The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-05-07
TT DOTH NOT YET APPEAR.

tariff Will be the paramount issue III
1904. Hon Henry Watterson, editor OF
the Louisville Courier-Journal, does
not think the tariff will loom up as
the chief issue for years to come.
Here we have the opinion of two rep
resentatiNe editors both Democrats and
both Democratic leaders. Mr.. Waiter
son did not support Mr.. Bryan in 1896
because he did not believe in silver,
but did support him in 1900. Mr.
Howell was a leader in the silver fight
and. a supporter of every Democrat
who has been his partys nominee
When such men differ, who, can, three
years in advance, venture to predict
the leading issue in the campaign OF
1904?
The people make the issues, and political
parties have to meet conditions. Up
to 1896 Mr.. Mckinley had been pro-
nounced silver man, and had been con-
spicuous as such in denounclng Mr.
Cleveland's advocacy of the gold stand
ard and accused him of wishing to make
money dear and all things else cheap
Both Hanna and Mckinley, assisted by
John Sherman, did everything in their
mower to prevent money being the is
size in 1896. Many Democrats, includ-
ing Cleveland and HILL who had up t0
that time been on opposite sides, sougnt
to keep it in the background. 1t was
made the oyershadowing issue OF Doth
parties in spite of the most strenuous
efforts of the leaders of both parties.
No power Of convention or party leader
ship could make it take a secondary
place. j sza.af
In 1909, in spite Of the attempts OF
party leaders, the question OF Imperial
ism. was the leading issue. Both sides
were afraid to make it the issue. MT
Bryan contended for and secured the
specific demand for free silver IN the
platform. but the people were think
ing mainly about imperialism and the
convention was forced to declare 1t tht
foremost issue The Republicans at
Philadelphia sought to set the cam
naion mon the increased business anu
get credit for the better conditions IN
trade. and their platform was mis-
cradle make shift''-so admitted by the
leader Of that party.
What will be. the chief issue in 1907?
It win be what the people are think
ino, most about then, and nobody can
make an issue-not even the Presl-
Dental candidates. Three years is as
LONG q time as. twenty-five years
century ago. Events change rapidly
and in 1904 there may be an issue thaS
as vet nobody has for a moment
thought anything about. 1t will be
wise TO wait till 1904 before talking
of the issues
The Democrats will welcome the
tariff issue, and the probabilities are
that the Congressional election VIII
+urn on that issue The Republicans
see that the necessity for receiving
larger markets. for the products OF the
mills and factories of America mean
that the home market idea is
destined to become as obsolete as
the right of a State to secede, and they
hope by patch work to keep in pow r
nv undoing some of their tariff law.
Nh. Rabcock. chairman of the Repub~
lican Congressional Committee, pur-
poses to remove the tariff from all
articles controlled by a trust. That is
the Democratic platform word for word.
If Mr. Babcock can get his party TO
do anything so wise, the tariff tight
might be postponed. but it must comt
sooner or later, for the farmer and
manufacturer alike feel the need for
the markets of the world, and they
know that to secure these markets, the
tariff walls mus, be taken down. But
if tbe next Congress should remove
all duties on articles controlled by
trusts II would strengthen the Repub-
lican party among the great body OF
the voters and ,1ose its biggest cam
paign contributors. Some Republican
papers, notably the Hartford Courant
(senator Hawley's paper, voices the de-
mand of the New England manufac-
turers for larger markets, and says;
Senator Hanna is quoted-whether
correctly or incorrectly we don't know -
as proclaiming the Dingley tariff a
most perfect work of human ingenuity
and declaring that it must not be dis
turbed This seems rather imperious-
rather Previous. too. We are not
: aware that any Republican is propos-
ing TO 'distlrb the tariff needlessly or
capriciously Hon. Marcus A. Hanna
is one member very distinguished
member, it is true-of party that in"