The herald., 1898-10-11

A DIALOGUE
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R.-Well, Jim, you and have worked
together long time in the Republican
party, and It seems odd that don't find
your shoulder to the wheel In this campaign
helping the party. You have been a Re-
publican ever since I have known you
s. R.-Johu, have not changed and you
have. What constitutes Republican, ad-
herence to principle or mere association
with individuals?
R.-One can't be a Republican unless he
acts with the party. II man were too
particular about principle there would be
no party. Can't carry elections unless
men hang together.
s. R.-The country 10 not benefited by the
fact that one set Of men out-vote another
set. That 10 simply baseball game or a
rowing match. 1t Is essential, Of course,
that capable and honest men should be put
into office. but there are plenty Of such
men outside Of what you call the Repub-
Ncan party. There are questions compare
lively trivial. and no very great harm or
good results from their settlement one way
or the other. On the other hand, there are
questions whose settlement has a wide
spread Influence for good or evil. No man
has q right to waive them for the sake of
party success.
R.-You are too serious for participation
in practical politics. The main thing Is to
vote our side into beat the other fellows.
S. R.-The present philosophy of the Re-
publican party e degenerate. The party
f0rmarlv tnnk hiGh M nj; y : a oi,no a
1t; now it is inspired by the spoil Of office
There is but one rule that will control the
political action Of ap honest man and a
patriet, and that IS to follow the dictates
of judgment and conscience. To do other
wise is to ignore moral duty to ones self
and to his country.
R.-A man who moralizes as you do can't
be a reliable Republican. There is no such
thing as high-toned morality in politics. 1t
Is all we'll enough IN churches and Sunday
schools. but it has no place in caucuses
and conventions nor in voting. You Will
have to drop such nonsense or let politics
alone.
S. RI will not let politics alone, but shall
continue to work for. good principles, for
such measures as in my judgment will best
promote the public welfare. am partisan
for principle, but not one for mere organ.za-
tion, and l shall vote with that set Of men
whose views on public questions are most
nearly in accord with my own-with that
party which presents the best opportuni-
ty TO give expression to my opinions. That
Is true Amer.canism, such Republicanism
as we were taught by Charles Sumner,
Solomon p. Chase and Abraham Lincoln.
R.-Those men belong to a past age and
their rules Of action are tmpracticable these
modern days. They were trying to build
up a party through sentiment, and we are
trying to maintain it-well, by those means
which seem to promote success.
s. R.-You were for silver coinage and for
retention Of the greenbacks in circulation
until recently. the same as 1 was. but you
have gone back on the principles which the
party then held, and are In favor Of the
gold standard, the retirement Of the green
backs, the substitution of bank notes for
all kinds Of government paper. for having
nothing but gold coin as legal tender and
for driving the silver dollars out Of c.rcu-
lation, first putting it on parity with gold
to somebody's loss, according to the plan
proposed BIZ Secretary Gage. l am for free
silver coinage, the retention Of the green
backs, and opposed to conferring on the
banks the sole power to supply paper CIR
culation. 1 stand where the Republican
party stood till recently.
R.-It was all right SO long as the party
stood there. but when the party changed l
1 don't know Of any other way
to be a good Republican.
S. R.-Then you reneunce personal in
dependence and put your judgment and con-
science in the keeping Of Hanna. Depew.
Platt, Quay, Dingley and the other fellows
who run politics in the interest Of corpora
tions and trusts. Are you quite such man
as should be entrusted with the grave
duties and responsibilities of citizenship?
Is there any safety to our institutions ex-
cept through the Independent action Of the
Unless the mass OF men act on
their own judgment as to what is best for
the country, our institutions Will be trans
formed impercept!bly until they fail to sub
serve the best interests of the nation
R.-Mark Hanna and the others have
time to study these things, and il the party
should take the high grounds you do, there
would be no funds with which to carry on
They cannot be conducted to
success without cash, and unless this fact
Is recognized there would be no fun nor
profit for the boys. They must have a liv-
ing. It's all right for the boys to have a
LITTLE benefit and it's fun to put our side In.
S. R.-The fact also Is that In politics we
have fallen on evil times, and they are
growing worse and worse. The cost of
elections is pilng up more and more each
year. 1t has already become a question be-
tween men and money, and our policies are
being shaped in the interest Of money ard
in disregard Of the interests Of men.
R.-As you are such stickler for what
on call principle, why don't you stay with
the party and convert it to your way Of
S. RI would as soon attempt to go into
4 Mohamedan mosque and preach Christ
anity in the hope Of making an impress
sion as to attempt to induce what you call
the Republican party to return to Its
time -honored doctrine. AS long as men like
you stand ready to support whatever con-
ventoEs adopt as politics, Hanna and his
clan would not allow man ike me to open
his mouth.
R.-Well, shall stay with the party
whatever it may do. I'm no bolter.
S. Rim no bolter from principle, and
am going to follow 1t withersoever 1t may
carry me. When a party abandons good
served-it merits destruction. The only way
to reform the Republican party is to pun
sh 1t for its derelctions. In that way it |