The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1902-08-29
DEMOCRATIC NOMINEES.
THE PIRATE SHIP ADRIFr.

THE PIRATE SHIP ADRIFr.
Under this very appropriate head
the Memphis Commercial Appeal dis
cusses the present situation and prob
able fate of the Republican party. 1t
says;
"The leadership of the party is
disordered dream. The reason Tor
this is plain. The Republican party
has no ideals any longer. 1t Is SIMPLY
an appetite married to greed. This
ia not to say that there are not many
excellent. high minded, patriotic citi-
Gems who follow its flag. Indeed the
rank and file of both political parties
are honest; but unfortunately 1t Is
the leaders who manufacture issues
and build platforms, and not the peo-
nile. Take for instance the issue OF
free silver or imperialism. The people
knew nothing Of these questions. The
leaders pushed them to the front.
"An appetite married to greed.
That is good, and describes the case
accurately enough. But the CONNER
cial Appeal is most unfortunate In It's
illustration. II there were ever two
issues that the clamor of the people
forced upon the country, these were
the issues of free silver and imperial
ism. The Populists really forced the
silver issue upon the country. Neither
the Democrats nor the Republicans
wanted it. Their leaders were too
badly mixed on the question. NC
Kinley was silver man, by record
and at heart, and had to follow his
party against his will. And there
were other notable instances in both
parties which threatened exactly what
has happened-a general mlxup OF
records, with more or less embarrass-
ment. To avoid which the leaders OF
both parties were exceedingly chary
of the question. Silver Dick Bland
and William J. Bryan were the only
notables we can now recall who cared
at first to force the fighting. The
Hon. Mr.. Sibley, who has turned his
coat since then, might perhaps be
mentioned among the early fighters.
But the leaders at first were few,
and were whipped into line by the
preaching of the press and the clamor
of the people. That was why Bryan
was called Populist; simply because
he was at least two years ahead of his
party. And that is why the leaders
never liked him. because he helped
the people smoke them out OF their
safety holes into the open where a
live question was at issue.
And the leaders would have retired
the question long, long ago, II the
people and the press and Bryan would
only keep still.
So our contemporary illustration
does not sustain it's contention. Inc
article, however, is sound upon some
other points. 1t says:
'The crisis now confronting the
Republican party IS simply the WORK
of fate. 1t has been inevitable Tor
some time. Three never was any
moral justification for the system OF
protection. Its only excuse is exped-
iency and it is expedient only
when Industries are new IN a
Young and struggling nation. In our
Government protection is simply legal.
ized theft. and it is the worst kind OF
theft. that which pliers from
the neople for the benefit OF
trusts and great corporations. 1t may
not be true that the tariff is the
mother of trusts, but certainly it is the
handmaiden of the octupus.
THE people of the United States
with rare unanimity are demanding
relief from the trusts. and they are
thoroughly awake to the fact that a
protective tariff plays into the hands
Of the trusts. AS things stand now.
the Republican party is responsible Ior
the existence of tine trusts, and for the
tariff that helps them. 1t If only TOO
evident that the tariff has reached the
limit, and that the trust has touched
the point Of highest development. IN
this emergency, something must De
done. If the Republican party can
not at least create the illusion OF IN
tending to do something. 1t will be
gradually driven from power. Ii It
actually attempts to do anything it
will cut off its sources Of revenue. A
party founded on moral ideas would
have no difficulty in making decis-
ion but az we have said, the Rupubli-
can organization has no more morals
than a cat. It has always pandered to
the wealth of the country. 1t throws
platitudes to American industry, put
II gives bread to American capital
The Moros in the island of Min