The independent. [volume] (Lincoln, Neb.) 1902-1907, 1904-08-25

money question were put into printed
form and loaded for transport Upon
the backs of camels, the caravan
would stretch from one end to the
other of the great Sahara desert.
Did they understand the money
| question? II not, how do we know
that they understand any other ques.
ton? In their campaign book of 1896
the democratic leaders say: 1--WE are
unalterably opposed to mono-metal-
lism."
/ In the famous telegram OF 1904 their
candidate says, in effect, that he is un-
alterably in favor OF recommendation.
All OF the literature of eight years is
to be destroyed. All Of the pIophe-
cies of eight years have been repndi-
ated. All of the dire calamities which
were scheduled to take place if the
republicans carried out their policy
on the money question have been put
aside. The great party which pledged
itself to the American people as un-
alterably opposed have shifted over
to the position of being irrevOcably in
favor. Of the gold standard.
Do the democratic leaders suppose
for one moment that the voters of this
country are going ITO forget the history
of the past eight years? Do they i'm
agine for a moment that, when they
stand in the attitude of confessing so
colossal a blunder as they made upon
the money question, they are going to
be trusted on any other question?
again ask, did they know what they
were talking about during those eight
years, or were they simply deceiying
the American people?
Perhaps they were ignorant upon
the money question. II SO, how will
they 60 about convincing the voters
that they are wiser today than they
were yesterday? But, perhaps, they
knew that the republicans were right
and were simply misleading the peo-
pie. If SO, how will they go about
satisfying the voter that they are
honester today than they were yes,
terday?
1t seems to me to be the most amaz-
ing piece of effrontery for the demo-
cratic party to go before the Ameri-
can people and proclaim that for
eight years they have been wrong
and the republicans have been right
and at the same time demand that the
crowd which has been wrong snail
be put in the places of those who have
been right. 1t would indeed be mir
acle if any such thing would happen,
and, so far as | am concerned, l do
not believe it will happen.
Why do say so? Because believe
that If the gold standard be right, as
both the old parties now say it is,
the people of the country will give
the credit and the support to the men
who were brave enough to pioneer its |
way, fight its battle and win its TIL
umph.
But we are told the democratic |
party has taken a bold stand on the
tariff question. 1t has declared that
protection is robbery. If that declar-
alton means anything 1t certainly |
means that any protection, however.
small, is dishonest. But they would
never dare to say that the American
people must construe that language to
mean what it ordinarily would mean.
Even those who claim that the words |
mean "a tariff for revenue only" will |
find cold comfort in the letter OF their
candidate who declares that. while he
would be glad to see revision Of the
tariff, he knows that he can not bring
II to pass.
To save the trouble of any doubt
upon that great subject. he hands In
his capitulation TO the republicans be-
fore a single gun Is fired.
The campaign has hardly been
opened before the standard bearer OF
democracy commences his retreat.
the great tariff question
may be considered as Waived" just
As the great money question Is
waived"
Let us see what else the national
democratic party presents an an issue.
In their platform they declare that
|urthcr legislation " needed against
he truSts. hut their candidate In his