Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1899-07-25
WHAT IS A PARAMOUNT ESSUEs

Members of what is technically known
as the silver wing of the national democ-
racy pretend to attach little significance
to the proposition to make some question
other than free coinage the paramount
issue of the campaign of 1900. They COM
fort themselves with the reflection that
if the platform of 1896 is reaff1rmed in it's
entirety all the demands of silver are
met, even if the presidential contest is
made to turn upon some other question.
No man will permit himself to be hon
estly led astray on such a proposition,
unless he b. a political tenderfoot.
The distinction between the paramount
issue of a campaign-the issue which de-
and the defeat of the other-and ques-
tions of subordinate or local significance
must never be lost sight of. The greater
part Of a national platform is made up
of minor issues, which have to do with
the local interests of various states. or
with certain classes Of people, rather
than with the nation as a whole. Success
at the polls does not imply the carrying
out of these minor pledges until the
paramount issue of the campaign shall
have been crystallized into law.
Thus, when the tariff question was the
paramount issue, the election of a re-
publican congress meant that the first
duty of that party was to correct the
evils of free trade and enact legislation
that would give to our industrial life the
benefit of wholesome protective tariff
laws. The election of a democratic con-
gress, on the contrary, meant the repeal
Of such laws and an approach to free
trade principles as closely as he ndus-
trial system of this country would admit.
Minor propositions had to make way for
the consideration of the chief issue of the
campaign, and if it became necessary to
sacrifice the subordinate pledges to
strengthen the paramount or leading one,
it was accordingly done.
-
Had the democracy won in 1896 it would
have been it's duty to take up the fight at
once in behalf-not Of the half dozen
side issues placed in it's platform to
strengthen it before the people of various
localities-but in behalf of free coinage.
Should the democracy win in 1900, with
anti-expansion as the dominant issue of
the campaign, and with silver a subor-
dinate question, it would mean that the
whole energy of the party would be dedi-
Gated to the work of letting go the Phil
premacy upon the high seas. If neces-
sary to carry out it's plans and purposes
against the policy of expansion it would
sacrifice the minor questions covered by
its national platform, silver among the
rest. If matters so shaped themselves
that either an~ti-expansion or free COIN
age might be brought about, the first
duty Of the party would be to work for
a~nti-expansion. that being the paramount
issue Of the campaign and the question
upon which it's candidate rode to VIC
80 ~ - SoS W 0iOp Ga
effort in behalf of silver, in order to
win out on it's anti-eNpansion theories
in congress the democracy would lose nc
time forgetting that it ever had a loyal
impulse for the white metal.
In the American system of politics mat
ters run in this way, and the political
party that ignored the Issue
that brought it victory, in order to push
some subordinate question to the front,
would forfeit it's following and go down
to everlasting defeat thereafter. 1t is
therefore of supreme Importance to silver
men to see to it that a definite and clear
declaration in favor of the free and I'M
limited coinage Of silver and gold, at a
ration of 16 to !, by the independent &C.
ton OF this country, be made the para.
mount issue of the democratic cam
paign. No bogus endorsement will pass
muster among intelligent men, To hold
its following the democracy should sub.
ordinate all other questions to the one
supreme issue of free coinage. just as i,
did in 1896. otherwise, it places the silver
question on a level with other mino
issues and destroys it's force and effect.
-
If the right of way Is accorded some
other question-if the paramount issue
In 1900 is to be whatever question is