Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1901-10-03
THE ISSUES OF 1904.

III hIlSAtI w IL lCttCi VI f'NlNs
from The Travelling Mems Club, OF
St. Louis, as to the issues OF 1904,
w. J. Bryan writes as follows:
Replying to your inquiry, !
would say that it is too early toI
outline a platform for the next
campaign. Conditions make is-
sues; parties must meet issues as
they arise The tariff question oc-
cupied the largest share OF public
attention in 1S92-the Mckinley
law being the irrigating cause.
Before 1896 rolled around, how
ever, Mr.. Cleveland and his, re-
publican and gold-democratic as
sociates had forced the tariff ques-
ton into the background and
created conditions which made the
money question paramount. The
democratic party was compelled
to meet that issue and it met it
fairly and honestly.
Between 1896 and 1900, the re-
publican party by it's inaction on
the trust question and by it's un-
American action on the Philippine
question compelled consideration
of individualism, which was at
tackled by private monopoly, and OF
fundamental principles of govern
ment, which were attacked by i'm
perialism. The tariff question was
not settled in 1896 when it gave
way 10 the money question; neither
was the money question settled IN
1900. when imperialism and mo-
nopoly took precedence over it.
The position taken by the demo
cratic party on the money question
is as sound as its position on thu
tariff question, but circumstances
must, in the future as in the past
determine the relative importance
of issues.
No one is able to say what new
issues may arise between now ant
1901; neither can any one sa.
what relations Ahe various issue
may bear to each other. 1t seem
probable that Imperialism will
again be prominent, and probabl.
paramount, for the republican part.
Shows no disposition to abandon
it's colonial policy, and we canno
accept colonialism without repudi
ating all that we have been tangh
to regard as democratic govern
ment.
The trusts are increasing ii
number and magnitude, and "
must resolutely oppose them o
forfeit the confidence of the com
mon people.
The republican party is deter
mined to retire greenbacks an
substitute bank notes, to be issue
bp the banks for their own prof
and controlled by them for thei
own advantage. We must resis
this effort or place the democrati
party in a position entirely antag
onistic to the position of Jefferson
Jackson and all the democrati
leaders down to the time whe
Cleveland betrayed the party int
the hand of the Philistine c
finance. The paper money issue
entirely separate and distinct fror
the silver question, and yet it
a significant fact that those VIII
delare the silver question dea
have nothing to say about the IRE
concilable conflict between govern
inent paper money and nation,
bank notes. The increased suppl
Of gold does not affect, one way {
the other, the question of papt
money, but the influence of tt
money power is such that whel
ever it can bride or terrify ma
into the support of the gold stan'
ard it can silence his opposition
banks Of issue.
Whether the silver question wi
play an important part in the ne.
campaign is a question which cal
not now be determined. I'll
thing to be desired is stable do
lar, and that can only be secure
by legislation which will furnish
volume of standard money suf
cient to keep pace with the demar
for money. We have no assn
ance that gold alone will do thi
and certainly the interests of Il
people ought not to be entrust'