The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-07-11
ANARCHY IN THE SADDLE.
From the Philadelphia Press,

The violent and revolutionary excesses
| OF the Chicago convention have astounded
and shocked all rational people. Ii marks
| the high tide of organized fanaticism and
delirium in American history. 1t makes
even the attempted secession of slavery
respectable in the comparison. The Seces-
sicnists drew the sword In defence of an
institution abhorrent in its principle but in
| herited from their fathers and interviewer
with their whole life and social economy
Their flaming revolt was the inevitable
elimination of long struggle between
two irreconcilable systems and civiliza-
| tions. But this startling demonstration
| represents only chaos. confusion and de-
struction. 1t is a frantic outbreak Of all the
seething elements of unrest and all the
sOdden dregs Of responsibility, disorder
and lawlessness. Behind 1t Is a delusion
| widespread but evanescent. which has
been made the occasion of this upheaval
Seizing upon that unrefectipg folly on the
part of large numbers OF honest and we'll
meaning but deceived and misguided peo-
pie. the demons Of dishonesty and anarchy
have combined for an assault upon all the
sacred principles Of law. order, honesty
and public safety.
We cannot indict a misled people whose
couraged this monstrous exhibition. We
can only give them the truth and recall
them to their senses. But no reprObation
can equal the deserts of these wild and
revolutionary leaders. No large political
movement In America has ever before
spawned such hideons and repulsive vip-
ers. The Nallandighams of the war Pc
rod Were odious, but even they did not be-
long to this serpent brood The Altgeius
and Tillmans who have thrust aside the
old leaders of the Democracy and have
seized the reins of control incarnate q
spirit of communism and anarchy which
Is new to American politics on any large
scale. Their arbitrary and high-handcd
proceedings throughout the convention fit
their whole character. They have ridden
rough-shod at every point over the friends
of honest money. They have ruthlessly
trampled upon tine-honOred precedents.
They have lawiessiy unseated rightfully
elected representatives and have seated
usurping claimants without shadow OF
iitle by the sheer might Of physical power.
But shameless as were all these incidents
in the exercise of their brutal strength,
they are harmless and innocent compared
with the monstrous declaration OF ''prin-
cples" which they deliberately present to
the American people as the basis Of their
appeal to be entrusted with the govern
ment.
This riotous platform is the concrete
creed of the mob. 1t is rank Populism in
tens.iied and edged with hate and venom.
1t rests upon the four corner stones of
organized reputation, deliberate confis-
cation. chartered communism and en-
throned anarchy. Such a noXious and ne
farious profession of faith has never be-
fore been made in this country even by
an escaped band Of lunatics. 1t begins
with falsehood, advances through war
upon the social fabric and ends with the
unleashing of the mob. Its demand for
the reign of the ilfty-cent dollar IL only
the first step. 1t betrays the real scheme
when it proposes to destroy all national
bank currency. and give the government
power to issue unlimited fiat paper money.
A billion would fail. and the printing press
would be made to turn out two billions!
Then We should have dollars not of Of ifty
cents. but Of forty cents, twenty cents.
nothing. Not only does 1t propose to re-
pudiate all public obligations but to con-
fiscate one half Of all private savings. 1t
proclams a crusade against thrift and en-
terprise and property. 1t would destroy
all public credit and undermine all pri-
vate security. From this uplifting Of the
red flag Of the commune it is but step
to the sanction of se1ition. and the un-
blushing effrontery with which this plat
form of a great party. under the sinister
inspiration of the champion of anarchists.
denounces the interpositon Of tie federal
government for the suppression Gf the
Chicago riot and practically demands free
play for red-handed rioters is the most
audacious and insulting assumption ever
nll rnssad n the American uaOpls.