The Washington weekly post. (Washington, D.C.) 1878-1916, 1900-07-31
Will the Masses Enthuse7

what makes an issue paramount"
inquiries the New York World. HAVING
propounded the question. the World nro-
teelS 10 demonstrate that neither plat
forms nor campaign managers no. can
uldaies can make a political issue para
hlount-uppermOst, superior dominating q"
Our contemporary suggests, by way Of IL
iustraton, that the Democratic party IN
'Iso could not have made the currency
or anything else the paramount issus
"hen the one thing the people were
thinking about and talking about was
The extension Of slavery? And again.
IN l%i, nothing except the suc-
cessiIl prosecution of the war couI5
nave been pushed TO the front Jumpiny
three quadrennial campaigns. the WorI5
gets down 10 1876, in which it SAYS. in
elect that the Republicans could not
have made the acquisition Of Santo Do
mingo or anything else the paramount
issue when the people were demanding
ana Mr.. Tilden was representing reform
IN the administration Of the government
Then We have a leap OF twenty wears IN
The campaign Of 1876 when the World
cites the most pertinent Of ali its iIIus-
trations- II is a well-known fact that
the Mckinley Presidential boom was
based on protection: that he owed his
nomination 10 his devotion to that doc
tTine; that the managers of his prelimi
nary campaign attempted TO straddle free
coinage; that the Ohio platform was q
cowardly evasion OF that issue: that Mr.
Mckinley, in his letter Of acceptance and
IN his earlier speeches at Canton. gave
sold wide berth and talked elouuentIy
and forcibly on the tariff But circum-
stances beyond the control OF the shrewd-
est politicians made l6 10 the dominat-
Ing and almost the only issue, and the
Republican victory was won by the time
~ and needed assistance Of the inveterate
foes Of the policy for which the candi-
dates name was a synonym.
In the campaign on which We are now
entering by slow and easy stages the
Democratic platform declares that "tbe
burning issue OF imperialism, which in
wolves the very existence Of the repub-
lie, Is the paramount issue OF the cam
Iaign' The Democratic candidate an
nounces that n shall De governed by this
declaration, and that Imperialism will
be the only question dealt with at length
in my speech OF accentanee." On the
other hand. the World notes that Re
publican campaiguers who have talked
with the President come from their con-
sIltati0n saying that the dominant is
sues In the campaign viii be prosperity
and standing by the flag. or upholding
the Presidents diplomatic policy. which
they regard as the same thing. As the
result Of its survey OF the past and pres
ent, the World concludes that when the
politicians disagree. 'Jhe people" decide
And our contemporary adds:
THE campaign IS not yet fairly begun Il
IS quite "a time 10 November. Many things
may happen before the hesitating voters
decide what g. really the paramount
issue And yet in the nature Of things IS
there any question superior 10 that which
Involves the integrity Of our republican in
stljuu0us, fidelity 90 the Declaration Of
Independence and the maintenance Ia all
lf- parts Of the CONSTITUTIONS"
So then, the maintenance Of the Con-
Fltution Of the United States is TO be The
paramount issue" for all viii concede
that II that sacred instrument Is kept in
tact We need have no apprehension about
the integrity OF our republican institu-
lions" nor need we sit up very late O.
nights 10 watch the "glittering generali-
Ties" 81 the immortal declaration.
g. 10 possible TO get up excitement on
that issUe2 How large a percentage Of
the American electorate have even a su-
u'rficiai acquaintance with the Consutu-
u0n2 OF course that IS the one instrC-
mont with which all should be- familiar,
bot, as "a matter OF fact. II is the one that
- most widely neglected. Are We TO have
campaign OF education in the funda-