The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-01-13
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The corrupting influence of the pros
perity test" which has come to be the
sole claim of any party to political
power, is seen on every side. 1t has
pervaded all the organizations, made
captive individuals whose sense or
he nor has seemed to be too high to ad-
nit it. and rides victorious through the
ranks of gold standard Republicans
and silver Democrats alike. The Ma
tional Democracy is the only party in
this country which stands fer right
principles, regardless of immediate re-
suits, believing that the right thing is.
in the long run, the best thing, and
that no prosperity which is worth hav-
ing, which is more than a bursting
bubble, can be built on any other foun-
dation than justice and equal dealing
between man and man.
We took occasion to note, as indi-
eating the position of sound
money Republican, some remarks
OF the Pioneer Press on the
beet sugar bounty. 1t took the po-
sition of commercialism in politics, and
said that if we could get new in
dustry by means of a bounty. then
bounty is what we ought to have. At
the opposite extreme from the Pioneer
Press stands the Atlanta Constitution.
This is, perhaps, the most rabid, un-
compromising and outspoken organ of
the free silver Democrats. 1t hates
Republicanism, and it loves the 50-cent
the highest regard for principle, and
argues for a debased currency on the
ground of an alleged equity and an
undef1led interest in the peoples well
mercial conditions and the proposed
new tariff act, has this to say:
We have no objection to that that the Re
publicans simply intend to go gayly. if blind
ly, along the old route), for if the road to
prosperity lies in the direction of a high
tariff or higher tariff, or a still higher
tariff it should be formulated and levied
at once. We shall not make mouths at pros
Perity no matter by what methods It's It is
it back by means of high higher taxation,
we'll and good. 1t will still be prosperity.
and will be just as enjoyable as If it had
come by some other route.
Here is precisely the same spirit
evinced and the same Indifference to
and denial Of any such thing as a moral
consideration. The Constitution, on
general principles, has no particular
love for high tariff. But it refuses, in
this instance, to inquire, since it does
not care, whether a high tariff is right
or wrong. Prosperity, by which Is
meant more money, is the test, mo
matter by what methods it is brought
back" We say, and shall always say,
that no nation will ever proceed ON any
ether road, except the broad and plain
one that leads to perdition, toward
prosperity if it follows this guiding
hand. 1t is the justification for every
iniquity in legislation and for every
Inequality in private conditions that
exists today.
What have all these people been
and other monopolies been doing, ex-
cept to seek prosperity, mo matter by
what methodist" Admit that rule and
you have justified every villainy, pub
lie or private, that is written upon our
history. The love of pelf was the in
spiration of them all. Set this motto
before our people and you have the
continuance of political action as a
game of money making. The end of it
all must be universal degradation and
national decay. We do not affect to
despise prosperity. No sane man does.
Every one desires to have all of this
worlds goods that he can honorabIy
acquire. But there are limitations. The
honest man has a great deal of choice
may be brought back. He does not
choose to bring it back to himself by
robbing his neighbor, or by refusing to
pay his honest debts
What is true in the little Is true in
the great. The mad rage for wealth is
almost the only curse that. affects the
people Of this country in their public,
as we'll as their private relations 1t is
the cancer of commercialism that has
eaten so far into the national life It
is amazing to us that it's growth should
be encouraged by those who ought to
see the danger and to warn the people
against it. We must get rid of COM
mercialism or go our way to the fate
which it has dealt to the greatest
and proudest nations of the past