The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-07-27
THE PARAMOUNT ISSUE THIS
YEAR.


preferred another issue. Not even MI.
Cleveland wished the bold declaration
that declared all tariff except "for rev.
enue only" to be unconstitutional" But
the Homestead strikes, the increased
cost to consumers imposed by the Nc
Kinley bill, and other things had caused
the people to talk about the tariff. 9th
er important issues were2presented in the
platforms of all the parties, but the
people were thinking about the tariff
and the leaders could get hearing on
no other issue. In 1896 everybody talk
ed about the money question and the
political parties were forced, some
against the will of the leaders, to do
likewise.
1t is too soon to know what will be the
paramount issue in 1904, but not to dis
cuss the leading issues for the Congress
sional campaign of 1902 which has al
ready opened. There is some division of
opinion among Democrats as to whether
the tariff as it relates to trusts or the
question of imperialism will be the chief
issue. There is no doubt that in some
sections both will attract independent
voters, but before the election it is safe
to say that one will be uppermost in the
popular mind.
no IN nP ho
of Representatives. a short time before
it adjourned. expressed it's position in
the following resolution:
THAT we favor the immediate passage
Of measure to amend the present anti
trust law so as to more fully protect
trade and commerce against unlawful re-
straints and monopOlies, and also a meas
ure to reduce the duties on all articles
and commodities manufactured and con-
trolled or produced in the United States
by trust or trusts SO as to destroy such
illegal combinations and to reduce the
rate of duty on any article or commodity
manufactured in the United States and
sold in a foreign country more cheaply
than in the United States
This would seem to indicate that the
minority in Congress favors pressing the
trust tariff issue to the front
Hon. Edward NJ. Shepard, of New
York, one of the ablest men in the United
States, is strongly in favor of making
the trust-tariff issue dominant. In his
speech in Massachusetts last week he
expressed himself very clearly as fol-
lows:
Craftsmanship would defeat itself if
it sought decision on a question for
which the masses of voters are not really
ready. The Democracy will not, 1 am
sure, make that mistake.
"We cannot, fellow Democrats, in my
opinion, truthfully say that the manner
in which we shall discharge our trust
duty on the borders of Asia is today our
dominant issue. No one can read what
is today written, or listen to what is
said in every part of the United States,
without perceiving that THE DOMIN-
ANT QUESTION IS WHETHER OR
NOT THERE SHALL BE CON-
TINUED TO A NUMBER OF GREAT
AND ENORMOUSLY RICH INTER
ESTS THE SPECIAL PRIVILEGES
WHICH THE REPUBLICAN TARIFF
CONFERS UPON THEM.
"The American people are today thor
oughly ready to deprive the great
monopolistic interest Of the country of
the special tariff privileges which they
enjoy. Upon the reduction or abolition
of duties upon articles whose manufac-
ture or production is today effectually
monopolized the American people are
overwhelmingly agreed. Nothing but
blind fear of any change whatever, or
false charge that the Democratic party
is inimical to property, or an irrelevant
issue of military glory or dishonor, can
prevent in November a verdict at the
polls which will speak that sentiment.
eff the Democratic party in selecting
it's issue defer, as it is bound to do, to
the popular WILL it has no choice. THE
ISSUE OF TARIFF REFORM Is IR-
REVOCABLY AT THE FOREFRONT.
Nor is there any solution Of the great
problem of today in Federal regulation
of mere corporate forms or practices
with which the States can best deal
| The only effective remedy, if not final
one, is to deprive monopolistic interests
| of the special privileges which, ut the
| cost of the rest of us, produce the mo-
nopolies.
"Such then, with Difference 70 ether
views, I suggest to be the first issue.
Not that we have sought it, but be-
cause it is thrust upon our attention.
Not that there are no other and grave
| questions, which ought to be decided, but
because this is the one question which
the American people are now ready and
| anxious to decide.
81 hope, indeed, that the Democratic
| party will, at these coming elections,
| make it's platform short like that upon
| which Governor Tilden in 1874 reversed
the overwhelmingly adverse verdict of
| 1S72-so short that he who runs may
| read
| While careful not to declare himself as
to the paramount issue, Mr.. Bryan, on the
same day and at the same place, made
this arraignment of the Republican ad-
| ministration:
4 An 81 &ar