The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-11-07
AS TO DopGrNG ISSUES.

The local Democratic organ charges Re-
publican speakers with having lodged the
important issues of the campaign. ''To
illustrate" II says, take the ship subsidy
steal. 1t was an issue. The Democratic
platform and speakers attacked 1t openly
and emphatically. Not solitary Repub-
lican candidate or speaker dared to men,
ton the subject" Other issues which the
Republicans are charged with having
lodged are the trust question and the
asset-currency scheme.
Persons In trouble or affiiction are en-
titled to sympathy, but the organ of a
defeated party should not make itself
ridiculous by trying to excite sympathy
on false grounds. The late Democratic
candidate for Congress caused consider
able amusement during the campaign by
his efforts to make the asset-cuYrency
scheme an issue, but the election being
over he should drop it. The introduction
in one branch of Congress of a bill that
has not been voted on and that has no
more chance OF passing than a bill to
establish a government bureau of dem
tistry or chiropody, does not make it
national issue. Neither is the ship sub
sidy bill. which has passed one branch of
Congress without the slightest prospect of
passing the other, national issue. AS for
the trust question it was discussed by Re-
publican speakers in an intelligent, candid
and convincing manner. The result of the
election shows that the people understood
and Endorsed the attitude Of the Repub
ncan party toward trusts and corpora
tons. and that they prefer to leave the
settlement of the question with a party
that has settled many great questions
rather than with one which. as Secretary
Root said In a recent speech. "for half
century has constructed nothing but the
Southern Confederacy and the Wilson
tariff"
AS for lodging issues. the entire Demo-
cratic campaign was an attempt to get
away from issues raised by their last ma
tional platform. In that platform they de-
nounced the policy of the administration
toward Cuba, Porto Rico and the Philip
pines; they demanded independence for the
nounced the efforts to maintain the flag
there "a war of criminal aggression; 80
they declared Imperialism to be 1.-The par
amount issue of the campaign" they OPP
posed what they were pleased to term
''militarism' "a constant menace to
our liberties" they condemned what they
called 1.-The Republican alliance with Eng
land" they demanded 1.-The immediate
restoration of the free and unlimited COIN
age Of silver at the present legal ratio of
16 to /. without waiting for the aid or
consent of any other nation;'' and they de-
manded 1.-The retirement of national bank
notes as fast as government paper or silver
certificates can be substituted for them
All these issues were raised and made by
the last Democratic national convention,
since when there has been no official pro-
mitigation Of principles by the party. Were
they advocated, discussed or mentioned by
any Democratic candidate or speaker In
the recent campaign? Not one of them.
1t was largely because they were seen to
| be running away from their own platform
and lodging issues raised by themselves
| that the party was so badly beaten.