Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1900-02-22

/ Si>t III N'lt 'il tltllcl VI llltSt ptt;t-
sions. However it may be with
others, | value my independence of
party above all else in politics. am
almost ready to say that | would
rather be independent than to be
right, and in some senses do not
shrink from that sentiment, SO foul
and degrading seems to me the cur
rent and growing Difference to party
rule and party influence. And this
say after twenty years of previous
adherence to the Republican party.
The critical issue OF 1896 is no Ion
ger before us. 1t is settled and past
Not only can it not be rcopcndcd or
rcvlvltcd as Il matter of general pub
lie Judgment, but it is impossible to
disturb the gold standard at least for
four years. Free coinage of silver
at lG to is dead; dead for the pres
cnt, dcadcr still for the future.
The real live issues, so far as can
now be seen, are imperialism and
trusts. On both these issues the
Republican party is hopeleSSly wrong.
| nder Mckinlcy's lead we see our
Government embarked on a current
which Is carrying us steadily away
from all our characteristic, historical
and traditional mooringS. Expansion
is one thing; Imperialism is another.
All onr growth till we tonh Hawaii,
and perhaps even that, has been natu-
raj growth or expansion, growth ac-
cording to our nature rs Il Govern
mcnt, our physical situations as Il
nation and our natural spirit Of pro-
grcss and enterprise. Imperialism
moves on new lines, is inspired by
foreign ideals, wrcnches us from our
past, plungrs us into cntanglcmcnts,
and commits us to enterprises which
it has been our highest wisdom as
well as our constant aim hitherto to
avoid. In no possible view OF it
does Imperialism seem to me tolcra-
blc or less than 4 monstrouS aros-
tasy.
Trusts are surely great issue. II,
on one side, they are an inevitable
economic development, on another
side they bring the gravrSt Dangers
| question whether they are nor
NAL economic result Their foster
mother is the tariff. But for the
tariff it seems to me doubtful if
trusts would eyer have come into
wide vogue. The pccuniary advant,
age to individuals Of controlling or
'corncring" commodities, or produc-
tionS, or facilities needed by the
whole people, was rs obvious 80, or
100, or 900 years ago as it is now.
Such combination as we now call
! trust is no new idea but our arti-
fical restraints Of trade our Chinese
walls Of protection, have furnished
the opportunities, opened wide the
doors, and set out the temptations
to all our foremost trusts, and the
example has been contagious. Re-
move these artificial dcicnscs and
support Of trusts, and doubt much
If thr greater part OF the evil will
not be removed.
But in any case, whether trusts
are or are not Il mere economic
growth, the evils and dangers that
come with them are obvious. IN
either case and under either view
the ltrpublican party is their natural
and actual ally. It's s0rdid spirit, it's
sordid leadership, it's sordid methods,
all that that gives it present power
and vitality, make it the party Of
trusts. not one ray Of hope, only
the thick darkness Of despair, lies in
that direction.
On the other hand, the Democratic
party has long "iatiGucd the indigna-
ton" by its Stuprndous iolIics and
its chronic incapacity. l;ut now, as
always, the independents question
is, which OF these two is least dam