Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1898-01-26
TOPICS OF NATIONAL hNTEREsT.
Discussed by Our Regular COrrespon.
dent at the Nations Capitol.

1t is gradually becoming apparent
that the silver cause is not command
ing the strength and unanimity of sup
port that it did in the campaign of 1896.
The NeW York Journal, which
was Mr.. Bryan's organ in the East,
has deliberately abandoned him, as
was long ago anticipated. This means
more than the mere action of this
journal, for change of that kind
would not have been made unless those
debating it had seen that the plan
would be a popular one. The fact is,
there is strong rebellion against
Bryan and Organism in the East and
certain parts of the South. Word
comes from the Middle West that this
sentiment is also being felt there. The
apparent determination of Mr.. Bryan
to make silver, and silver only, his
hobby so long as he remains before the
public in the attitude of the spokesman
of the Democratic party, has led a good
many Democrats all over the country
to the conclusion that some broader
man, and one who will not confine
himself exclusively to the subject of 16
to l, is likely to be more successful
party candidate in 1900.
Now that Senator Hanna is elected,
and assurance given that his vote and
voice and cooperation will be at the
service of the Republican forces in the
Senate, the effort to pass. currency
bill will be again resumed. The Sem
ate is still closely divided, especially in
view of the fact that the Oregon seat
has not yet been filed, but there is good
reason to hope that combination of
the Republicans vote with that of the
few Democrats who refuse to cooperate
with the silver forces will be sufficient
to carry through the Senate some legis.
lation along the lines recommended by
the President in his message. 1t is not
expected that extreme legislation upon
this subject can be had during the
present congress, but the simplel plan
outlined by the president in his mes
sage, proposing to retain in the Treas
ury the greenbacks and Sherman notes
redeemed in gold, and permit national
banks to increase their circulation upI
to the par value of their bonds, appeals
so strongly to all classes, except those
who are determined to make the
money of the country of the "fiat"
character, that there is good deal of
hope that a measure framed along these |
lines can yet be passed by this congress.
The discussion and the vote in the |
Senate on the immigration Bill shows
very clearly where the Republican |
party stands in the matter of intelli- |
gence and law and order. The leading |
men of the party have spoken out clear
ly and vigorously in favor of law |
which shall exclude from the United
States the ignorant, the depraved and
the unsatisfactory classes which have,
during the past few years, made up
such large proportion of the immi-
grafton. The Republican party, it will
be remembered, passed measure of
this kind during the closing months of
President Cleveland's term, and it was
vetoed by him. Now that there is a
republican president in the White
House, there is little doubt but that
the measure will become a law and
that the world will be given to under
stand that the party in control of affairs
in the United States does not desire to |
recruit the citizenship of this nation
with ignorant and degraded men, and |
is not willing to permit this class to
come into competition with intelligent
American citizens, or assist in con-
trolling national affairs.