The Eureka sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1902-current, 1902-08-23
NOT ON THE DEFENSIVE.

fensive, and Will not permit themse Ives
to be placed in that attitude. From a
Nevada point of view the Republican
party has not political leg to stand on.
In 1896 il was repudiated by an over
whelming vote. II came about as near
being exterminated as any party in any
State ever did. Full eighty per cent OF
Nevada's vote was cast against the party
with a false promise upon its lips
turned its back upon it's own traditional
monetary policy, at the same time
striking deadly blow at the very foun-
dation of our States prosperity.
Only about nineteen hundred votes
were cast in this State for VIM. McKin-
ley, and of these at least eighteen hun
dred professed to be opposed to the
gold standard as advocated by the Re-
publican party. This, in itself, was an
admission that the Silver party was
right upon the great issue in the cam
paign of 1896-an issue which the Ne
vada Republicans had themselves in
their State platforms declared to be the
most important-before the country.
1t was deemed 30 important that one
half of the States delegation walked
out of the National Republican Conven-
tion in sorrow and disgust. Therefore,
those Nevada Republicans who sup-
ported VIM. Mckinley simply occupied
the position Of men who were determined
TO stand by their party no matter how
wrong it might be, or how injurious its
policy to the best interests Of their
State. These men are too few in num-
ber to make their political course either
in 1896 or at the present time matter
Of any particular consequence. They
are referred to in this connection merely
to show that when Nevada broke away
from the Republican party. her people
we're practically a unit in sentiment
upon the great issue involved.
Such being the case. if any who for
merly opposed the Republican party
now think of supporting it, the burden
rests upon them to give good and salts
factory reasons for so doing. They are
bound to show in what way the Repub-
lican party is better now and more ia
vorable to Nevadas interests than it
was when they repudiated it with in
dignstion and scorn. Mere generali-
ties about larger gold supplies and
prosperity will not meet the require
mepts of the situation. The increased
gold output has affected business con-
ditions in every country where gold is
used as money, and the prosperity" of
recent years has been almost world
wide.
Mr.. Stewart, who is now the recog-
nized leader of the Republican party
of this State, and ell who draw their
inspiration from him admit that the
new gold has been the cause of the i'm
proved business conditions, and that
but for this fortuitous increase Repub-
lican policy would have ruined the
country. This excludes the idea of the
credit belonging to the Republican
party. Although be seems unconscious
of il, Mr.. Stewards own plea in sup
port OF his contention that the silver
issue is dead, is q terrific arraignment
of the party with which he is now act
ing, and which he is leading in the
State Of Nevada. Republican policy
would have ruined us. but nature
stepped in with new supplies of gold
and averted the ruin; therefore stand
by the Republican party which tried
to ruin us but failed" Such is the
broad, economic and political philoso-
ply of Nevada Republicans. Some
thing deeper and sounder than that
will be needed to enable them to come
within $500 or 5000 votes of carrying
the State.
Republicans must show in what way
their party is better now than it was in
1896, and what there is in its present
policy which so far atones Cor the sins
of its past as to justify us in once more
giving it political control of our State
As matters stand here the Republic
cans hold the affirmative of the issue
and they must either prove their cast
or lose. The former they certainly
cannot do, for in every feature of it
policy the Republican party is less de-
serving of support than it was six year.
ago. 1t has done literally nothing t.
redeem itself, aud much that should
| work k;tsco,damnafion in the hearts an(