New-York tribune., 1896-08-26
Mr.. PHELPS'S LETTER.

Vermont Democracy is proverblally rock
ribbed. If man be a Democrat there where
that party is doomed pcrpetually to be hope
less minority, he is stalwart one. Democrat.
indeed in whom. whether there be guile or not.
there is no varableness nor shadow of turning.
II in addition he possess unsullcd private char
actcr. broad and deep scholarship. extended OK
perence as a successful man Of affairs and an
honorable record as "A servant OF the Nation. snch
a man may well be taken as type OF that which
is best and most worthy of following in the party
he represents. Such a man, beyond all question,
is the Hon. T.. j. Phelps. American Minister to
England under Mr.. Clevcland's first Admins
ration, whose letter on the present political sit
uation we published yesterday and earnestly
commend to the attention of all readers. Repub-
leans and Democrats alike.
The major part of Mr.. Phelpss letter is. in
deed equally addressed TO all American citizens
without regard to party. 1t discusses the issues
raised by the Chicago platform from the point
of view of the whole people. whether rich or
poor high or low and shows, with clarity OF
thought and cogency of logic that should be
convincing to every receptive mind that the in
terests of all classes are mutually interdepen
dent and tha the result of war of one class
against another such as Mr.. Bryan and his fol
lowers are trying TO create. mus, inevitably be
disastrous TO both This with respect to the
frce-coinage proposition But the other features
Of the Chicago platform are. in Mr.. PhepsS :
view, almost equally Objectionable. His lndict-
ment of that document is indeed, one Of the
most trenchant and effective thar have been
made. and is worthy of careful study and con
stant remembrance by every American voter
from now until the evening of Election Day.
For it is the utierance not Of special pleadcr,
nor of u bOmbaSic stump orator. but OF a level
headed. iudcial-mindcd man. who weighs every
word he speaks. and II is. every word of it. cX-
acly true. Here IL is:
II proposes to rrpudiate In great part the
National debt. to tho distress of the thou
sands whose small resources are intrusted to
the faith of the Nation. and to the dishonor
of our country In the eyes of the worid to
destroy tho protection we enjoy under the
supreme Court of the United Stntes the most
hOnorcd and. In the last resort. the most
necessary institution we hnvci to restrain
the arm Of the National Executive from the
repression of inwIess viO,encei and even from
the preservation of the very agencies of the
Government Itself; to violate th" utilization
and snnctity of exisfiDE contracts and To re-
strict the freedom of private contracts In the
future. IL seeks. In short. to break down the
dikcs which the Constitution md the law Of
the land hnve with long and Iaborious as
siduity raised for the defence of the common
intcrcsts and welfare. and to let In upon us
the scethipe and polluted hOod Of cOmmu-
nism. mob law, bankruptcy. repudin tiOn and
anarchy. hfch IL Is the chief object Of all
civilized Governments to exclude.
In the closing paragraphs of this impressive
letter Mr.. Phelps addresses himself more cspc-
ciallv 70 his fellow Democrats He is, he says
not n Republican. and ne never will he. He does
not believe in the Republican principle Of Pro
lection. ard he never Will Bnt he Will vote the
Republican ticket this year. and he will vote FOR
the Republican candidate. who is The chief living
advocate and apostle Of Protection. Il shall,
he says. explicitly. vote for Mr.. Mckinley.
He will do more He VIII vote the Republican
State ticket at the September election. because
he is unwilling to support any Democratic can
, ddate who permits himself to be run on the CHI
cago platform Of fraudulent money. Vermont
he knows Is not a doubtful State. His vote will
not be needed to give it safe majority for the
Republican State and National tickets. But he