Durango semi-weekly herald., 1901-10-28
WHY HE is A REPUBLICAN.
o My Democratic Friends;

:
years ago, tariff policy to which
believed the national Democratic
party was committed, made me "a Dem
ocrat. FOR some years after that
time that party appeared to me to
have but one issue which made 1t d
national party. Later, when the sill.
yer question was forcing itself upon
all parties for some satisfactory solu.
tion,' was led to believe that the
Democratic party would prove TO be
the best friend and supporter of the
peoples money. ! did not have to
suirer this delusion long, as when the
Democratic party met its first oppor.
tunity in half century to do some.
thing for and in behalf of the common
people and common country, Grover
cleveland, the national chief execu-
i've and the Democratic statesmen
he had gathered about him. hurried
to perfect the policy of the money
lenders by the complete demonetiza.
ton of silver. thus committing the
the party to the single standard pol.
ICY whether the single standard
Democrats will control the future or
sanization of that party will not be
material, so long as the professed
friends of silver are not in a position
to do anything for the solution of a
question which must ultimately be
settled right. The abandonment of
the tarih issue by the national Dem.
ocracy Will not need Democratic con.
lession. Democratic failure TO unite
upon any given policy for the restora-
uon of silver is not promising or en-.
couraging to the masses of the peo-
pie. TO whatever party they may be
long.
The Democratic party is today with
out an issue which may entitle it to
national distinction. unless il shall be
commitment to Gn-American senti-
ments expressed when the American
army was at the front in the Philip.
pine Islands, or a policy of opposition
to the Republican administration of
government that humanely responded
TO the appeal of the oppressed Gu
bans. fear that the political party
which can present no other issue
than one of general opposition to the
issues OF another political party. I'M
less II may agree for the sake of fus.
ion, to the ends of mere local sue
cesses, may not hope to ever he etli
caclous Tor its countrys welfare.
Since | have found the Republican
party willing and ready to meet all
emergencies in the loyal discharge of
duties suggested or imposed by senses
and best sentiments of an enlight-
ened age. never faltering for courage
or counting the cost till the end is
achieved. | am confronted with the
solemn duties of citizenship and
pause to future action with that poll
tical party which has failed for thir-
ty years to do more than oppose the
issues presented by the Republican
party. My friends, the money
changers are not all in the Repuli
can party; neither are all those who
clamor for an unjust protective tar,
iff.
The same elements of American
ism which made Amerisa nations
home has made the Republican party
a nations flag bearer and | have no
fear or doubt that the loyalty of
these elements can be depended upon
in future for the wiset and safest
polices for the perpetuity of an
American government.
The Buffalo speech of the lament
ed Mckinley promised more for a
new era of desired conditions in
America than the utterance of any
other public man for half century
and the policy of Theodore Roosevelt
as briefly outlined in the dispatches
when he had taken the oath of office
as the nations chief executive, in
vites the cooperation of every true
American. Mr.. Roosevelt's policy is
positive in character and specific in
detail, asserting Americas trade in
terests and favoring reciprocal rela-
tions which will remove tariff abuses
that have unjustly burdened the con
suming or toiling and producing
classes.
In the pursuance of his announced
policy President Roosevelt Is max
ing this time opportune for the guild
ance of those young men who VIII
sooner or later be compelled by the
simple duties of citizenship, to take
hold where others have failed or
passed from the field of action III a
country's common effort to steer the
ship of state from rocks to which 1t
has been too dangerously near III
the conflicts of great political par
ties. | think the new republican
party will have d new tarir policy,
and with this all that is old OF the
party will be good and safe enough
for any Democrat who will seek ifs'
his country's best welfare. The
young man of to-day should think
earnestly and well before he forms
convictions which will identity MIN
with u political party that has retro
graded on all lines rather than al
vanclng ON one for more than
quarter of a century.
| am carrying into the Republican
party the tariff convictions which
made me a Democrat. The Democ
racy has abandoned them, and the
Republican party will have to remedy
tha ayiI. II silver is ever restored