtures he ex-
pected." 1t pretends to think that he
had in mind some kind of bargain, such
as that which is now under way be-
tween Populists and Chicago Demo-
Gratis, for a union of forces. 1t is
simply because nearly all the promi-
nent leaders on the Republican side
take this narrow, selfish. unworthy and
undignif1ed view of party obligations
and duties that the Republican party
has fallen short of this great opportu-
nifty. The Pioneer Press is perfectly well
aware that Mr.. Whitney wishes and
would accept nothing for himself at the
hands of any party in this country. 1t
has shown itself appreciative of the
sacrifice which sound money Demo-
Gratis are making in behalf of a prin-
ciple. 1t is therefore not a little sin
gular that a newspaper which in one
moment applauds courage and convic-
ton, though exhibited by political op-
ponents, should in the next throw out
an insinuation which belongs only to
those Of meaner motives.
If there are any other Republicans
who question the meaning of Mr.. Whit
ney's statement, we will refer them all
to the speech delivered by Gov. Nc
KinIey within an hour after the adj
Of ha
This was the great opportunity of the
man and the party. That convention
had shown by it's proceedings the in
evitableness of a Democratic division.
attract to the support Of the Republ-
can cause the men who rejected the
Chicago platform and candidate by
making it possible for them to affiliate,
temporarily, with the Republican
friends of sound money. It was for
Gov. Mckinley, as party presidential
candidate TO sound the keynote. He
did express himself with clearness and
force on the financial question. He said
that "it is a contest to save spotless''
the credit of the Union He said that
patriotism is above party, and ma
tional honor is dearer than any party
name" All this was very good. But
at the end of that same speech he
fer to and berate the very party whose
members he should have wished to con-
ciliate. Nor that alone, but he did this
by the use of the most absurd and I'M
justifable language. We quote an ex-
tract from his speech, referring to the
Democratic party, as published by the
Pioneer Press itself, July 70:
Having destroyed business and confidence
by free trade policy, it is now proposed to
make the condition worse by entering upon
an era of deprecated currency. Not content
with the Inauguration of the ruinous policy
which has brought down the wages of labor
and the price of farm products, its advocates
now offer a new policy, which will diminish
the value of money in which wages and prod
ucts are paid. Against both of these we
stand opposed.
This, as we have said, is unworthy
and untrue. The Pioneer Press has ad-
mitted, as every other self-respecting
newspaper has been forced to admit,
that the primary cause Of our financial
and commercial distress is evil cur
rency legislation and the fear of a
descent to the silver basis Mr.. Nc
Kinley says it was the tariff He talks
about a free trade policy, and de-
clares that the Democratic tariff bill
Frustrated industry. What he calls
free trade tariff amounted to an av-
erage ad valorem rate of 20 % per cent
on free and dutiable imports in the year
1895, as against 21.26 per cent in the
year 1892, when McKinleyism was in
full force. 1t amounted to an average
ad valorem rate on dutiable articles
alone of 41.75 per cent in 1895, as
against 48.1 per cent in 1892. The duty
collected per capita in 1895 was s2.14.
as against $2.66 in 1892. These are the
figures given In the official reports of
the United States government. Were
not reason and truth as ruthlessIy vi
olated by the representative of national
Repubhcanism in that speech as was
political expediency?
We are further asked if the RepubIi-
can party is ito abandon tariff re-
FORM" which the Pioneer Press tells
US would be to go back on Republican
history Presumably, this reference
is humorous. Tariff reform is a new
name to apply to proposal to increase
heavily rate of duty that reached
last year, 41.75 per cent on our entire
list Of dutiable imports. But there ia
another practical consideration. The
Pioneer Press and Mr.. Mckinley and
every other Republican in the United
States, at all conversant with the no.
1itical situation, knows that, no matter
what else may happen after the COM
ing election, there will be no bill passed
to change tariff duties in the direction
of reform or otherwise, unless ac-
companied by an act for the free COIN
age of silver. The constitution of the
United States senate makes that ahso-
lutely certain. If the house to be elected
in November were solidly Republican, it
could do nothing to coerce the senate
and the senate is on record. If the sill
yer senators refused to permit any tar
iff legislation to be considered, except in
connection with free coinage. while
they were still ostensibly connected
with the Republican party, what like
Hhood Is there that they will abandon
that position now that they have for
mally sundered their party connection?
Everybody knows that not an iota Of