The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1904-09-12

| pensions prevail they always begin some
where between the two limits thus set. II
is easy To test our opponents sincerity
| IN this matter.
The order in question is revocable at the
| pleasure OF the executive. II our oppo-
nents come into power they can revoke
this order and announce that they will
treat the veterans OF 62 20 70 as presum-
ably In full bodily vigor and not entitled
lively state that they intend TO do this ?
| II so. we accept the issue. II not. then
we have the right to ask why they raise
an issue which. when raised. they do not
| venture 10 meet.
COVERT TACTICS.
In addition 10 those acts OF the admin
istraton which they venture 10 essail
| only after misrepresenting them, there
\ are others which they dare not overtly or
| officially attack. and yet which they
| covertly bring forward as reasons for the
overthrow Of the party. In certain great
| centers and with certain great interests
| our opponents make every effort 10 show
4 that the settlement OF the anthracite coal
strike by the individual act OF the presi-
| dent, and the successful suit against the
Northern Securities company-the merger
suit-undertaken by the department or
Justice, were acts because OF which the
| present COMMUNICATION should be thrown
from power. Yet they dare not openly
condemn either act They dare not In
any authoritative or formal manner say
that In either case wrong was done or
error committed in the method Of action.
or In the choice OF instruments for put
ting that action into effect.
But what they dare not manfully assert
In open day, they seek 10 use furtively
and through special agents. II is per-
haps natural that an attack so conducted
should be made sometimes on the ground
that too much, sometimes on the ground
that too little, has been done. Some OF
our opponents complain because under
the antitrust and Interstate commerce
laws suits were undertaken which have
aGGf m M
were not undertaken which would have
been unsuccessful. The Democratic state
convention In New York dealt with the
anthracite coal strike by demanding In
I deliberate and formal fashion that the
national government should take posses
sion OF the coal fields; yet champions OF
that conventions cause now condemn the
fact that there was any action by the
president at although they must know
that IL was only this action by the presi-
dent which prevented the movement for
national ownership OF the coal fields from
gaining what might well have been an ir-
resstable impetus. Such mutually de-
structive criticisms furnish an adequate
measure of the chance for coherent action
or constructive Legislation IL our oppo-
nents should be given power.
SILENCE AND EVASION.
So much for what our opponents openly
or covertly advance in the way OF an at
| tack on the acts OF the administration.
When we come TO consider the policies
for which they profess 10 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
In the last decade our opponents take the
position that silence Is the best possible
way TO convey their views. They con-
tend that their lukewarm attitude of par
tial acquiescence In what others have ac-
complished entities them TO be made the
custodans OF the financial honor and
commercial interests which they have but
recently sought to ruin. Being unable
10 agree among themselves as TO whether
the gold standard is a curse or blessing
and as to whether we ought or ought not
10 have free and unlimited coinage OF
silver, they have apparently thought IL
expedient to avoid any committal on
these subjects, and individually each TO
follow his particular bent Their nearest
approach to majority Judgment seems
TO be that II Is now inexpedent 10 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 altera-
tion In the relative quantity of production
OF silver and gold.
Men who hold sincere convictions on
vital questions can respect equally sincere
men with whose Views they radically
differ; and men may confess a change OF
faith without compromising their honor
or their self respect But II is difficult TO
respect an attitude Of mind such as has
been fairly described above; and where
there is no respect there can be no trust.
A policy with so slender a basis OF prin-
ciple would not stand the strain OF a
single year OF business adversely.
BELIEVE IN GOLD STANDARD.
We, on the contrary, believe in the gold
standard as fixed by the usage and YER
dict of the business world, and In a sound
monetary system as matters OF principle
as matters not OF momentary political ex-
pediency.. but Of permanent organic
policy, In 1896 and again in 1900 far
party fealty in the past. Joined to work
against what they regarded az a debased
monetary system. The. policies which
adhered to by the admins tration: and by
the act OF March IA. 1900. congress- estab-
lished the single gold stendard as the
measure of our monetary value. This
lican in the house. and OF every Republi-
can except one In the senate. OF or
opponents II supported II In the house
in the house and 2s In the senate.
The record OF the last seven years
proves that the party now in power can
be trusted TO take the additional action
necessary 10 improve and strengthen our
monetary system. and that our opponents
cannot be 80 trusted. The Fundamental
fact Is that In popular government such
law unless the people keep in control OF |
the government men who believe in that |
policy as a matter OF deep-rooted convic- |
ton. Laws can always be revoked; IT is |
the spirit and the purpose Of those re- |
sponsible for their enactment and admin |
istration which must be fixed and un- |
IL is idle TO say that the monetary |
of the nation is irrevocably fixed |
so long as the party which at the last |
election cast approximately As per cent OF |
the total vote, refuses TO put In It's plat
form any statement that the question is
settled. A determination TO remain ST.
lent cannot be accepted as equivalent TO /
a recantaton. Until our opponents as a
party explicitly adopt the views which
we hold and upon which we have acted
and are acting In the matter OF a sound
the only real way to keep the
question from becoming unsettled Is TO
Keep the Republican party in power.
CAPITAL AND LABOR.
As for what our opponents say in refer
,nce TO capital and labor individual or
corporate, here again all we need by way
" answer Is 10 point to what we have
actually done, and 10 say that IL con-
inucd I'm mower we shall Continna ~ |