Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1900-09-13
Democratic paramount, Issues.

70 every thoughtful and fair mind
ed person, who is not blinded by
partianship, it must be plain at this
stage of the campaign, that the dem
ocratic party has very poor grounds
on which to base any claim for re-
turn to power in the nation. It
comes before the voters rather with
apologies for its own blunders and
lack OF craftsmanship in the past.
To not one act Of its does it point
with pride-not even to the last dem
ocratic administration of Grover
Cleveland. On all the great ques-
tions that have pressed for solution
since the civil war, the democratic
party has continually taken the wrong
side. Not many years ago, that party
advocated free trade as the great.
paramount issue and cure for all
national ills. The country listened
to their appeal, elected democratic
president and democratic congress-
and with but partial application Of
the remedy, the industries of the ma
ton languished and there came suf-
fering and hard times in the land.
Seeing that the country would stand.
no. more of this medicine, new reme-
dy had to be brought out for the next
campaign. The free coinage of silver
at ratio Of Is to l, became the next
paramount" issue, the triumph of
which was absolutely necessary if the
country should live. Ignoring all
human experience, the teachings of
the worlds foremost political econ
omists, and the warnings of some of
the best and brainiest democrats, the
democratic party, nevertheless, listen
ed to the voice Of silver barons and
financial quacks, with the result that
the silver fallacy was espoused. The
predictions of dire disaster to the
country if Mckinley should be elect
ed and the gold standard triumph, is
still fresh in the memory of every
voter. Well, the people had been
fooled once and they did!not care to
be again, therefore they rejected the
democratic remedy, and they are glad
today that they did. Realizing that
the silver question \ would bss' ! pretty
poor subject to talk upon, "a new
paramount" issue had to be invent
ed for this campaign, invented is used
advisedly, for the cry of imperialism
and militarism are mere creations of
the imagination, imaginary evils and
not real ones. But it furnishes the
democratic speakers a subject to talk
upon while keeping the real and inn
mediate issue, the free coinage of
silver at the ratio of Is to l, in the
back ground. The democratic party
seems suddenly to have discovered
that the Republican party has COM
mitted some grievous mistake in deal
ing with the grave questions growing
out of our war with Spain, and unless
the democratic party be placed in
power and given chance to correct
these mistakes, the downfall of the
republic is inevitable. Unless the
United States forthwith hauls down
its flag in the Philippines, where it
was placed by Dewey's matchless
victory and subsequently became the
emblem of sovereignty through the
treaty of peace, which was ratified
through the influence of Mr.. Bryan
himself, now unless these islands be
abandoned to anarchy and barbarism,
or to be gobbled up by Germany or.
some other European power, then the
sun of liberty is to set in these United
States. In view Of the past mistakes
of the democratic party, the people
may we'll doubt the wisdom and cor
rectness of the democratic position.
Are not the statesmen of the Rep
sublican party fully as capable and
patriotic, and imbued with as pure
motives and high ideals, as those of
the democratic party7 Most as
suredly. And time will emonstrate
that the course Of the Republican.
party regarding the Philippines is the
only correct and honoroble one for
this country to pursue. The mission
Of the United States in the Philippines
is to elevate the people, and assist
them in rising from barbarism to a
higher plane Of civilization. When
that has been accomplished, and.
the Filipinos are fitted to take their
place among the great and free peoples
of the earth, the United States can
well afford to withdraw. but not till