Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1900-08-14
SILVER THE REAL ISSUE.

Some good things were said
by Governor Geer in a recent ar
ticle which appeared in the Port
land Telegram. We regret that
lack of space prevents our pub
fishing the entire article, but the
following extracts will give an
idea of its value:
The effort of the democratic
party to make the question of
''imperialism" the paramount
issue" in the pending campaign
will prove a disastrous failure
indeed, has already SO proven.
1t takes two parties to make an
tissue" and they must differ on
some propositions. Then there
can be an issue. When the
democratic party says it is in
favor by revelation, through the
agency of Mr.. Bryan, of revising
the first verse of Genesis to read,
''In the beginning God created
the heavens, the ratio of I6 to I,
and then the earth," the republi-
cans can very promptly deny the
inspiration, and an tissue" is
made at once. But when a
party, in order to direct public
attention from the real question,
erects a fimsy specter of anti
quated straw, seriously attacks
it and calls it the paramount
ISSUE" the discerning public
will begin to look about to see
what actual question is about to
be hidden from view. The false
cry of "imperialism" only serves
to bring into greater prominence
the free coinage of silver. No
body believes in imperialism"
in this country, and nobody is
afraid of it. There is not a dem
ocrat who believes there is any
danger of imperialism, nor one
who thinks he believes there is.
1t is freely and gladly admit
ted that the democratic party is
composed of good citizens who
love their country, but they must
not seriously hope to "fool the
people" by this latest declara-
tion of their "alar1n. This is
not the first time that party
has felt that the preservation
of our liberties" rested on
its shoulders. This alarm is
hereditary. 1t began more than
100 years ago, when Jefferson
wrote to friend in France (P.
Mazzei), in April, 1896:
"My Dear Friend: The as
pect of our politics has wonder
fully changed since you left us.
Instead of a noble love of liberty
and republican government
which carried us triumphantly
through the war, an Anglican
monarchical and aristocratic par
ty has sprung up, whose avowed
object is to draw over us the sub
stance, as they ha We already done
The forms of a British govern
!
This was one of the many
thrusts which Jefferson gaveI
Washington during his admins
tration, and it serves to show
that more than a century agot
the founder of the democratic
party "viewed with alarm" the
fact that the ''Father of his
Country" had already drawn the
'orms of the British government
20 this country and was trying
@ dominate it with the substance.
This is why it is proper to re-
mark that this quadrennial spec
:er is hereditary and its stated
is as much to be ex-
oected as the exercise of any
'ther vested right. l.
This is a great country, and
very man has his freedom and
lights guaranteed and unfettered.
Great possibilities are open to
very individual. 1t is not like
y that the history of the world
furnishes an example of a man ,
large fortune on the
Investment of SO small capital
S is shown in the case of the s
'resent democratic candidate for
he presidency. There is no
anger of imperialism, and Mr..
Bryan is no more alarmed in
hat direction than Mr.. Jefferson '
vas a century ago when he said
hat Washington was the head of
party "whose avowed object
7as to draw over us the sub e
lance, as they have already done a
ne forms, of the British govern (
lent"
Eyrer.f VNi1Sof1,S De1or.f