The daily morning journal and courier., 1904-09-12


 tualIy destructive criticisms furnish an adequate measure of the chance for coherent action or constructive Iegisla- tlon if our opponents should be given power.
 Democratic Silence on the Vital Issues.
 So. much for what our opponents openly or eovertly advance in the way Of attack on the acts of the administra- tion. When we come to consider the policies for which they profess to stand we are met with the difficulty always arising when statements of policy are so made that they can be interpreted in different ways. On some of the vital questions that have confronted the American people that silence is the best possible way to convey their views They contend that their luke warm attitude of partial acquiescence lin what others have accomplished enti- ties them to be made the custodians of Ithe financial honor and commercial in- Iterests which they have but recently sought to ruin. Being unable to agree laTnong themselves as to whether the gold standard is a curse or a blessing, and as to whether we ought or ought not to have free and unlimited coinage of silver, they have apparently thought lit expedient to avoid any committal on Ithese subjects, and individually each to follow his particular bent. Their near lest approach to a majority judgment lseems to be that it is now inexpedient to assert their convictions one way or lthe other, and that the establishment of Ithe gold standard by the republican lparty should not be disturbed unless there is an alteration in the relative lquantity of production of silver and lgold. Men who hold sincere eonvic- Etions on vital questions can respect lequally sincere men with whose views they radically differ; and men may confess a change of faith without com promising their honor or their self-re- spect. But it is difficult to respect an latitude of mind such as has been fair lly described above; and where there is Inc respect there can be no trust. A policy with so slender basis of princi- pie would not stand the strain of a sin gle year of business diversity.
 Belief in Gold Standard.
 We, on the contrary, believe in the gold standard as fixed by the usage and verdict of the business world, and in a sound monetary system as matters of lprinciple; as matters not of monetary political expediency, but of permanent lorganic policy In 1896 and again in ll9O0 far r-sighred men, without regard to their party fealty in the past, joined to lwork against what they regarded as a ldebased monetary system. The policies (which they championed have been lsteadfastly adhered to by the admins ltration; and by the act of March IA, l1900, congress established the single Igold standard as the measure of our monetary value. This act received the support of every republican in the mouse, and of every republican except lone in the senate. Of our opponents, leIeyen supported 1t in the house and 1.-two in the senate; and one hundred and nifty opposed 1t in the house and twerl- lty-eight in the senate The record of lthe last seven years proves that the lparty now in power can be trusted to ltake the additional action necessary to Improve and strengthen our monetary System, and that our opponents cannot be So trusted. The fundamental fact is lthat in 8 popular government such as Iours no policy is irreyocably settled by flaw unless the people keep in control of lthe government men who believe in Ilthat policy as a matter of deep-rooted lconviction. Laws can always be re- lvoked; it is the spirit and purpose of lthose responsible for their enactment land administration which must be fixed land unchangeable. It is idle to say slthat the monetary standard of the Ila- Ition is irrevocably fixed so long as the lparty which at the last election cast Approximately forty-six per cent. of the total vote, refuses to put in it's plat form any statement that the question lis settled. A determination to remain Esilent cannot be accepted as equivalent Ito a recantation Until our opponents las a party explicitly adopt the views (which we hold an dupon which we have Eacted and ar eacting, nthe matter of a tsound currency, the only real way to keep the question from becoming un- lsettled is to keep the republican party l n power.
 Capital and Labor--Answer to Demo. I cratic Criticism.
 As for what our opponents say in ref ference to capital and labor, individual
 Tor corporate, here again all we need by IMay of answer is to point to what I've have actually done, and to say that E If continued in power we shall continue Ito carry out the policy we have been bursting, and to execute the laws as lresolutely and fearlessly in the future
 as we have executed them in the past & In my speech of acceptanceI said:
 We recognize the organization of cap Htal and the organization of labor as natural outcomes of our industrial sys- tenn Each kind of organization is ,tc be favored so long as it acts in a spirit lof Justice and of regard for the rights 1, Iof others. Each is to be granted the < full protection of the law, and each 1T X turn is to be held to a strict obedience z Ito the law; no man is above it anc mo man below 1t. The humblest indi. IVidual is to have his rights safeguard ed as scrupulously as those of thu
 strongest organization, for each is tt
 receive justice, no more and no less ' lThe problems with which we have tc Ideal in our modern industrial and so
 eial life are manifold; but the spirit 1T
 (which it is necessary to approach theil