The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1904-09-15

flag now flies over Porto Rico?
Do they object to the acquisition Of
Hawaii? Once they hauled down" our
flag there; we have hoisted it again; do
they intend once more to haul it down?
Do they object to the part we played
in China? Do they not know that the
voice of the United States would now
count for nothing in the far East if we
had abandoned the Philippines and re-
fused to do what was done in China?
Do they object to the fact that this
government secured a peaceful settlement
of the troubles in Venezuela two years
ago?
Do they object to the ship Of war off
Colon when the revolution broke out in
Panama, and when only the presence of
this ship saved the lives Of American
citizens and prevented insult to the flag +?
Do they object to the fact that Ameri
can warships appeared promptly at the
port of Beirut when an effort had been
made to assassinate an American official,
and in the port Of Tangier when an
American citizen had been abducted, and
that in each case the wrong complained
of was righted and expiated, and that
within the last few days the visit of an
American squadron to Smyrna was fol-
lowed by the long-delayed concession of
their Just rights to those Americans con-
cerned in educational work in Turkey?
Do they object to the trade treaty with
China, 50 full of advantage for the Amer
lean people in the future7
Do they object to the fact that the
ships carrying the national flag now have
higher standard than ever before in
Workmanship and in seamans}ip, as in
dividual units and as component parts of
squadrons and fleets?
If they object to any or all Of these
things we join issue with them.
Democrats Silent ON Money.
On some Of the vital questions that have
confronted the American people In the last
decade our opponents take the position that
silence II the best possible way to convey
theif. views. They contend that their luke
warm attitude Of partial scquiescence In
them to be made the custodians Of the
financial honor and commercial Interests
which they have but recently sought to
ruin
Being unable to agree among themselves
az to whether the gold standard Is curse
or blessing and as to whether we ought
or ought not to have free and unlimited
coinage Of silver, they have APPARENTLY
initial on these subjects and individually
each to follow his particular bent.
Their nearest approach to majority
judgment seems to be that Ii IL now mex
pedient to assert their convictions one way
or the other and that the establishment of
the gold standard by the Republican party
should not be disturbed unless there Is an
alteration In the relative quantity Of pro-
duction Of silver and gold.
Men who hold sincere convictions on vi
tai questions can respect equally sincere
men with whose views they radically DIFF
fer, and men may confess a change Of faith
without compromising their honor or their
self-respect. But 1t Is difficult to respect
an attitude Of mind such as has been fairly
described above, and where there IL no re-
spect there can be no trust. A policy with
30 slender basis Of principle would not
stand the strain Of single year of bust
ness adversely
We, on the contrary, believe in the gold
standard as fixed by the usage and verdict
Of the business world, and In q sound
monetory system as matters Of principle,
as matters not Of momentary political ex-
Dediency, but Of permanent organic policy.
In 1896 and again In 1900 far-s1ehted
men, without regard to their party fealty
In the past, Joined to work against what
they regarded a. . debased mouetaxy NJ
ten. The pelicIes which they ehanoieoSC