Walker Lake bulletin. (Hawthorne, Nev.) 1883-1926, 1902-08-29
NOT ON THE DEFENSIVE.

IL should be definitely understood by
all that the opponents of the kepub-
lican party in this State are not on
the defensive, and will not permit
to be placed III that atti-
tnde. From Nevada point OF view
the Republican party has not polit-
ical leg to stand on. In 1880 IL was
repudiated by an overwhelming VOTE
IT came about as near being extermi-
mated as any party in any State ever
did. Fully eighty per cent oil NeSa-
da's vote was cast against the party
which, with a false promise upon Its
lips, turned its back upon its own ira
ditional monetary policy, at the SAM
time striking deadly blow at the
very foundations OF our Stakes pros
perity.
Only about nineteen hundred votes
we're cast in this State for VIM. Nc
Kinley, and of these at least eighteen
hundred professed to he opposed to
the gold standard as advocated by the
Republican party. This, in itself,
was an admission that the Silver pa
ty was right upon the great issue III
the campaign of l696-an issue which
the Nevada Republicans had them
selves in their State platforms de
clared to be the most important-be-
fore the country. 1t was deemed SO
important that one-half of the States
delegation walked out OF the National
Republican Convention in sorrow aud
disgust. Therefore, those Nevada
Republicans who supported VIM. Me
Kipley simply occupied the position
of men who were determined to stand
by their party no matter how wrong
il might be, or how injurious it's pol
icy to the best interests of their
State. These men are too few III
number to make their political course
other in 1896 or at the present time
a matter of any particular conse-
quence. They are referred to in this
connection merely to show that when
Nevada broke away from the Repub-
lican party, her people were practic-
ally a unit in sentiment upon the
great issue involved.
Such being the case, If any who
formerly opposed the Republican
party now think of supporting it, the
burden rests upon them to give good
and satisfactory reasons for so doing.
They are bound to show in what way
the Republican party is better now
and more favorable to Nevada's inter
est's than it was when they repudi
ated it with indignation and scorn.
Mere generalities about larger gold
supplies and prosperity will not meet
the requirements of the situation.
The increased gold output has affect
ed business conditions in every coun-
try where gold is used as money, and
the prosperity of recent years has
been almost world wide.
Mr.. Stewart, who is now the recog-
nized leader of the Republican party
of this State, and all who draw their
inpsiration from him, admit that the
new gold has been the cause of the
improved conditions, and that but for
this fortuitous increase Republican
policy would have ruined the coun-
try. This excludes the idea of the
credit belonging to the Republican
party. Although he seems uncon-
scious of it, Mr.. Stewards own plea
in support of his contention that the
silver issue is dead, is terrific ar
raignment of the party with which he
is now acting, and which he is lead
ing in the State of Nevada ''Repub-
lican policy would have ruined US,
but nature stepped in with new sup
plies of gold and averted the ruin;
therefore, stand by the Republican
party which tried to ruin us but fail
cd" Such is the broad, economic
and political philosophy of Nevada
Republicans. Something deeper and
sounder than that will be needed to
enable them to come within $500 or
5000 votes of carrying the State.
Republicans must show in what way
their party is better now than it was
in 1896, and what there is in its pres
emit policy which so far atones Tor the
sins of the past as to justify us in
once more giving it political control
of eur State.
AS matters stand here the Republi-
oans hold the Affirmative of the issue,
and they must either prove their case
or lose. The former they certainly
cannot do, for in every feature of its
policy the Republican party is less
deserv ng of support than it was six
years ago 1t has done literally moth
ing to redeem itself, and much that
should work its condemnation in the
hearts and minds of all right think
ing and truly patriotic men.