New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-07-31
REEOGGED.


are little befogged by what seems to them
to be an anomalous political situation They
are confronted by the plain. practical question,
which cannot be either disguised or evaded
whether they will vote to uphold the credit Of
the Nation and maintain its honor. or fall in
with the Populists, who have stolen their party
name, and-because 1t has the semblance OF
regularlty-vote for ticket which stands open
ly and avowedly for National reputation and
dshonor. The issue Is as clean cut and sharp
ly drawn as 1t was when Stephen A. Douglas
said-as quoted the other night by Speaker
Reed-after the firing on Fort Sumter that
"thenceforth there could be but two parties,
patriots and traitors" The Popocrats at Chi
cago made a no less deadly assault upon the
credit and honor Of the Nation than did the
Secessionists at Charleston upon the integrity
of the Union. The Demarchists at st. Louis re-
sponded with no less promptness than Pensa
cola echoed the guns aimed at Sumter 1t took
some little time then for Democratic patriots
to realize that in taking a stand for the Union
they were not changing their political faith and
abandoning their party. The Republicans were
in power, and they could not at first rid them
selves Of the notion that in supporting the Gov
eminent they were somehow doing Republicans
q special favor which entitled them to unusual
consideration. They were temporarily be-
logged.
Stephen A. Douglas cleared the atmosphere
for many Of them when he drew the new line
and defined the new parties. General Dan
Sickles and hundreds more Of patriotic Demo
Gratis made it clearer still when they unsheathed
swords and shouldered muskets for a cause
which they recognized instinctlvely as above
party. Some Of the War Democrats who have
survived notably General Sickles-have with
no Less clear vision disc erJed the proportions
and the significance of the present crisis, and
with no less promptness put themselves. With
out hesitation, question or reservation on rec
ord beside those who stand for the honor of the
Nation whatever their party name. regardless
Of old ties and associations. To these men the
Altgeld- TIllman- Bryan assault upon National
credit was as much a trumpet-call as any which
summoned them TO the patriots duty during
the War. They raised no question as to party
names or past political affiliations, none as to
whether they would be welcomed as equal allies
or treated as new converts and put on proba
ton They simply saw. as Douglas did In 1861.
that the honor of the Nation was at stake, and
that henceforth, for this campaign at least,
there are only two parties-one for Honesty and
the other for Reputation.
The mistake some other Sound Money Dem
Ocrats are making is in assuming that they will
be doing Republicans a special favor by voting
for Mckinley. That is but narrow view
The country belongs to all of us: Republicans
Democrats, POpulists. and the rest; to men of
all parties. It's credit and its honor are our
common heritage, and it is to uphold them that
we are making this fight. 1t so happens that
the Republican candidates alone stand for the
maintenance and preservation Of what all in
tel!gent patriots hold most sacred. In this
state of things there can be no question as TO
duty There is but choice left open TO hon
est men. The hesitatng Democrat may well
say. after ALL that though the situation is not
what he would wish. it Is at least such as
leaves no choice to an honest man except to rise
above party and stand for his country's honor
and his own uprightness.