Arizona silver belt., 1897-06-10
THURSDAY, JUNE 10, 1897.
SILVER STILL THE SUPREME
 ISSUE.

The political campaign of 1896, although one of the most memorable in our history, appears to have settled nothing The "advance agent of pros. perity" slated to appear upon the heels of Republican victory is not yet in evidence, and now we are told that better times will come with the enact meut of the Dingley tariff bill, which, after two months consideration, is still
 in chaotic state, with little proba
 bility of being crystalized into law
 before August or September next. The
 current number of an eastern finsncia
 journal, with Republican tendencies, says: 'The conditions of business have not changed materially. Trade continues to hesitate and no improve ment is manifest. The tariff bill is now before the senate, but no one can cay how soon any advance will be made. Altogether, the outlook is a doubtful one, and the summer prom. ises to be dull one 80 far as business IS concerned"
 The tariff question was injected into the campaign of 1896 by the Repub. lican party with the view of diyerting attention, in the Eastern states, from the main issue, the rehabilitation of eilver; the hobgoblin of free trade, of which there has never been possi- biiity in the United States, was re- vsmped to frighten the industrial class into voting the Republican ticket and the ruse was made to win. However, victory gained through subterfnge and misrepresentation is hort-lved, and already we hear the murmur of the liscontented grown into an ominous ground-swell which cannot fail to be noted on the shores of the Potomac.
 The idea which prevailed among the so-cslled sound money factions for q time after the election, that silver had been relegated as an issue will. in the light of recent moves on the political chess board, have to be abandoned. Already the tocsin of war for the next campaign has been sounded and its peal has n resonance which unmis- tskably foretells the issue of the next campaign. The Republicans have al- ready recognized it and "the signal to the fray spurs on." The Republican congressional campaign committee has opened headquarters in Washington, "thst they may be better equipped, " as the call declares, Ito combat the financial heresy that the free silver Democrats and Republicans appear de termined shall be the issue in the next campaign" The campaign of educa- tion" goes on through the literary bureaus, and never in the history of the Republican party, it is said, have hke efforts to perfect organization been made. An event over which great ado B being made is the National Repub- hcan League convention to be held in Detroit next month, and the Repub- licans in Western silves states have been served with notice that no dele gates who are tainted with the "silver heresy" will receive recognition. West srners are eyed askance and before Being admitted to full fellowship with the elect, must declare themselves sub servient to the party yoke and bow down to the golden calf.
 The npprehensions of the Repub- hcans ard their allies, the gold Demo crats, are we'll founded, for never did cause that had suffered apparent de- feat show such wonderful recuperative power as has the silver movement. A survey of the field after the election of last November gave no cause for serious Encouragement. While the Republicans had been successful in ob- taining majority in the electoral col iege and had increased their lead in the senate, they had lost A members m kha .f and the victory was so hedged about by adverse conditions and problems diff cult of solution as to largely deprive it of significance and lustre. The Re publicans, in full control of the gov ernment, arc exposed on the pillory cf public criticism and held responsible for every act of the government. Con. fronted with grave questions, tho finances. the tariff and Cuban rebellion and with shrewd and powerful enemy ever on tue alert to take advantage of its mistakes, thu position of the Re. publican party is by no means secure.
 Meanwhile thero is a great stir in she ranks of the silver cohorts; organi. cation IS being carried forward and the plan of battle mapped out. AZ Chi oago this week notable conference of slver leaders is being held. The silver Republicans and Democrats of Ohio have recently held important meetings, and the Democratic Silver state con vention of Kentucky was held at Frankfort las. week, and among the