New-York tribune., 1896-10-30
THE ONLY QUESTION.

The country is in greater danger than Il has
been since 1861. This is not merely our opinion,
and is not merely party opinion 1t is the
profound belief of patriotic men without dis
tinction of party and in every section Of the
country.
1t was the capture of the Democratic party
at Chicago by the Anarchists. POpulists. Com
munsts. and RevOlutionists. which made this
danger imminent. If the Democrats had been
able to hold their historic organization within
constitutional lines and OH ground not abhorrcnt
to every patriot. we should have been confront
ed by no such peril On Democrats therefore
rests tho chief responsibility.
We believe the Republicans alone would have
been able to defeat the mOnstrous Chicago plat
form and its appropriate candidates. beating
back. for the moment. this danger. as more than
once before they have beaten back attacks that
threatened the Republic. But the duty of every
Republican. and of every patriot whatever his
party. is not simply to defeat this platform. but
to destroy 1t. If it Is merely defeated TO be
again revived and fought over .wO years and
four years hence. we shall be almost badly
off rs if We had been beaten at the outset. The
party Of Reputation and Anarchy must not be
left in condition to keep with the fight. 1t
must be crushed. 1t must be stamped out. II
must be overwhelmed. as by an avalanche so
that the places that now know II shall see it no
more forever.
This we believe to be now the only point for
patriotic men at the East to watch There is
no doubt that wc shall carry the Eastern States
The only question is. Shall they be carried so
Overwhelmingly. so crushingly. that the blind
est demagOgue must see il would he more than
his political life is worth to dare Ia propose 4
revival Of the issue. We must defeat it SO thor
Oughly that no man in this generation will any
more think Of reviving it than any man in the
last generation would have thought to try St.
cession over again. That way only lie peace
and safety for the coming years.
When therefore Democrat or revenue
rcfOrmer like John Goldman. writes TO plead that.
since the resu. is sure IL would bc partisan
mistake for Democrats TO swell a Republican
triumph. he not only misses completely the duty
of the hour. but he strikes note as diScordant
as that of the army contractor who went bawl-
ing through Valley Forge. demanding immediate
pay for his beef. To urge that for any petty.
partisan purpose the moral effect Of an over
whelming majority in each Eastern State against
this monstrous Chicago platform should be d.
minishcd or minimizcd is more than nparioiic.
II verges on treason
DO the Democrats whom these Populiss and
Anarchists at Chicago ran over and stood on
their heads want their enemies beaten Just a
little e?-scotcheG. not kcd?-lcft strong enough
and bitter enough to renew the fight at the very
next election. to hold everything still in turmoil.
and to keep us fighting. election after election.
for our very lives? That is what Withholding
votes from Mckinley means Shall we
nurse this fight along for years: Or shall We
stamp 1t ont nOw:-kill and make an end OF It :!
That is the question. and the only question.