The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1900-07-27
REASONS FOR CHANGE OF FAITH.
Says the Silver Issue Is Only q
Republican ScarecrOw-Attitude
Brightcns Democracy's Pros
poets in Indiana.
REPTBLIC SPECIAL.


lean ticket ana platform. MIR. Johnson is in
| Indiana Durlug his residence in st. Louis
n attracted favorable notice as a lawyer
| and was very successful. but for purely per-
suNal reasons he has decided TO return to his
| Oh home.
In the House Mr.. Johnson was rated as
! one Of the most elsqUent and vigorous
| members on tho Republican side.
Both parties in Indiana are keen as 10 the
/ effect that AIr Johnscn's attitude will have
/ with voters. This question is all the more
/ pertinent because OF the strong campaign the
/ Indiana Democrats are now waging, with
/ good prospects II - generally conceded, OF
! giving tile Republicans a dangerously close
/ fight There IS no question Of Mr. Johnson
! Influence IN the State. Four years ago he
3 Was vigorous advocate Of the election of
. Mr. Mckinley, anc his record heretofore has
I been strongly In favor OF Republican poll
l Giles. He has always been conservative and
/ fair In his public career. He was regarded
( in most quarters as the ab!est member OF
the Banking and Currency Committee IN
the F'fty-df,h Congress and his discussion
q. legislative topics before the House com
mandei Wide attention over the country
Air. johnson was locked upon as one Of the
abicst debaters in that body an accom-
Iiisnment which his political opponents In
Indiana have often realized.
The Republicans admit that Johnsou's op-
position VII! hu:t them seriously in Indiana.
Imperiaii>m Paramount.
To-day Mr. johnson outlined his views OF
! the presidential contest:
imperialism" said he, ia the oyershad
owing i>>u" Of the campaign. Compared
with il ever" other question sinks into in
Significance. Il IS not the declaration % the
Kansas city convention declaring II to he
E which me- THIS Il.
lion simply records Il seif-gvltcnt ftct. IL
would b. strange. indeed. l. the issue which
Involves the very system Of government and
! which Is pregnant with evil and far-reach-
Ing consequences. both to themselves and 10
/ alien races. did not occupy the first place in
The mines Of the American people.
Those who support the wretched foreign
Ieiicy Of tho administration Will, of course.
ciileavor u dwarf this question during the
canvass ard 10 crowd matters Of minor i'm
roriance 20 the front. for they fully realize
that II Is the most vulnerable point In their
. armor- The Philadelphia platform has al
reaay oct the pace In this respect. 1t sets
forth other Republican achievements I'm
hypcrhOie. and speaks upon other topics with
gross cXaEgeraJion, but the burning Issue
" the hour IS treated quite spariRgly
Partisan sp.ilrin3erS and the partisan
press Will have much to say this year about
what they axe pleased 10 term Democratic
in'apdCity for governmental affairs such
Prosperity as the country enjoys Will be at
tributol wholly 10 the party in power Prov
idence VIII be robbed Of It's DUES in this mat
ter, and at the sIme time be loaded down
with responsibility for the syndicate war
OF greed In the Philippines.
we viii 5a told that the protective tariff
system IS still essential to the public well
fare, ami that il - in danger OF complete
destruction, Notwithstanding the fact that
the present Postmaster General recently de-
cIar,d that protection had ceased to be
necessary. ana although Mckinley p:actI-
cAlly ;mpeaGhci its principles when he con-
coded the open door in the Philippines and
commended free trade with Porto RICO as
a plain duty.
But the people viii not be deceived. They
know very Well that The favored few who
are the Seuefcarias Of The tariff have en-
ployea IL as a potent fsctc- in the creation
of trusts. and that they are now loudest ia
tao clamor for foreign conquest because
they desire TO still further increase their
fortunes at Che expense Of the many"
Republican scarecrOw.
what az the free SILVER issue?" Mr. |
Johnson was asked.
There is the bugtear OF free silver coin .
age. and the closely related bogie man OF |
absolute ruin Ia all business Interests in !
the event of Democratic asccndency." re- |
Piled Mr.. Johnson with characteristic ear
ncstness. These scarecrOws viii be e;e- |
waited upon the highest poles attaiEah;e. Of |
course. Republicans have been loudly boast |
ing that even II they lost the presidency |
and House Of Representatives. next NOyem- |
Der. they would nevertheless b. sure to hold |
thc Senate. and, therefore. there could be no |
serious change effected in the monetary |
system for she next four year.. But this |
tune Will now be changed q suit the ex-
igencies of the situation.
The American people. however. ara am |
PLY able TO determine the relative impor- !
lance of the money question. as compared |
with the proposition to abandon cherished |
traditions, force dominion upon alien races |
ty the sword and establish colonial sys- /
ten 10 be maintained by great navies and |
enormous standing armies. They have sense /
enough To know that an economic error.
while Il may work damage. can be correct |
el;. but that decadence in the moral char |
cCtcr Of a nation Is iTremediable. They will 1
prefer 10 first save the Republic, knowing /
that there VII; be ample time ana uppor- |
t. settle their differences Of opinion upon
mere questions of finance and the other
questions Of less Importance.
In short. the advocates OF Government |
by force will have 10 meet the real issue |
of the campaign s.Uarcly They will not /
be permitted to eVade II. The searCbiight
OF truth will BE- turned upon their motives
and conduct. They must defend the charge
that il was not providence. but they. them /
selves, who paid s2J.U@rP TO Cypress In the |
orient. ana that they are now waginy there
a war of commercial ayarice, and not a war
for Christianity and civilization.
They are charged with f9lsehood Ia as
sorting that the Fiipinos are incapable Of
seIf-govcrnment. They must answer 10 this
and explain how. even II their assertion is
true, We, free people. acquire the right
to interfere by violence in the affairs of |
these aliens. and, is0. how they could pos
sibiy have inflicted more INJURY upon them
selves through anarchy than has already
been inflicted upon them by us. They must
be able 40 give TO the country a higher !
justification for Tobbing a defcnse.ess pea- !
pie Of their liberty than the wretcied plea |
that if we do not perpetrate this great
wrong upon them some other nation will
commit IL.
"As far-seeing men several years ago pre-
dicted would be the case. powerful fac
ton i'll our country Is now endeavoring to |
commit the Republic to the colonial system |
Of an Empire. our sacred pledge to the
world concerning Cuba has far been dis
she has been wronged ana plum
dereG. The cOyrtOUs eyes Of the syndicate
are fastened upon her. Taxation without
has been imposed upon Por-
20 hicO. over these subjects. and not over
the tariff and finance, must the great politi-
cal conflict Of 800 be waged.'
Veteran of Two wars.