The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1899-04-20
COME ON OFF.

1t is said that 'when thieves fall out
honest men get their dues.
OF course the money lenders and
creditors, the manufacturers and great
commercial and transportation corpora
tions, who combine and cooperate in
the republican party to give to each the
Legislation they need in despoiling the
great majority and to defeat any legis-
lation and enforcement of law they do
not want, are not thieves. What they
do they do openly and above-board and
according to law whether according to
gospel or not; and so long as the ma
iority allows it they can expect nothing
else.
So far as the politician is concerned
his chief concern perhaps is to group
enough voters to give him office; and
so long as enough of the majority will
vote with the classes for whom the par
ty legislates to keep the republican par
ty in power it is but natural that the re-
publican leader should give these
classes the legislation wanted and find
some excuse for not enforcing unfayor-
able legislation already existing. These
politicians, however, stand all the
while between two dangers, that of Of
Tending their classes by not giving the
Legislation, and that of offending that
part of the majority which helpes to
keep the party in power, by giving it.
The money lender wants the Gage or
monetary commission bill enacted, the
practical effect of which is the retire
ment of silver and greenback and the
substitution of bonds and bank notes
on interest. The class is offended if
Legislation is not given; many people
who have supported the party are Of
Tended if it is given. But the republi-
can leader seems rather more afraid of
the people than of the money lender;
for he has shown no alacrity whatever
in taking up thsee bills. And Senator
Chandler, republican, is credited with
having said that if either of these bills
is forced on congress, as no doubt
they will be next winter, the upshot is
more likely to be the opening of the
mints to silver than the passage of the
bill. Again, the manufacturer wants
no antitrust Legislation and does not
want any enforcement of such legisla-
ton. If these things are done this
class Of the republican mutual benefit
association is offended, for it argues
hat tariff legislation against foreign
competition is little good without trust
combination against home competi-
tion, and that it would be very incon-
sistent to give one without allowing the
other. But in proportion as trusts and
monopolies multiply in number and
scope sentiment is setting in against
them even with republican people, and
this part of the majority will be offend
ed if antitrust laws are not made anC
enforced. And the claim that the COY
ernment has not the power will no
down them. Indeed the republican
politician scenes to be approaching
troubous times when he must eithel
offend certain of his classes or enough
of the majority to put the party out
| What do the classes themselves ad
wise? The money lender advises tina
the monetary bill be passed, but tina
antitrust laws, in so far as they bea
on manufacturers and great commercial
and transportation corporations, ais
be made and enforced; those interested
in these trusts advise that neither thin,
!, be done. And President McKinle,
seems to stand in with the manufac
turer; for an extra session was calle,
for his benefit, and none is called il
the interest of monetary reform
and antitrust Legislation. Thus, tw
J of the chief classes of the republica
mutual benefit association are at log
gerheads and thus we're we reminde
that "when thieves fall out honest me
sometimes] get their dues" Not tbs
money lenders and manufacturers ar
thieves, but that they each do so enjo
having class Legislation in their inter
est at the expense of the majority, an
that this falling out may relieve th
majority of the class legislation agains
them by ousting the party that gives il
Offending money lenders and cred
tors, or the goldbugs, would put littl
change on the fortunes of republica
leaders in 1900 if the program of th
last twenty odd years could now be ca
ried out; for that program has been I
transfer gold bug influences to the OF
posite party at the end of each az
ministration-th gold bugs not carin
for any interest but their ewn and wisl
ing to take advantage of the discontel
S of the people to keep themselves
t power continuously. But disturbir
factor has come in, the difficulty an
: uncertainty about gold standard dem
: Gratis being able to control the dem
n cratic organization in 1900, and ther
. fore Of that party nominating a go
4 standard man for president. OF cour
n it is not certain they could not do !
d when the goldbugs focus spot cash {
I I the editor and Office on the political
d but the fact that j. Sterling Morton,
IT believe it is, proposes to launch ne