The Irish standard., 1899-08-12
THE ISSUES OF THE CAMPAIGN.

THE ISSUES OF THE CAMPAIGN.
The leading democrats OF the coun-
try entertain diverse views regarding
the paramount issue in the next presi-
dental campaign. In its platform OF
1896 the democratic party declared that
the money question was paramount to
all others at that time, and William J.
Bryan and his supporters made bimetal-
lism at the legal ratio of IS to I the
all-absorbing issue of the campaign.
Within the past year and a half other
issues OF momentous import have
sprung up, and many silver democrats
are of the opinion that the money ques-
ton should be subordinated to them in
the national contest of next year. Mayor
David S. Rose, of Milwaukee, is one
Of the prominent men of the party who
believes it would be expedient that sill
yer should not be the foremost issue in
the platform Of 1900, for the reason that
the country is fairly prosperous as COM
pared with the hard times prevailing in
1896. Other democrats of equal proni-
nence in different parts of the country
hold the same opinion.
The latest democratic politician OF
note who has given his views on this
subject is ex-Gov. Altgeld, of Illinois.
In recent interview, when asked if free
silver coinage should be the paramount
issue with the democracy next year he
is reported to have said:
"No. Not any more than any other
one of several issues 1t is all non
sense to suppose that a convention can
by resolution make any one thing the
paramount issue everywhere.
There are those with whom 16 to 1
will be the paramount issue, but that
will not make it so with, for example,
commercial men. They naturally regard
the tariff and freedom from trust domi-
nation as the most important issue.
Out in the great labor districts gov
eminent by injunction forces aside all
other issues. With other people other
matters are paramount; as, for example,
imperialism, the Anglo-Amercan ALI
ance and SO forth.
AT many points the shoe of the re-
publican Mark Hanna-ridden admins
tration pinches the people, and each man
that is pinched feels that his particular
wrong is the greatest and should have
the promptest attention"
The reporter who interviewed Mr..
Altgeld made him say that he would not
in any way attempt to make the plat
form top heavy with a 10 to declara-
ton; that he would mention no ratio at
all, but simply reaffirm the monetary
policy heretofore advocated by the DEM
mocratic party. This, however, he de-
mics very emphatically in letter to the
Chicago Times-Herald, in which he says
that it is San internal lie" to attribute
such statement to him. If Mr.. Alt
geld has not said it, there are many
democrats who think it would be the
best policy to mention no ratio even if
bimetallism were made one of the prir-
cipal planks. If the democrats are wise
in their deliberations at the next ma
tional convention they will make it as
easy as possible for erring democrats to
return to the fold. The gold democrats
are just as much opposed to the princi-
Piles OF the republican party as are the
silver democrats, except on the financial
question, and they could be depended on
to vote against imperialism, militarism,
tariff and trusts, if they become the chief
issues OF the campaign. The German
republicans also can be counted on if
silver is not made the paramount issue
as in 1896 The German-Americans to a
man are opposed to Mckinley because
of his imperial policy and the Anglo
American alliance that accompanies it.
The Irish republicans are opposed to
him for the same reason. As McKin-
ley will undoubtedly be the next can
didate of the plutocracy, the democrats
should strengthen their forces from all
dissatisfied elements OF the voting pop
ulation and bury him so deep that he
and Mark Hanna will never bob up
again for their suffrages.
The Irish Standard has not changed
its principles one iota since the last COM
paign. 1t is still firm believer in the
free and unlimited coinage OF gold and
silver at the legal ratio OF 16 to with
out the aid or consent OF any other ma
ton. But it is doubtful if the majority
OF the voters prefer bimetallism to gold
monometallism at the present time. In
our humble opinion the overwhelming
majority OF the voters will not endorse
the foreign policy of the administration
and therefore it is that in the coming
campaign we believe it advisable for the
democracy to make the fight against
imperialism and entangling alliances and
preserve the republic from the control
OF an oligarchy which is threatening its
very existence. The most important
matter for the American people to de-