The Roanoke times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1897-1977, 1897-04-17
desirable tning for one great nhtionY Why
wait till tho cooperation of foreign pow
crs is obtained?
Signs from Afar.

ueSiratplO VIllHS IOr ONO ErCiiG HtplOnr Why
wait till tho cooperation of foreign pow
crs Is obtained?
Signs From Afar.
The alaority with which tho new admin
istration has taken this step, in only lit.
tic moro than u month after tho Inaugural.
ton, hns tended to convince many obsery.
crs that sincerity is not in those Republic.
ans who suy the financial question was
settled by tho campaign of last year. 1t
has been n fnyorltc theory with many op.
timistic members of that party that the
silver business, as they call it, has played
out; that tho baltic of tho standards was
fought TO Il decisive and final issue last
fall, and that the country will not again
have to go through silver campaign. But
the moro level headed and conservative
Republicans confess this is not true. They
see tho signs of tho next baltic from afar
They realize that 1896 was but tho precursor
of 1900, and that silver versus gold is like
ly to he tho ISSUE again. Granting that
this is SO, the Republicans arc still divided
III their opinion as to tho wisdom of the
presidents commission Some say the
best way to get away from the silver agi
tation i3 to try to satisfy tho more moder-
alto silver men that the administration is
not unfricndly to them, whilo others say
the whole matter should be ignored ms
much rs possible on the theory that in
tiiao the people will forget about it.
Really there is quito chaotic condition
of parties hero ut this time, and in reflect
ing these various opinions in tho Rcpub-
lican ranks as find them in Washington
l am only trying to show you what forces
arc ut work. Wcar in u formative period,
and it may take n year or two to winnow
out n distinct policy Tho Democrats are
in n CT
any better than tho Republicans, oven if
us well. In addition to tho old division of
that party between gold Democrats and
silver Democrats wo sec them now divided
MS to whether the party should 90 on with
silver uS its battlccry or whether it should
return to the methods of some years ago
and make tho principal issue OH the tariff
question. Many Democrats who were ear
Mostly for silver last year now think the
tariff the real issue aud the one upon which
the party has by far the best chance to win.
Democrats In the House.
The Democrats AFRO further divided as to-
their policy in tho house of representatives.
One faction, led by Mr.. Bailey of Texas
has taken the position that if tho Rcpub
leans under the leadership Of Mr.. Reed do
not wish to organize the house and proceed
to legislation tho Democrats should not
Try 10 lcrcc Incln TO 60 so by uCmhnulnH
the appointment of committees. Mr.. Bailey
puts the case very tcrscly for his sido when
he says the Republicans arc responsible To
the country for what is done and for what
Is not done The duty of the Democrats
is TO let them do rs they please and take
the consequences. If tho Democrats prod
the Republicans into action, or attempt to
goad them into it by making points under
the rules, they must to some extent share
responsibility with tho majority. Mr.
Bailey, therefore, and majority of the
Democrats believe in holding hands off
and permitting the Republicans to have ~
clear rein, confident they will drive to their
own destruction.
Mr.. McMillin and many other Demo
Gratis believe they arc sent here TO fight the
Republican majority and to stand for their
rights us representatives. They would
force the fighting, cmbarrass the majority
rs much rs possible, stir up trouble among
the enemy and trust to mistakes of the lat.
ter for good results.