Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1904-08-31

whoever holds the offices. Measures
not men. make or break the American
people. II was not Grover Cleveland
who ruined MS in the early COS. II
was the Democratic platform of 1879:
that wrought the havoc.
II would be glad TO review the per
Tod of prosperity which We have en-
joyed since the endorsement by the
American people of the sound fnan
cial and economic policies promulgat
ed by the Republican party at st
Louis in 1896. But | need not detain
yon. You are all familiar with the
picture.
Try Another Issue.
We now come tn the campaign OF
1900. Early In that year our Demo
cratic friends commenced casting
about for an issue on which that cam.
paign might be won. During Mr.. Nc,
Kinley's first term much history had
been written. The Spanish war had
been fought TO a successful termina,
ton. Cuba had become a temporary
ward of the United States. and Por
to Rico and the Philippine islands had
been acquired. Labor had found con
slant employment. Wages were high.
The American people were eating
three meals a day, and living eypen'
SEES were resultantly high. There was
no demand for a cheaper dollar, and
our Democratic friends again looked
over their previous platforms in vain
to find anything likely TO prove a sue
cessful issue. Some expedient must
be found. and nothing seemed so ex'
pedicnt as anti-imperiausm.
THE Chicago platform was reaf,
firmcd. IL is true, but IL was distinct
ly stated that the silver question
should moi be- the paramount issue
The contest was to be- waged on anti
imperialism. The result ! need not
mention further than To say the Re
publican principle of sound money,
every dollar the equivalent of and
exchangcable for 25.S grains Of gold
and that equally important economic
principle. the protective tariff. which
guarantees Ia the producer, artisan
and farmer. miner and mechanic, the
best market in the world for his Ia
Dor. were endorsed. aLu the Republi
can party remained in possession OF
both the legislative and executive
branches of the government.
Not a Popular Issue.
And We now come 10 the congress
sional election of 1902. Our Demo
cratic friends thought il possible Il
secure control of the lower house oil
congress, and thought il they could
secure control of that body In 1870:
they might perchance win the execu
tive branch in 1904. A most vigorous
campaign was therefore i%naugurated
and II became necessary 10 find an
issue. Nothing heretofore tried would
answer the purpose. They dared no,
more than squint at a tariff for rev
enue only. 1t was too sOOn after 1892
Anti-imperialism had struck Q
popular chord, and so they seized up
on the alleged cruelty of the Ameri
can soldier to the Filipino people, ant
the barbarity of the water cure be
came the issue Of that campaign. BuI
the American voter. from whose home
the American soldier had gone, refus
ed TO rebuke his offspring or his kin
and sound Republican financial ant
economic doctrines were again en-
dorsed and the Republican party re
manned in control of all branches o.
the government.
And now we come TO 1904. ON
Democratic friends are again In trou
BILE. | do not say ii would be Difficult
10 devise some progressive policy TO
the wise government of the nation
J but our friends give no evidence O