Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1902-08-07

for the promise Of favoritisrn, and our
people are not in a position to coerce.
Our party rust have principles and pro-
claim them it must stand by them and
defend then, relying upon its faith in
the righteousness and patriotism Of the
people.
I'VE cannot tell what issues we may
have to meet we can only determine to
meet them in democratic spirit. 10 APP
ply 10 them democratic principles and TO
take the peoples side always. In 1892
the paramount issue was tariff reform,
and the de-ocratic party Loldly asserted
its demand tor tariff fer revenue only
II fought the campaign and il Won, but
its majority wac SO narrow that a few
senators, G-sloyal TO the party on this
su Lject, cs.sz ted the verdict Of the people
rendered ii lie polls. But the failure Of
the party 10 do all that il promised
would not have been so disastrous but
for the fact that the Wilson bill, unsatis-
factory as !: was TO tariff reformers, had
TO bear the sins OF republican financial
system, which was supported by our ad
ministration against the protest OF al
overw eel-cicg majority Of the voters Of
the party. The defeat Of 1894 was more
disastrous than any that the party has
experienced since, and il was due to the
faci tnat the administration deserted the
people on TIE money question IN 1895
the money question had forged to the
front, made paramount not by the action
OF the majority Of the democratic party,
but by tie s.te3pt of minority OF the
party TO sid the republican party to
chain TIE country 20 an approaching
dollxI. without abandoning its position
on the tariff question, the party met this
issue and took the side Of the people. In
spite Of the desertion OF many formerly
conspicuous in its councils, the demo-
cratic party polled million more votes
than it had ever polled before, and would
have won but for the indefensible meth
DDS Of the republican party, whose lead
ers held all the protectionist republicans
by declaring the tariff issue TO be para
mount, Modified the wrath OF the free
silver republicans by promising interna
tional bimetallism and won all the advo-
Gates of the gold standard by revealing
to them the secret purpose OF the party
to adopt European financial system.
And even then We would have won but
for the fact that borrowers were coerced
and employees intimidated
"In 1900 the action of the repu blican
party in turning war commenced for
humanity into a war Of conquest com.
PEELED the considerat. on Of another Ques.
tion-a question SO far-reaehing in its
consequences that our party rlghuulIy
declared it to be the paramount issue.
Without abandoning its position Cd the
tariff question or the money question, il
again espoused the peoples side Of
great issue. That it did not win that
year was due TO conjunction of causes
anv one Of which would have been in
sufficient TO have accomplished defeat.
The administration, having carried on
brief and successful war. fell heir to the
enthusiasm which usually attends vic
torious conflict: an unexpected increase
in the supply of new gold and an unex-
pected influx Of European gold, due TO
large crops here and famine abroad, in
creased prices. relieved the stress OF
hard times and gave to the people the
benefits that always flow from grow
ing volume Of money. While the adj
yantages which followed a larger volume
Of money indicated the principle con-
tended for by bimetallists, they were APP
pointer by the party III power and those
who were influenced by conditions with
out attempting TO realize the conditions,
gave the republican party credit Tor an
increasing prosperity.
"Ihe protected manufacturers, OF
course. stood by the administration which
had given them Dingley law. Trust
promoters and trust magnates, recognlz-
ing in the democratic party All inyeterate
foe. and numbering among their stock
holders many Of the most influential
repu blcans, threw all their strength to
the republican party, and by their sup
port purchased immunity from punish
rnerft. The republicans were greatly
aided by another influence, namely, the
influence Of the fnanciers who, not yet
having com pleted their schemes, were
willing to risk trusts, imperialism or
anything else rather than forego the az.
vantage which they expected fr III gold
standard and a bank currency. In spite
Of all thee obstacles the campaign of
1900 only showed a net change of l50,00
votes in favor Of the republicans out Of a
total vote of over thirteen millions. And
what is the situation today? Since the
election of 1900, imperialism is more
openly avowed and imperialistic methods
more boldly entered upon because the
administration can point to that election
as an apparent Endorsement, although
the party leaders at that time vehement
~ oeuied imperialistic intent. Those
who expec: 10 make profit out OF
coloni Hsystsm favor it on the ground
that it VII. pay; those who think 1t
opened up the Philippines to proselyt-
ing insist that it is providential, while
those who aye simply seeking some rea-
ION for supporting their party's policy,
fall back upon the doctrine that circum.
stances got US into the trouble, and that
we must stay in until circumstances get
us out. Since the election Of 1900 the
trusts have grown and fiourished under
the repub lican administration, as might
have been expected. Almost two years
have elapsed since the last presidential
election, and no legislative attempt has
been made 70 interfere with them and
the executive efforts, instead Of being
directed toward the enforcement OF
criminal statutes. are confined to the
equity side ithe court, and these efforts
have not in the least retarded the forma-
ton OF new com pines.
chow can the opponents OF aristocracy
and plutocyacy be united for a success
full attack CT ectyerched privilege! Not
bv making peace with the enemy: not