The Saint Paul globe., 1897-10-14
RIVER AT s A. NJ.
PRINCIPLE OR ExPEDIENCY.


Ex-Gov. Horace Boies is out with an
ether public expression Of his views
upon the issue of SO and its prospects,
and he has evidently only grown more
confirmed in his position announced at
the time the Iowa Democracy were con-
sidering upon what issues they would
contest the state with their opponents
this year. He now adheres to his sug-
gestion of the Window plan of making
the treasury an insurer against depre-
citation without being the beneficiary
of appreciation, that going to the GER
tifcate holders. A better plan was
that proposed by Senator Jones, of
Arkansas, and indirectly approved by
the senate, but the temper of the times
admitted of no compromise, nor can
we see that it does now. Only two
alternatives are left and each man
must accept the one or the other as
his best judgment, if he have one and
uses it, dictates.
In his latest pronouncement, Mr..
Boies argues that the declaration OF
the Chicago convention had no binding
force upon the party after the election
that determined the question raised by
it and the ST. Louis convention. The
Chicago platform had its. day in court
before the tribunal of last resort" he
says, and asks: Must Democrats to be
loyal adhere to it foreyer?" He urges
that any such contention would be in
variance with our theory of govern
ment that IF valid election would
settle nothing, majorities would cease
to rule, and, when a political issue was
once Joined, the warfare would go on
until one or the other party was total
Iy annihilated." We have not the full
text of Mr.. Roies' letter before us; but
if it rests the argument upon the
ground quoted, it loses sight of a dis
tinction that is vital. If an issue ten
dered by any party is merely an eX-
redient adopted for the purpose of re-
rCnciling elements otherwise antago-
nistic, to the end that a common op-
ponent may be overcome, then the fail
Ure or success of the effort accom-
plishes what was sought, and it be-
comes obsolete. 1t has accomplished
or failed to accomplish it's end and is
of no further utility than is the mus
tard plaster that has exhausted its
.virility in producing the irritation
sought Mr. Boies must nave regarded
the issue rendered by the Chicago con-
vention in this light, but he should
have restricted his statement to it and
not made it so general and sweeping.
This will appear when we consider
the recent contests of the party. In
1887 President Cleveland revived the
policy of the party in his tariff mes
sage, which gave to his party a great
cause and to a great cause a party.
1t sounded q fundamental principle OF
the party The convention Of 1888 af-
firmed his declaration, rendered its op-
ponents the issue, which they accept
ed and on which thee won the contest
If Mr.. Boies' doctrine is correct, the
party could have dropped the tariff is
sue in 1892 and turned to some other
that promised popular acceptance. In
stead. it girded up its loins after the
overtures of 1888, rose from the fall
not bit disheartened, getting fresh
courage from it instead, went into the
contest of 1892 with its standard plant
ed far in advance of the position OF
1888, and won one of the most tremen-
dous victories in all It's history
The line to be drawn plainly runs
between issues that are mere tenn
porary expedients, sucn as that of 1896
and those that involve and are instinc
with a vital Democratic principle, as
Were the issues of 1883 and 1892 Where
the former is the case the defeat proves
the worthlessness of the implement Il
IS a reaper that will not cut grain; e
motor that will not produce energy, &
frecracker that will not explode, pol
icy that will not win. 1t has had it:
day in court and on the field of trial