Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1900-07-27
Zeal Without Reason.


Anti-Imperialists of all parties late
ly held meeting in New York city.
1t was not a large gathering, but COM
posed of men of sufficient prominence
to give the movement passing atten-
ton. They were confined, however, to
the Empire and adjacant States. Their
only avowed object was to determine
! their course for checking the rapid
tendency towards imperialism in the
management OF public affairs. They
! cannot support Mckinley, for he is
the cat's-paw OF Hanna, who after a
visit to England declares monar-
chy to be "good enough" for him.
They say they Cannot support Bryan
for his candid position on the ratio of
gold and silver. After a prolonged
discussion, it was resolved to await the
action of the goldbug Democratic"
convention which was to have con-
vened in indianapolis, Wednesday, and
if that did not afford some plan for re.
lief, to base their hopes upon the action
of the Liberty Congress of tho Anti
Imperialist League, which is to meet
in the middle OF August.
Does it not seem little strange so
much stress is placed upon the silver
plank in the Democratic platform
while the welkin fairly rings with the
confident assertions of the goldbug
leaders that the gold bill which be.
came law during the last Congress
has entirely eliminated the currency
question from party politics? Either
this is true, or it is not true. If it be
true, who should care what may be
Mr.. Bryan's opinion on the gold and sill
yer ratio? If it be true, why should
these indictments take it so much to
heart that the Convention should SUBJ
ordinate its opinion and preference in
the matter to Mr.. Bryan's will? If it
be true, the currency plank is just so
much dead weight, so far as its utility
in shaping governmental history is
concerned, and it would be good pol.
itics" for those who are so radical in
their fight against imperialism to well
come it as possible factor OF strength
for their cherished cause from the silly
silverites who are thus only wasting
their energies in hopeless endeavors
If it is not true, why can't the gold
bugs be honest enough to admit the
fact, and cease to delude the public
with false pretenses? If it is not true,
why not meet the issue squarely, and
compare its importance with other
questions?
1t seems to us that the currency
question belongs to the poor mans
party just as much as the question Of
free government does. He very ma
turally feels that the laborer should be
allowed to carry in his pocket genuine
redemption money, to keep it from
being cornered" by his aristocratic,
wealthy neighbor. and to enable him
TO pay the mortgage which gold holds
upon his body and soul. His pluto
cratic neighbor may have no use for
the white metal, for with it as redemp.
ton money he would find it more diff
hcult to exploit as king of finance.
The issue of imperialism is just as
squarely cut. The man OF wealth is
waiting for conditions to change so as
to admit him to rank OF titled no.
bility, which the accumulation of
wealth has made him think very de-
sirable transition, while the laboring
man realizes that the establishment OF
caste and the entrencbment OF capital
behind the ramparts of despotic
government will widen the chasm OF
social distinction, and render still
more difficult of achievement the des-
perate struggle for subsistence for him.
self and family.
The trend of the currency policy
and OF imperialism being the same. to
confer extraordinary distinction upon
wealth and to correspondingly prosti,
tute labor, it is difficult to discover
the motive OF those self.righteous gen.
tlemen who talk of = third ticket
when its inevitable result will be to
paralyze all effort for return to the
fundamental principles of free govern.
ment. If they are honest or sincere
in their professions, why not join with
q party which has that, as we'll as
many other safeguards for our govern.
ment, inscribed upon its banner, and
is only waiting for a union of oil re.
form forces to make possible sweep
Jog victory?
Is it not childish to allow minor
matters of policy to distract those who
think alike on greater principles
from union of forces, at o time
when, with it. success is certainY
A REPUBLICAN newspaper which
| lately preeented n hill for COZ for nph.