The independent., 1903-03-19
THE QUALITY OF HARMONY

Mr.. Van vorhis Insists That Democratic
Harmony Cannot be Secured bv Ig-
noring tho Money Question
Editor Independent: One who did
not know the able editor of the Clark
County Citizen might conclude that
there was a certain poverty OF intel
lect in the editorial department OF the
Citizen, when it does not lind some
thing to say in an answer that is not
assertions based on assumptions that
ought to be known to be untrue. VI
course, when it is desired to straddle
a question, and present smiling facs
of approval to antagonistic elements
in the party, it must not be expected
to be entirely consistent or candid.
The Citizen expressed its contempt
for the traitors Of 1896 and 1900 but
qualities it's contempt by the phrase
.'in a political sense. How contempt
in political sense differs from con-
tempt in any other sense | do not
know, unless by political" is meant
Pickwickian. This much is certain.
tnat it was the financial question that
furnished the motive for the treach-
cry. The traitors to whom he refers
must have believed that this was the
only democratic principle" worth
considering.
If I understand the Citizen, it pro-
poses to drop this question to get
these traitors to "harmonize." Be-
cause say the question is too inn
portant to be dropped, and because |
say that there is large number OF
voters in it's party-and over two mil
lions outside of it-who are not will
ing to pay such price for such
quality of harmony, it asserts that
believe the demand for bimetallism
is the only democratic principle" The
trouble with my friend Brayfield is
that he does not distinguish between
a principle and mere incident tc a
principle AS an "old-fashioned demo-
crat" (whatever he may mean by
that, he does not distinguish be-
tween democrat" as party name
and democratic as principles of gov
ernment. No party under any name
has patent upon democratic prin-
ciples. Many republicans are as firm
believers in the wisdom of applying
democratic principles to this govern
ment as any of those who name them
selves democrat" Many such re-
publicans have not yet fully realized
that their party has abandoned some
of, IL not ALL the most important
den ocratic principles taught by JEFF
ferso that were the very basis of
it's Organization.
The trouble with the Citizen is, that
it wants to be in harmony with GER
tain men in it's party who have done
the very same thing, and who in
1886 and 1900 preferred the success
of the republican party, without dem
ocratic principles, but with fnan-
cial plank that suited them, instead
of trying to get rid of this undemo-
cratic element and trying to draw to
its party, from all parties, all those
who believe in a democratic form Of
government.
Now, the Citizen wants "all sorts
of people, to help elect the candidate
of it's party. Does it mean by this
that it wants party success, principles
or no principles?
1t pretends to be disturbed about
AiiJ Lui ih ftVWSp anu say Cuc1 w
not take kindly to the doctrine of
tariff for revenue only" While 1 am
not much concerned about the tariff
question from any point of view, this
is an attempt to put me in false at
titude that is unworthy my friend
Brayfield. II there is any really dead
question in our politics today, it is
the question of protection and free
trade" This contest has, for many
years, been a humbug more to throw
dust in the eyes of the masses than
for anything else. But have no OBJ
Jections to repeating, for the benefit
of my friend what | have said from
the rostrum hundreds of times since
1896; that the republican party has,
by its own acts, forced the country to
a situation in which tariff for pro-
lection is an impossibility, and in
which the only rational and honest
. application of duties on imports must
be for revenue and for nothing else.
The application of duties on imports
for any other purpose is a public in
Justice that is equivalent to robbery
OF our consuming masses.
The Citizen may call me a republi-
can If 1t desires, but, if there is any