The Indianapolis journal., 1898-11-16

To the Editor of the Indianapolis Journal:
Now that the election is over and free sill
yer has been dealt another blow by the peo-
pie, we ask ourselves the question: have
we gained "a permanent or only a temporary
victory? The most notable thing about the
Democratic party is it's persistency in do
ing the wrong thing. In it's early history
it was the pro-slavery party, and was as
persistent in trying to extend the slave
trade III the North as it has been in adj
Vocating the free-silVer fallacy. So impu-
dent and aw-defying aid it become in this
that finally it was hurled from power by the
people, and in it's stead the young and
aggressive Republican party with the great
LinCOln at its head, was gwen the reinS OF
government, the result of which is such
common history that it need not be repeated
here. Next we lind 1t mounted upon the
free-trade hobbyhOrse, and like its slavery
attitude, 1t is equally as persistent in adj
Vocating the free-trade doctrine. Having
sought control of the government for more
than quarter of a century, the American
people granted ii a new trial, and IL failed
TO Vlndlcate itself. 80 great was its failure
and so far reaching were the attending re-
suits that sorrow and distress penetrated
the homes of thousands of American work
ingmen, The effects were felt by almost
every laboring man in the United States.
The Democratic party had forfeited every
claim to the confidence of the people. What
was II 70 40 lheIe was put one alterna-
tive: bring forward new leaders, repudiate
the old ones and raise a new issue. The
tariff-for-reVenue-only issue was dead be-
yOnd resurrection and the Democratic party
had killed it, though it took twenty-eight
years to DO it. So the question now is: how
long will it take the Democrats to kill the
silver issue? The people rejected it two
years ago, but it bobbed up serenely only
to be rejected again this year. IL will be
noted that the silver advocates have not en-
tirely lost heart since the election, but, on
the contrary, are getting some comfort out
of the fact that they gained a few congress-
men, and Mr.. Coin" Harvey fOresees
Tf1ff4 F1Nl hi arsfwr IL,
SO, taking the past record of the Demo-
cratic party and its present attitude as a
criterion, we may as well begin prepara-
tions for another fight on the money queS-
tion in 1900. We will always have the silver
question to fight until the Democratic party
kills it, for, like the bull fighting the loco
motive, its courage is great, but its judg
ment poor With the Republican party and
the gold Democrats working together the
country. viii never be disgraced with a
cheap, half-value dollar, but eternal vigi-
lance Is the price Of liberty, and the Repub-
lican party must not forget that there are
traitors within its own ranks who are ever
ready to sacrifice the entire party for per-
sonal gain, as witnessed in the campaign
just closed. Traitors within our own ranks
can do as much harm as Democratic free
silver speeches can do US good. happened
to be one of many Republicans who received
a typewriter letter from one John Helm
richs asking me to join him in defeating
Mr. Overstreet and the Republican legsla-
tive ticket. / answered him Immediately,
thanking him for his effort in behalf OF the
Republican party believing, as / did, that
it would be a benefit rather than detri-
mental TO those gentlemen. But had Mr..
Heinrichs used his influence among his
friends instead Of sending out his letters
broadcast he might have injured the ticket
to some extent.
The Democratic party and free silver has
been given a severe thrashing, but, ike the
cat that you have but don't want, il has
nine lives. Kill 1t and it will come TO life
again: take 1t away and lcse 1t and 1t will
come back again. j. w. GALLOWAY.
indianapolis, Nov. Is