Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-08-06
SECRETARY SHAW
Opens McCuI|ough's Campaign
for Governor of Vermont.
Shows Up Democratic Methods,
Which Is Simply to Win Votes
Rather Than a Policy for the Good of
the Country.

Manchester. VT, Aug. 5.-Tho politi-
cal campaign in Vermont, which is con-
sidered an extraordinary one by reason
of the boiling faction in the Republic
can party, headed by Percival w.
Clement. contesting against General G.
]. Mccullough, the Republican nominee
for Governor. was opened here in Nc
Cullough's behalf. tonight. The .hief
speaker was Secretary of the Treasury
Leslie III. Shaw. a native Of the state.
Congressman G.. ]. Foster of this dis
trict, presided and United States Dis
trict Attorney ]. L. Martin of Brattle-
boro. replied to q speech made here
last week. by Mr.. Clement, and Con
gresham Charles n. Fowler of New
Jersey, at some length forecasted the
probable tendency of issues in the next
Presidential campaign. General Me
Cullough spoke briefly in relation to
his nomination.
Sec. Shaw in opening his address re-
viewed in concise form the record of
the Democratic party, saying in this
connection that the leaders of the
party always appear 20 be in search of
an issue which will appeal to voters
and give them victory, rather than
making an effort to formulate a policy
under which they may be safely en-
trusted with the affairs of the nation.
He said that the tariff issue is al
ways resorted to by the Democratic
party to provide an issue except in
those wears Immediately following an
experiment with tariff for revenue
only. He doubted if the Democratic
party or any member of it would, to-
day, venture to predict what would
be the paramount issue of the Presi-
Dental campaign. The Democrats
search, Sec. Shaw said, until they feel
that the public pulse is ready to adopt
anything that would promise fair
share of success. This theory is the
only explanation of their adoption of
The free silver issue in 1896, he said.
The Democratic party had fought the
dominant party on the greenback is
sue; had demanded in 1892 that every
dollar issued by the government either
in Paper or coin should be maintained
on par with every dollar in the debt
paying and purchasing powers, yet
when it appeared that the Populist
PARTY. which formulated the free coin
age doctrines, was obtaining prestige,
the Democracy seized upon the issu
as enc that promised success.
In 1882. the Republican party appointed
a commission to consider the tariff ques-
ton during vacation. The commission
made its report and in Obedience to it;
suggestion. the Republican Congress re
vised its tariff in March, 1888. But tha
revision did not satisfy the people The
Republican party had conceded the cor
rectness of. the Democratic argument and
in 1884 the whole people, having been
by the Republican party. elect
ed a Democratic President
The tariff as an issue was again prom!-
nent in 1SS and the Republican party in
defending protection was again concedins5
the correctness of the Democratic doc
trine OF q revised tariff and two years
later passed the Mckinley bin. the title
of which was "a bill to reduce revenue
and for other purposes.
The Democratic party Immediately seiz~
ed upon il and declared 1t a high protec'
tive measure. and by it obtained an easy
victory before the ink was hardly dry
with which the bill had been printed. TIE
bill was passed in October. 1880, and in
November Democratic Congress was
elected.
Ii is probable. he said, that many items
of the present tariff schedule should be
modified. but no modification Will be made
that would not still leave many Items
in DISPUTE Wilson'S ball passed in 1894
was so unsatisfactory that President
Cleveland refused to sign it. 1t IS IDLE GO
eIInpose that any revision would satisfy
onr oDponents who have no revision pol
no foreign policy, no insular policy no
expansion policy. no Philippine policy, IS
or ever will be devised that will satisfE
he oDDOSitiOn.