The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-09-26
MCKINLEYISM AND THE SOUTH.
Reasons Why Southern Democrats
Should Vote For Bryan.
Baltimore SUM-

baltimore Sum-
Much more than the election of William
Mckinley or William j. Bryan to the
| Presidency for four years depends on the
| national contest now in progress. Demo-
Gratis who are hesitating as to their duty
because it may be of their belief that the
currency issue of 1896 should have been
abandoned in name as it has been in
fact, or because they are not in full agree
ment with Mr.. Bryans views on some 9TH
er question that is neither of immediate
nor vital Importance, should seriously
consider the other and far more imminent
evils that threaten the country if the Nc
klnley program is to be a continuous per-
formance" Democratic principles are
worth fighting for, and Democratic poll
cies are worth restoring No earnest, con-
scientiouS Democrat can afford to assist
even by his Indifference, in re-electing
Mr.. Mckinley. This is not a year, like
1896, of a single issue. All the primary
and fundamental principles of Democra-
cy, as Jefferson and Jackson taught them,
and as long line of Democratic admins
trations practiced them, are denied by the
McKinleyized party of Lincoln and Sum-
ner. The Democrat who voted against
William j. BRYAN in 1896 could and did
say that he stood for old fashioned De-
mocracy against a candidate who in that
campaign, represented chiefly if not solely
one single aim and purpose, and that one
not in accordance with the historic mon
etary doctrine of his party. The Demo-
crat who votes against Mr.. Bryan this
year cannot say that.
The situation of 1900 is wholly different
The single issue of 1896 has disappeared
entirely, except as Republican pretense.
The Gold Democrat and the Silver Demo-
crat of four years ago had a clear right
to part company at the polls, as thousands
of them did, because it was then the i'm
mediate political question to be decided,
and there was no other in sight of equal
or nearly equal Importance. But that
condition has completely passed away.
The course of events has eliminated that
issue, and substituted for it issues that
are as broad as the Constitution. and go
down to the very roots of free govern
ment N this country.
If, indeed this were not so. and there
was any truth in the hysterical and hum
bugging cry of danger to the gold stand
ard which the Mckinley partisans are
trying to raise. this would be a reason
in itself for refusing to re-elect Mr..
Mckinley. AS Mr.. Schurz has pointed
out, the gold basis cannot be in any real
danger unless Mr.. Mckinley and his party
have deceived and betrayed the people.
They were given the Presidency in 1896
and the control of Congress for four
years on their express promise to revise
the currency laws so as to securely es-
tablish the gold standard If they are
now telling the truth when they say that
the currency laws have not been thus re-
vised, and that the mere election of Mr..
Bryan, even though the Senate has safe
majority for sound money for the whole of
the next Presidential term, might bring
us to a silver basis, it is clear that their
pledges of 1895 have been shamefully bro
ken. If that is so, then they have tricked
the American people and cheated them
with delusive show of sound money leg
islation which IS OF no real efficacy or
value unless they are kept in power to
maintain it by special administrative in
depreciation.
No fraud more basely dishonest could
possibly be practiced upon the nation
than that which the Republican leaders
have practiced if their confession of the
inadequacy and insecurity of their gold
standard legislation is anything more
than a campaign expedient. But every
intelligent man knows that it is a con-
fession for campaign purposes only. The
moment any Democrat is asked to accept
it seriously he should treat it as an addl- |
tional and very solid reason for voting |
against Mr.. Mckinley. If they have play |
ed the people false and broken their sound |
money pledges of 1896 what confidence |
can be placed in any new pledges which |
they may offer in 1900? 1t is clearly |
case where the old maxim applies with |
great force: "If a man cheat me once |
shame on him. but of he cheat me twice |
shame on me-" If the Republican party, |
aided and sustained by million Demo- |
cratic voters. has deliberately kept the |
of the country on an insecure and |
easily shaken gold basis for four years
with all the power in its hands to make |
it impregnable to assault-or, at least |
able to withstand the shock of the cleo
ton of a President with his hands tightly |
tied by hostile Senate-then it is plain |
that the Republican party is itself not to
be trusted on this or any other issue.
The main fact for Democrats to keep
in view is that neither Mr.. Bryan nor Mr..
Mckinley any longer represents, as in
1896, the single issue of money and it's
coinage. Whether they are pleased to
have it so or not. that issue has been
closed for the time being, if not for good
and all. other issues have been develop
ed. and they are of much vaster concern
to every voter who places the preserya-
tion of popular government on the prin-
ciples of equal rights and burdens for all
and privileges for none above all such
questions as coinage and ratios, which,
at most affect only the conduct of trade
and commerce. and in no way touch the
essentials of our American liberty.
McKinleyism triumphant in November