The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1900-07-13

injurious monopolies, and we be-
lleve that the interests of the peo-
pie on this important subject are
safe in the hands of either repub.
licans or democrats. We do be-
lleve, however, that the republican
policy is tinged with better bust
ness sense and judgment; we be-
lieve they would not be so apt to
enact radical and lily considered
legislation that would be of such
nature that it would be the duty OF
the supreme court to declare it
unconstitutional and of no effect.
we have seen many cases where
legislatures, in their anxiety to eff
feet some needed reform, have SO
tar. over PREACHED themselves that
the reform was delayed for years
and only effected by more conser-
vatlve and wiser heads. In short
we believe that both parties are
sincere IN their desire to regulate
this growing evil, but that the re-
publican party can be better re-
he'd upon to enact such legislation
as will correct the evil, without at
the same time provoking general
business disaster.
The next problem is that of the
tariff. We believe that experience
has proven conclusively that this
country prospe1s best under pro-
tectlve tariff. We believe no tariff
can be adopted which will be fair
to all interests for any period of
years. Conditions of labor and of
capital, and of the production of
raw material vary to such an ex-
tent, that in our opinion tariff
schedules must be frequently
changed in order to meet changing
CondltlonS. An assessment OF
your township may have been abb
solutely fair and just, ten years
ago, but it would be manifestly un-
fair and unjust today. That does
not prove the unwisdom of the
plan of assessment used at that
time. So with the tariff, the fact
that one particular schedule may
have become unfair and even op-
presslve, does not disprove the
general theory of protection, in
fact it would be miracle if all
tariff rates were absolutely fair
even at the time of their enact
ment.
The next great question of in
ternal government is that of cur
rency. Either Mr.. Bryan is a
rank hypocrite, and we believe
that in this regard he is not, or
else his election means that the
power of the administration will
be used in every way to promote
the free coinage of silver at the
ratio of 10 to I. All of Mr.. Bry-
ans public utterances indicate
this. The platform of democracy
states it with force and emphasis
and there is no honest construction
to be placed upon either Mr.. Bry-
an or his platform, except that it is
their earnest purpose to establish
free silver at the earlist possible
moment For our part, we be-
lieve that this would be a danger
Gus, dishonest, and almost suicid-
al course. We believe that it
would bring business disaster and
hardship to ninety nine per cent of
the American people; we believe
that if we once had free silver, our
people would quickly realize that
the paramount ISSUE would be
how to get out from under impend-
ing disaster; we believe it would
mean business stagnation, the en-
forced collection of all indebted
ness, the retirement of gold, the
impairment of credit, enforced
idleness on the part of our labor
ing men, and bankruptcy and ruin
in thousands of homes. This is
our honest and candid opinion of
what free silver would mean for
this country. And if this is true,
it follows that questions of sympa-
thy with different nations to the
extent of American control of the
Philippines, of the wisdom and
charity of our policysin Cuba and