Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 20, Number 11, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 October 1898 — ONE OBJECT OF ALL [ARTICLE]

ONE OBJECT OF ALL

UNANIMITY OF PURPOSE AMONG REPUBLICANS EVERYWHERE. Patriotic Response to the Oemnad Upon the Party to Complete the Great Work Begun In the Election of McKinley. The one great issue of the state elections this year has been defined by the Republican party. Indiana Republicans have spoken vigorously and unanimously. New York Republicans present an unbroken front, and so all along the grand march of the nation, from the Atlantic to the Paeific, is the mighty purpose to sustain the McKinley administration, for the McKinley administration deserves it. What applies to the Republicans in one state applies to all. An example ii given of this unanimity of sentiment. It is taken from the spirit that animates the campaign in Indiana and New York. In a letter sent out to ludiana Republicans last week Chairman Hernly said:

A 8 theMjampaigu progresses we feel tkegtfeai; importance of th e result, and every day impresses us with its national Influence said effect. Not since 1864 has the nation been so on trial as in this campaign, and we believe that the people will rally to the support of the flag and the McKinley administration, and that much enthusiasm will prevail before election day. We must stand by our country in the war with Spain and emphasize the great victories of ottr army and navy by supporting the administration which so successfully prosecuted the same, and we again appeal to the people and their patriotism and ask them to stand by McKinley and the flag, as we appealed to them to stand by Lincoln and the flag in years gone by.

“The success of the opposition in this election means a return to the starved and demoralized condition of the country in 1893-95. and a repudiation of a protective tariff with its attendant prosperity; it means repudiation of the present gold standard and the establishment of silver monometalism ana dishonest money, because the Democratic party is pledged to the free coinage of silver at the ratio of 16 to 1. The success of the opposition means a rebuke to the McKinley administration, which has prosecuted the most successful foreign war in the lifetime of the nation, and its humiliation in the faoe of the nations of the earth. The success, of the opposition means aid and comfort to the Spaniards, encouraging them to insist on terms of peace, which this country may not be able to grant, thus provoking a renewal of hostilities. It also means an invitation to foreign nations to interfere with the settlement of the Philippine question. It also means encouragement to the insurgents and malcontents in Cuba and the Philippine islands, thus having a tendency to keep them from a peaceful acquiescence in the government of these islands by this country.”

While the above was reaching the hearts and arousing the enthusiasm of Indiana Republicans, their brethern in Sew York were responding with shouts id hurrahs to Chauucey M. Depew’s eloquence in their state convention. Among many good things said by Mr. Depew was the following: “Tie wildest dream ever born in the imagination of the most optimistic believer in our destiny could not forosoe when McKiuley was elected two years ago the onrushing torrents of eveuts of the past three months. We cannot retreat or hide. We must ‘ride thewuves and direct the storm. ’ A war has been fought and won, and vast possessions, new and far away, have boon acquired. In the short space of 113 days politicians and parties have been forced to meet new questions and to take sides upon startling issues. The face of the world has been changed. The maim of yesterday ure obsolete. “The times require ooustruotive statesmen. As in 1776 and 1866, we need architects and builders. We have but one school for their training and education, and that school is the Republican party. Our Republican administration, upon which a tremendous responsibility rests, must have a Republican congress for its support in the next two years—two yeurs of transcendent importance to onr future. "Friends alike join in the general satisfaction with the wisdom, sagacity aud statesmanship of President McKiuley. A protective tariff, sound money—the gold standard, the retirement of the government from the banking business and state issues are just as important us ever. Until three mouths ago to succeed we would have had to satiafy tho voters of tne soundness and wisdom of our position on these questions. The cardinal principles of Republican policy will bo the .platform of this canvass and of future ones. We caiinot yet say that American constituencies have settled convictions on territorial expansion and the government of distant islands and alien races. We can say that Republican opinion glories in our victories aud follows the flag." Congressman Sereuo E. Payne was chairman of that convention and he said: “Shall we trust the settlement of the now questions of today, to those who two yea s ago were making a crusade against law aud order, agaiust American credit and appalling to the lowest motives of the oitisfla; or shall we stand by the and give to President McKinley at the national capital a senate and a house of representatives which will aid him in ever j

patriotic endeavor, to carry Bound systems of government into these islands of the sea? “The question before the people is simply this: ‘ls William McKinley to Btftfid alone at one end of the avenue, with a hostile house and a hostile senate at the other, or are we to stay up the arms of that brave, gallant, wise, patriotic president and give him at the other eud of the avenue, not only a house of representative, but a senate that will help him to solve these problems?” In harmony with this spirit of nationalism, the following was enthusiastically adopted as the great proposition of the times.

“We realize that when the necessities of war compelled our nation to destroy Spanish authority in the Antilles and in the Philippines, we assumed solemn duties and obligations, alike to the people of the islands we conqaered and to the civilized world. We cannot turn these islands back to Spain. We cannot leave them, unarmed for defense and untried in statecraft to the horrors of domestic strife or to partition among European powers. We have assumed the responsibilities of victory, and wherever our flag has gone there the liberty, the humanity and the civilization which that flag embodies and represents must remain and abide forever. The Republican party has beeu the party of brave conservatism, of wise progress and of triumphant faith in the nationality of this people, and we know that the president and statesmen and voters of the Republican party will meet these issues of the future, as bravely and triumphantly as we have met the issues of the past. “The organized Democratic party of the nation adheres to the policies of free silver and free trade, and deuies the right of the courts and of the government to protect persons and property from violence. On the coming Bth of November we are to elect not only our state officers, but also representatives in Congress and members of our state legislature. That legislature in its turn will elect-a United States senator to succeed the present Democratic senator from this state. It is known that if the Democratic party secures the State legislature it will re-elect to the United States senate that Democrat who now represents his party there and misrepresents the state. That senator supported the cause of free silver, supported the nominee of the Chicago convention in the last presidential election; gave his vote in the senate for the heresies of that Chicago platform, and must, if re-elected, continue to support these heresies.”