The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-07-15
No Lowering OF the Flag!

thereby we could nave money 10 fust.
No Lowering OF the Flag!
A number Of Democratic journals Of
the east which few weeks ago were
full of abuse and misrepresentation of
William Mckinley are now begging the
Republican nominee to make it easy
for sound money Democrats TO support
him for president. The declaration of
their party at Chicago for free coinage
has occasioned them such uneasincss
that they are seeking for preteXts to
cover a bolt to Mckinley: and the fav-
orite pretcXt for which they now petit
ton is that the Republican candidate,
out of Difference to their free trade pre-
objections, will kindly ''let up on Pro-
lection" If he will do that. they argue
that he can secure hundreds of Demo-
cratic votes which might be alienated
by consistent advocacy of his we'll
known views concerning the tariff.
To this cowardly argument the Buffa-
10 Enquirer, itself a Democratic paper
which in this campaign has accepted
and indorsed Mckinley unreservediy,
makes the following manly reply: This
ought to be an honest canvass; and no
man ought to vote for Mckinley under
any delusions. He is precisely the same
gentleman against whom the Demo
cratic party in reality waged its fight
in 1892 1t is out of his name that they
manufactured the word which they ap-
piled to the policy of the Republican
party. McKinleyism. They attacked
him then as the champion Of the rob-
ber barons of Protection the author of
pickpocket tariff. the villain who was
supposed to be plundering the many
for sake of the few. He voted for the
Sherman act, which they denounced,
but against free silver which they advo-
Gated at that time though so Mortified
at the thought of it now. 1t is be-
cause of the hostile reputation that they
have given to him as well as because
of his worth and ability that the Re-
publican party has made him a presi-
dental candidate. He has not changed;
and If his Democratic critics want to
vote for him they must take him as he
is. 1t would be folly for him to blur
the whole record of his life. to enable
his enemies to keep up q pretense of
consistency. 1t may not be easy for
Democrats to vote for Mr.. Mckinley
and the return of the Republican party
to power: but they should do it frank
ly If they do it at all; and if they can
not do 1t without making false pre-
lenses to themselves and to the public
they should nominate some candidate
that they can support with better
grace. AS for the Republicans they
should keep on the even tenor of their
way. They are not running a Demo-
cratic ticket, or advocating a Demo-
cratic policy, or vindicating Demo-
crate administration; and they should
shade neither their principles nor their
purposes for the sake of outside votes.
The really independent voter will act
without asking concessions and max
ing bargains"
If William Mckinley We're the trim
mer that these same Democratic papers
recently represented him to be, he
might possibly give heed to their pres
ent appeals. But in doing so he would
lower himself in the estimation of all
steadfast believers in principle. a
thing he is not likely to do. The issue
as drawn by the St. Louis convention
puts Protection first Without that,
even the gold standard cannot bring
prosperity. If the menace contained in
the Chicago platform is enough to
cause sound money Democrats to de-
cline to support Bryan it ought to be
enough to cause them to support Nc
Kinley and not divide the sound money
forces. If it is not, let them swallow
their party medicine and cease to make
wry faces.
The Republican cause can win wheth-
err 1t has Democratic help or not The
simple question for sound money Demo-
Gratis to consider is whether they are
partisans or patriots first.