The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-05-25
Wholesome indications.


1t is indicative of healthy political
sentiment when thousands Of men,
foremost in their respective communi-
ties, are willing to bravs the perils Of
flood and storm and endure the incon-
veniences of interrupted travel merely
to be present at a Republican state
convention, the work Of which,
achieved without exciting incident,
had generally been foreseen. 1t is in.
dicative Of healthy political sentiment
when these men, whose collective gu
periority over the average convention
throng WAS so distinct and conspicu-
ous as to occasion repeated remark,
become so imbued with genuine party
feeling that the oratory in which this
emotion found voice is admitted to
have been the most eloquent, earnest
and effective since the stirring days of
emancipation and civil wal. Such in
cidents are not mere accidents. They
have a profound and a hopeful signif
canoe, that bodies i'll for the future of
Democratic p%artisanship in this u
try.
1t is likewise indicative OF a whole.
some state of public opinion when the
proposition at Harrisburg to offer a sop
to the PopuliStic z9alots of the day in
the form of a qussi,indorsement of I'M
limited silver coinage, instead Of en-
counterlng favor, met with such dis
tinct ana overwhelming repudiation
that the suggestion was not even re-
peate1. Among the membership of
all great organizations having in
charge the dissemination of certain
political principles there are naturally
two distinct classes that sometimes
clash. One class believe in principle
because it is principle; the other, be-
cause it is a convenient means to COW
eted personal ends. The former will
not bend their real convictions to the
false god Of expediency, whereas the
latter stand ready to change principles
as they would coats, with each varia
ton in the tickle temperature Of popu.
lar flvor. 1t is indicative of q whole
some stage in the progress of revived
Republicanism in this commonwealth
that the tricksters and demagogues,
who sometimes disport themselves on
its surface, have been properly subor-
dinatei; and that the battle of the i'm
mediate future is to be q fearless one,
for principle, like those Of earlier days
that form at once the party's glory
and the nations pride.
Among those who two years ago
were misled into the Grover Cleveland
wilderness were thousa nds who, born
of Republican parents and reared
among the elevatfng influences Of Re.
publicanism in its formative period,
had Of late years, as they believed,
missed the true ring Of sincere convic.
tion in many Republican platforms and
fancied they heard, instead, the piping
treble of expadiency. They may be
wrong in this fancy. They certainly
were wrong in losing even momentary
faith in the only American party OF
modern times which has represented O
real and creative aim in our politics
further than the making Of new offices
added to the seizure Of the old ones.
They certainly were wrong in arguing
that because Republicanism showed, as
they supposed, momentary and super.
fetal signs of moral deterioration il
lay within their power, or within the
power Of any man or men, to galvanize
tho old. states. rights, slave-labor, Sc
cession-loving Democracy into even
the semblance Of moral regeneration.
But right or wrong, they made their
choice and began the experiment with
results Of familiar dis~astrousness, We
invite the attention of these sincere
c~itizsns to the indications we have just
described. Now. it seems to us, is an
excellent time to begin their atonement
for past errors; an excellent time to
get nee more into the old homestead,
among old friends and in the old and
wholesome Republican atmosphere.
The present revival in the Republic
can party meanssan end to Mugwump-
cry as a formidable political posi-,
bility.