Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1899-08-23
The Restless Voter.

Col. Bryan held an immense meeting
at the tabernacle last night and the
people we're enthusiastic. The demo-
cratic party is getting itself together
preparatory to engaging in the business
of politics once more. Last year there
was no democratic party to speak of,
but there will be. The independent
voter rules America. When he makes
up his mind that one party has been
in power long enough, he changes his
politics, sometimes without due con
sideration we think. One would think
that in city like Des Moines where
prosperity is universal, where build
ings are being erected by moonlight,
electric light, gas light, and also by day
light, nobody could be found to give
any attention to serious proposition for
a change. But it must be remembered
that in the midst of the prosperity of
1892, the people voted for change. And
there are indications now to the close
observer that, scared by the ghost of
Mark Hanna, the scarecrow of the
Philippines and the rawhead and bloody
bones of the trusts, the independent
voter is getting in shape to vote against
Mckinley next year. The American
people love to see the ghost walk. 1t
is their nature to be spectators and
new country with its broad prairies sug-
gests free thought and experiments.
If the contest next year is between Nc
Kinley and Bryan, Bryan will poll more
votes than he did in 1885. People ought
to know better than to vote against
prosperity, when they are enjoying it,
but they have done it before and they
will do it again. The great hope of the
country will be the support of the gold
standard democrats, and there are some
indications that they are weakening.
This is especially true of Iowa. The
Des Moines Leader is getting ready to
support the nominee of the democratic
state convention for governor. Other
conservative democrats having been
out in the cold long enough, are pre-
pairing to do the same. The Capital
is not an alarmist and cares nothing
for party triumph, but we should re-
gret to have the policy of the govern
ment partially revolutionized this year
and entirely revoluti0nized next year.
We regret exceedingly that the demo-
cratic party has found it necessary to
make opposition to the patriotic policy
of the present administration. Its out
cry against the Philippine war this year
will simply encourage the Filipinos and
make the battles in the Philippines all
the harder. We would not object to q
democratic victory any time anywhere,
if such victory did not mean injury
to the United States. The American
people generally do not care who holds
the offices, but they ought to be con-
cerned in relation to American policies.
The fair way to do would be to give
the present policies fair test and thus
ascertain to the fullest degree whether
or not the gold standard is the thing.
If the silver policy shall be adopted,
we shall advocate that it be given a
fair test, before it shall be condemned.
1t is idle, in fact vicious politics, to say
that every policy of the government is
framed in the interest of the rich and
for the purpose of enriching the rich
people. We are sorry that Col. Bryan
uses such arguments. He knows that
the most intelligent men of every party
usually control its policies and the very
men whose support he asks for would
not dictate the course of his own ad-
ministration, should he be elected.
1t is evident that the Iowa campaign
is to be red hot one. 1t is evident
that in the midst of groaning fields and
gorged granaries, the Iowa voter is
wondering whether he had better mon
key with the buzz saw again!