Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1902-08-21
IRONTON. MO-. THURSDAY. AUGUST 81, 1902
Some Causes of Democratic Defeats.

Some Causes of Democratic Defeats.
From Mr.. Bryan's speech in Boston July "a.
1--WE cannot tell what issues we may
have to meet; we can only determine
to meet them in Democratic spirit,
to apply to them Democratic prin-
ciples and to take the peoples side
always. In 1892 the paramount issue
was tariff reform and the Democratic
party boldly asserted its demand for
tariff for revenue only. 1t fought the
campaign and it won, but its majority
was SO narrow that few Senators,
disloYal to the party on this subject,
defeated the verdict of the people rem
dered at the polls. But the failure OF
the party to do all that it promised
would not have been SO disastrous but
for the fact that the Wilson bill, unsatis-
factory as it was to tariff reformers,
had to bear the sins of a Republican
financial system which was supported
by our administration against the pro-
test of an overwhelming majority of
the voters of the party. The defeat
of 1894 was more disastrous than any
that the party has experienced since,
and it was do to the fact that the ad-
ministration deserted the people on the
money question. In 1896 the money
question had forged to the front, made
paramount not by the action of the
majority Of the Democratic party, but
by the attempt of minority of the
party to aid the Republican party to
chain the country to an appreciating
dollar. Without abandoning its posi-
tion 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 Democratic party polled
million more votes than it had ever
polled before, and would have won but
for the indefensible methods of the
Republican party, whose leaders held
nearly all the protectionist Republi-
cans by declaring the tariff issue to be
paramount, molliied the wrath of
most of the free silver Republicans by
promising international bimetallism,
and won all the advocates of the gold
standard by revealing to them the
secret purpose of the party to adopt a
European financial system. But even
then we would have won but for the
fact that borrowers were coerced and
employees intimidated.
"In 1900 the action of the Republi-
can party in turning war commenced
for humanity into war Of conquest
compelled the consideration of another
question: question 80 far-reaching
in its consequences that our party
rightfully declared it to be the para
mount issue. Without abandoning its
position on the tariff question or on
the money question it again espoused
the peoples side of a great issue.
That it did not win that year was due
to conjunction of causes, any one of
which would have been insufficient TO
have accomplished defeat. The ad-
ministration having carried on brief
and successful war fell heir to the en-
thusiasm which usually attends a
victorious conflict; an unexpected in
crease in the supply Of new gold and
an unexpected influx of European gold,
due to large crops here and a famine
abroad, increased prices, relieved the
stress of hard times and gave to the
people the benefits that always flow
from growing volume Of money.
While the advantages which followed
a larger volume Of money vindicated
the principle contended for by BIZ
metallists they we're appropriated by
the party in power, and those who
were influenced by conditions, without
attempting 70 realize the conditions,
gave the Republican party credit for
an increasing prosperity.
"The protected manufacturers, Of
course, stood by the administration
which had given them a Dingley law.
Trust promoters and trust magnates,
recognizing in the Democratic party
an inveterate foe, and numbering
among their stockholders many of the
most influential Republicans, threw all
their strength to the Republican party,
and by their support purchased i'm.
munity from punishment. The Re.
Ipublicans were greatly aided by an.
other influence, namely the influence
of the financiers, who not yet having
completed their schemes were willing
to risk trusts, Imperialism or anything
else rather than forego the advantage
which they expected from gold
standard and bank currency. In
spite of all these obstacles the cam
paign of 1900 only showed net
change OF 100, 900 votes in favor OF the