Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-04-19
cen,,mp,ls,. Charges and crl,ielss.

AS Is, well KNOWN there mas oee'
on the part OF certain journals mani.
fest desire ever since Mr.. Mckinley
was elected President to spread abroad
the impression that he was elected
upon an understanding both expressed
and implied that he would SO far as
possible have the currency question inn
mediately taken up and disposed of ac-
cordirg to some theoretical idea or
ideas these journals, each or, collective
". believe to be correct. For the most
part these same journals sneer at the
work of revising the tariff. urge that
the cause OF sound money is being
haxarded Is not sacrificed. in order TO
crafty some special interest at the ex-
pense 81 the country. OF course
treachery,t bad faith. ifbroken pledges
and like enormities, are, the reader is
left to understand. chargeable upon
President Mckinley and his admins
tration and all in any way connected
with it. Now some of these journals
are supposed to have very intelligent
readers and if we may judge from the
editorial assumptions these papers are,
as we'll as the great majority of their
patrons, above the pettiness Of politics
and such other membranes that pre-
vent the afflicted from rising to the
enjoyment and benefits of the upper
and purer air. Accordingly it is some
what surprising that these newspapers
should insult the superior intelligence
OF their patrons with such a transpar-
emf! trick to make political capital. The
utter absurdity CT their charges and
their differences is so easily demon
strated that it is surprising they should
resort to them.
The presidential campaign is too re-
cent to attempt to befog the people by
telling them certain issues were para
mount when they were not. From the
time MIR. McKinley's name was pro-
posed for the presidency down to the
day Ct his election twas understood BY
the voters of this country that he be-
lieved, as he said in his first public ad-
dress after nomination. that protection
was the masterful principle.
There was no lodging Of questions.
The Republican party placed itsel- in
direct opposition to reputation and
fiatism and MI. Mckinley. notwitn-
standing previous assumptions to the
contrary, met the situation squarely,
candidly, forcibly. But throughout his
public addresses, throughout the heat
and stress of the exciting campaign
there was no faltering on the part of
Republicans from the idea that the
people of this country wanted to re-
turn to the prosperity they had enjoyed
under a Republican tariff. 1t was be
lieved then, as it is believed now, that
1.-THE Democraticsleaders lent themselves
to the free silver theory because they
realized the utter hopelessnss of max
ing fight on the tariff issue. The
elections Of "a showed the trend OF
popular sentiment. Everything since
indicated there had been no change ir
that sentiment. The effort of the ALI
ance known as Popocracy was for the
purpose of raising another issue, max.
| ing the public believe its distress was
due to the currency and not to the
tariff. Throughout the contention the
Republicans claimed 1t was due pri
marily to the tariff; that with cper
mills and a return to the conditions OF
a wisely protective tariff the money
agitation would cease. 1t was no
denied that changes in our currency
system were advisable but the part!
did not attempt to formulate any plar
for that change because ii, realized tina
the question of pressing importance
was tariff which should produce /
revenue equal to expend .urea Rcstor,
that condition and confidence would b.
restored. Then we might with safet!
turn to the work of remedying what
ever defects there should be; found
after calm, careful consideration Of tn
subject1 to exist in our monetary sys
tenn. That was the avowed programme
laid down by the Republican party.
was thoroughly understood by all.
lis today, the carping journals included
They do not deceive themselves niue.
less the intelligent reader. Scum,
money Democrats voted against re
pudiation and to make their vote
more effective many doubtless vote
for Mckinley. knowing and declaring
when they did SO, that it was better t
lily to the evil-as they termed ito
protection, with which they were &C
quainted and forced to admit had no
ruined the country than to the evils 0
, reputation and revolution which the
had not experienced and believes
! would be destructive in the extreme. s
81 olv,,;v :ctt n