The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1897-09-02

the republican party and the Mckinley
administration will not abandon bimet-
allism, and that is a reason of policy as
we'll as of principle. Overwhelming
party defeat will follow such an aban-
donment There is danger of disaster
from even the existence of the many
current suspicious, however unjust, that
abandonment is intended; suspicious
caused in part by reported utterances,
probably incorrect, of Sc e'relary Gage,
and by proclamation by Director Pres
ton, of the United States mint, whose
real business is to coin money and not
to formulate party policy.
The question is close at hand to be
tried in November, in the state of Ohio,
the home of President Mckinley, where
Senator Hanna is then to be elected or
defeated as United States senator. The
close connection, even to unity, of these
two statesmen is complete. The latter
organized with consummate skill and
limitness powers and resources the two
canvasses which nominated and elected
the former. The prolonged success of
the republican party and the course of
politics generally on the prevailing
modern lines will require Mr.. Hanna's
election as senator, and an Endorsement
of him by the people of the state of
Ohio at the polls in 1897 will be most
appropriate sequel to the nomination
and election of Mr.. Mckinley, guided
by Mr.. Hanna and aided by the vote of
Ohio in 1896. In order to make certain
and easy republican victory in con-
test which is to be so significant the
republican side should stand firmly by
bimetallism and not surrender to the
single gold standard. The late Ohio
convention reaffirmed the st. Louis
platform of 1896, which pledged the
party to promote bimetallism-the free
coinage of silver equally with gold-by
rational methods and without cessation
in the pursuit of the desired object. As
already stated, President Mckinley
holds firmly to these pledges. 1t will
be unwise for the republican managers
in Ohio to treat them with indifference
or to countenance the idea in any form
that they are to be abandoned. If they
do there is imminent danger of defeat
for themselves, and for Senator Hanna
as well, to whom it is due to acknowl-
edge that on all occasions and in spite
of all solicitations he has proclaimed
that he adheres to bimetalism and that
he favors securing the use of the two
metals as money by all practical and
honorable methods.
Adherence to bimetallism by the re-
rublicans of Ohio is a special and ma
tional Importance at this time, because
this is the principle affirmative good
which the republican party can at this
moment promise to give hereafter to
the masses of the people. There is
looming up in the future no issue in
connection with which the republican
party will be sure to advocate what the
great number of the voters will desire,
unless it is to be this issue concerning
the standard metal money of gold alone
instead Of both gold and silver, which
nave so served side by side since the
foundation of civilization Senator
Sherman so aptly said, as if by an "act
of Goodwill, whether the change is
economically expedient or not, be an
unpopular policy which will send
thousands Of voters against any party
which thus makes the fight in favor of
the permanent adoption of the single
gold standard, If the republican party
should be beguiled or corrupted into
assuming that position what good can
be devised for that party to promise tC
the majority of the voters whose ad.
herence it must continue to secure OF
go ont of power in 1897 or 1900? ]
must confess I do not see what we car
tender to the people for their benefit i
we deliberately betray the cause of sill
yer.
Our opponents are promising almos
everything for votes. What can W,
promise? We can not possibly accep
the issue as they are trying to frame it
If it be really one between the ricl
and the poor, then, although the ricl
may be truly right, and the poor ma,
be cruelty wrong, we shall be sadl,
beaten at the polls; and we can no
stem the tide of ballots by injunction
from courts, by calling out the arm,
and navy, and certainly not by the ut
most use of money in elections. Wha
I mean is that in any republic wit
suffrage actually unrestricted the ma
jority party in order to remain in powe
} must not only be right, but must b
able to satisfy the great body of th
people that il is right; it must be cor
} tinually on the alert, not only to Pre-
{ tect the wealthy, but to serve, benef
} bless and improve the condition of th
r poor, and the people of moderate mean
in the community. This may be calle
: demagogy. I call it wise party polite
in country where the people rule, an
3 are to continue to rule with a populf
sway assumed to be surely benefcer
l. A L.