The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-06-18
HENRY eEoRGEs LETTER.
His Opinion of the St. Louis Cow en-
ton.

his Gp4n4on OF the 81 LOUIS 002' en-
ton.
New York, June 1s.-Henry Georges
letter to the New York Journal from
st. Louis says;
Every one seems to be for 'protec-
ton and prosperity and for Mckinley
as the prophet OF protection and the
bringer OF prosperity. Yet beneath the
surface strong tides are running ana
the very unanimity IS suggestive OF the
smooth, deep green of Niagara as 1t
gathers for the rush and roar of the
fall Mckinley has his wish so far as
the nomination is concerned
THE organized opposition seems to
be utterly broken down But beyond
the nomination, q threatening shadow
looms across his path. He can be nom
mated, but can he be nominated in such
a way as win insure election? That has
become the perplexing question
Then, after speaking at length of his
own political feelings and experiences
since bOyhOOd, Mr. George goes on to
say. referring to Mr.. Cleveland:
How, in the hands of his admins
traLOn, the hope that gave him power
has been ignored and stultifed it is
needless to say The effect on me is
that if must choose again between
two protectionists I would prefer a Re
publican protecuOnist to a Democratic
prOtectiOnist If an army is to be mass
ed for the avOWed purpose of putting
down strikes; if federal troops are to
their authorities; if we are to be
threatened with wars that could only
profit SpOilsmen and extraVagant ex-
penditures are to be maintained by the
issue of bonds uncalled for by con
gresss it is better that these things
should be done by the avOWed party of
strong government than by a party
that pretends to follow Jeffersonian
philosophy.
Il think of my own feelings. because
I believe this feeling has grown into
intensity through the country and
among great numbers of those who
gave the Democratic party victory in
1892. 1t is the feeling expressed in
John RandOlph's order to the waiter
If you call that tea, bring me coffee;
but II you call that coffee, bring me
tea
1T is really this feeling of utter dis
gust, with utter hopelessness OF the
Democratic party under its present
management, that has lain at the bot
tom of McKinley's strength and that
has been mistaken for the ardent de-
sire for more protection. The wish and
expectation of Governor Mckinley and
his managers have been to make the
coming campaign on the same issue
that the last campaign was made. In
this they saw certain success, and they
were right, for the opposition to pro-
lection cannot again be rallied by any
one else than an a-vOwed free trader.
But the disgust of the Democratic
masses has found expression in the
primary elections which insure q free
silver majority in the Democratic con-
Vention to be held in Chicago This
changes the whole political situation
BY forcing new alignment in politics.
The Mckinley managers wish to make
the tariff the issue, and to pass over
the money question by q straddle or by
ignoring it altogether, but it takes two
to make q quarrel and q single party.
let its managers desire it as they may
and let its machine be ever so perfect,
cannot of itself make an issue on which
will pgu7e q r1o71e TO
What people are now thinking about
and talking about, particularly through
the west, is not the tariff question,
which Cleveland democracy has put to
sleep for awhile but the money ques-
ton. The expected action Of the Dem
ocrat1c convention farces this to the
front, and for the Republican conven-
tlOn 70 ignore II would be to leave their
candidate, once almost as gOOd as
elected. to face an aggressive foe with
a bolt in his own ranks
But, while both feeling and political
discretion prompt to the taking of the
other side Of the issue, which the Dem
Ocratc action must force, and deciar-
! ing for gold, Governor Mckinley is ev-
identity 10th to do it. There is no doubt
that his strength in the west has in re-
atty come more from the belief that he
was free silver man than from ad-
m1ratOn OF him as the author of the
Mckinley bill For him to come ont
Tor gold while it would prevent an
otherwise certain break in the Republi-
can organization, would insure, though
not a break in the party, some defec-
ton at the polls, how much soever it
might be compensated for from other
quarters.
The feeling here, on the eve of the
! convention, is that Mckinley must take
! the plunge and the platform, declare
/ fatty and unequivocally for gold The
issue then is a new one and the result
/ is uncertain. 1t is this that makes the
| Republican convention that viii meet
I tomorrow so interesting. It may be
| that it will be the last Of the ReDIl bill
/ can conventions. What is really com
ling to the front so quickly and Sc
/ strongly that the most astute polite
a. phase Of the great social question -