The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-07-17

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of Ohio. We will not be suspected of
craftsmanship in our remarks upon this,
because both OF the eminent gentle
men about to be referred to call them
selves, or have called themselves at one
time and another. Democrats. Mr.. Cal
vim S. Brice was elected to the United
States senate by the Democrats of the
Ohio legislature Mr.. Brice claims to
be citizen of Lima, O., but he actually
lives in New York, in whose city di-
Brice served as senator and was an
ardent advocate of the gold standard
and a stern fopppnent of the free coin
age of silver Whereupon from every
side there Sros&s the voice of censure,
to tell us how beautifully identical were
the cause Of plu,t ocracy and the pluto
cratic candidatea Nobody but a nom
resident senator, purchasing his place
with cash and given over entirely to the
! devices of the wicked and the wealthy,
would espouse the sound money cause.
Behold, now, the wheel takes half
revolution, and we find the Democratic
party of Ohio. this time ranged upon a
free silver platform, making a state
campaign for the purpose of eiecting
to the United States senate Mr.. John
X. Mclean, Of Washington. D. c. The
comparison between Mr.. Mclean and
Mr.. Brice is perfect. Mr.. Mclean as
sumes to be a resident of Cincinnati,
Where he owns a valuable newspaper
property, but his real residence is at
the national capital He has long own
ed and generally occupied one of the
handsomest residences there, and is
no more citizen of the state of Ohio
than was Mr.. Brice Mr.. Mclean,
| moreover is a millionaire and has
spent his money freely. His lavish
prodlgafity was noted at the last ma
tlonal Democratic convention, while he
was much in evidence at the recent
| convention in what he claims to be
MS own state. In every particular Mr..
mclean answers perfectly to the defini-
tlon OF the term ''plutocrat." Were he
an advocate of the gold standard, de-
nunciation of him on this ground
would go ringing from one end of the
country to the other; but Mr.. Mclean
Is rabid advocate of the free coin-
age of silver at the ratio of 16 to /, and
there was urged against him not one
OF those arguments that were directed
so freely and fiercely against the can
didacy of Mr.. Brice.
What we want to point out is the
policy and foolishness of this whole
business of calling names and thinking
that you have made an argument. The
'piutocrat" is in evidence wherever he
thinks that profits, honors and emolu-
ments are to be had. There Is no po-
ntlcal or other organization endowed
by nature with the gift of consistent
or superior virtue. There is no political
policy that does not attract to itself
the camp follower and the self-seeker.
The personal argument, which has
played so large part in the Populist
campaign, is bound to return upon him
who uses it. There could not be more
apt and happy illustration Of the ia
cility of the so-calied ''plutocrat" than
the course of the two eminent Ohio pol
1t1cians whom we have referred to. 1t
ought to stop the mouths of those who
have used the ''plutocrat". argument so
freely in connection with the financial
issue. The qualities which are desig-
mated by the word plutocracy belong
to human nature and crop out occa-
sionally, whether the individual who
possesses them calls himself Democrat
or Republican, protectionist or free
trader, goldite or silverfte. When our
friends of the other side consider their
present leader in Ohio, however thew
should have few stones of reproach to
fling at the plutocrats who disagree
with them.