New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-10-18
GENERAL PlLUER'S LETTER.

The letter of General rainier haliH uetIaiiHs
lhot he VIII vote for the Republican candidate
for Congress in his district and advising HIS
many friends 10 do likewise Is ii document Oh
much Importance. which Is not unlikely 10 make
- treat difference in til" complexion OF the next
CONGRESS ere of the reasons the Nalohnl
democratic movement in 1896 was 50 effective
T., thot il was under the leadership of man
n,tro1ic not only in theory. but in practice, ana
louorcd hv the whole country for his fidelity to
his own convictions-a man who that his
first duty 70 the Democratic party and the
country WAS 10 make sure the defeat Of Bryan
ism The way TO reach that end was not TO
divide the forces opposing Bryan III Inc close
districts but to concentrate their votes Oh SIN
Gle candidates. The same policy Is urged oy
General Palmer this year, and with quite as
much reason.
The Republican party recognizes that it must
agree TO differ with sOund-moncy Democrats
on some points The address just issued by the
committee of National Democrats makes the
fact prominent. and perhaps it may be sad
unnecessarily prominent There Is no practical
use nj this time in dwelling upon Democratic
hostility 70 protective tariff which the Ma
tional Democrats share with the supporters OF
BrvaniSm BY so doing the committee can only
furnish plea which may enable the Bryanltcs
10 draw back into their fold part Of the Demo
Gratis who oppose BrynnS financial heresies.
General Palmer has been for many years as
carncst an opponent of Protection as any man,
l,ut now he has no words 10 waste on the sub
irct He does not propose by n single word 10
helm ANYBODY to turn away sound-mOney Demo
crafts from the union of all forces against free
silver and grccnback fOllics. He knows that the
tariff question cannot now become leading
enc in political contests until the silver issue
has been put out of the WAY. and sets HIM
SELF 10 30 tie right thing regarding that issue
which mus; first be decided.
The Republican party in 1896, 10y its platform
and by the nomination Of President Mckinley,
,odc the restoration OF the protective tariff its
first duty to It's supporters. and lis most sacred
c,ligation This position il took before the
democratic party had been captured by Bryan
and his free-silver associates, and il was not
possiblc to withdraw from II. Ninetenths Of
t.. SUPPORTERS believed Il restoration Of pro
tcctive duties the step Of the first rcccsSi'y and
IN any practjcal union Of forces the smaller
number must Of necessity leave the larger free
70 act on It's own convictions regarding any
other issIe than that upon which they unite.
with their obligations to all who had directly
or Indirectly aided them Knowing The policy for
which President Mckinley stood the Rcpubli-
cans proceeded first to put the tariff question
orr Of the way for years by the enactment Of
he Dng!cy tariff They believed that 1t would
relieve the Nation from great part Of lis
monetary difficulties. and would go far TO
svcpp away the discomfort which made Bryan =
two. and N hot md a
least the results prove that they were right. 1t
is plain that the President would not approve
any radical change of the tariff while his term
lasts Election OF Democrats 10 Congress this
wear could not in the least advance the hopes
Of those who want such n change for IL is GER
tain that there cannot be in both houses Of Con
gress sufficient majority to enact Il without
the approval of the President.
This leaves the field free in the contest this
year for a union OF forces against free silver
and Organism. General Palmer takes that
view with his usual candor and maniness, and
the advice he gives and the example he sets will
be- influential in many districts where free
silver candidates may he beaten only by such
a union. In determining what candidates the
united forces shall support. whether Republl-
cans or sound-moncy Democrats. the peculiar
condition IN c2ch dlsirlct VIII he 'aken mo ac-
count. but with the fact in mind that those
who are to furnish the greater part Of the votes
needed in order 10 defeat Organism should
fairly be considered as 10 choice Of candidates
II the greater number OF districts. With rea-
sonable fairness and patriotic readiness to
Weld on each side something for the National
welfare. ii should not be difficult TO achieve
this year a victory SO decisive thai Organism