The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1904-11-03
No Issues. Only Topics
The following paragraphs are
condensed from Senator Bev-
idge's article in Harpers Weekly.

condensed from Senator Bev-
idge's article in Harpers Weekly
The issues of the campaign?
There are none. This is not a
campaign of issues. 1t is a cam
paign of topics.
The campaign of 1892 was
fought out on an issue-protective
tariff versus revenue tariff. The
campaign of 1896 was fought
out on an issue-the gold stand
ard versus free silver. The cam
paign OF 1900 was fought out on
versus abandon
ment of the Philippines.
Those campaigns, like all cam
paigns where the people radical.
ly differ on clear questions ofprin-
ciples or even on plain PROPOSE
tiOns of expediency, were great
mental and moral battles where
victory determined which of inn
portant and contrary policies
should be adopted by the nation.
The present campaign is with
out any of these issues or the
like of them. Not only is there
no clear conflict as to principle;
there is not even an important
difference as to expendiency.
For example.
Tariff for revenue only as
against a tariff for protection
might again have been made the
issue. Indeed, the opposition
did start TO make such an issue
in its platform. But the opposi-
tion's candidate destroyed it by
declaring that however desirable
a revenue tariff, it could not be
secured for the next four years,
because a republican senate will
prevent it.
Neither is the money question
an issue in the sense that it was
an issue in 1896. For, although
among the great majority of the
rank and file of the opposition,
Mr.. Bryan and his views are all
powerful, yet the. opposltion's
candidate declares, first, that the
gold standard is established, and
secondly. that he believes in it.
Therefore the candidate of the
opposition accepts the republican
position upon the money ques-
ton. And although the opposi-
ton itself, whose candidate he is
agrees with Mr.. Bryan, rather
than with Mr.. Parker, still Mr..
Parker is the standard bearer;
and what he says is officially the
declaration of the opposition it.
self.
But just as the possible issues
of tariff and finance have been
blurred until they are obscured,
so was the possible issue which
may be condensed in the one
word trusts"
On the one hand, the republi-
have done something affirmative
on the trust question. They
have written three great laws
into the statute books-the only
laws ever passed on this subject.
Two of these laws are the work
of the last republican congress,
and were enacted upon the rec
omendation of President Roose-
velt. Mr.. Parker will not de-
clare that, if elected. lie will rec
ommend the repeal of the laws
the republicans have passed to
control and regulate trusts, al
though many times he has been
invited to say what he would do.
This effectually eliminates the
trust issue. But the opposition's
candidate more than eliminates
it by the Unnecessary declaration
that no new laws are necessary,
and that the common law" is
itself sufficient. Thus he infer
entally condemns the new laws
which the republicans have pass
ed, because if the common law
is sufficient since their passage
it was sufficient before their pass.
age.