The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-11-05
Looking Ahead.

Looking Ahead.
We must confess that we have some
curiosity to know what the future of
the two wings of the Democratic party
will be. 1t is clear unless signs deceive
that Tuesdays vote split that party
irreconcilably asunder We know that
the Democratic party is an elastic or
gan2ation which long after it's useful
ness seemed tn have departed managed
somehow to keep a hold on life and
at times to wax strong. But never
before in It's history. so far as we are
familiar with it, was there a situation
parallel to the one which confronts it
today. VIII it fail to survive it, pres
cnt anomalous condition or will II
slump for the future into Populism and
make way for a substantially new
political structure upon its former
foundations"
Definite answers to these questions
cannot yet be Forthcoming. We shall
have to await developments for Il
:ime before speaking with confidence
on this point. But there is one part!cu
lar concerning which we are more free
to prophesy; ana that is as to the con-
tinUauCc of the agitation symbolized
by MIR. Bryan. Our reading Of TIE
signs is that that agitation will not
pause. It may cast about for some
new catch words whereby to make a
further appeal TO the fancy OF emo
tional persons who are not strong on
careful thinking, but we should con-
slider it false security on the part of
the Republican party if it were to i'm
aginc that it's striking triumph of
Tuesday was more than the beginning
of period OF unusual responsibility
made still more grave by the pDgsibili-
ties latent in this self same unrest.
The Republicans party has won a
noble victory and we are all glad. But
in our hour of triumph let us be pres
cient and prudent. Let us frankly con-
fess to ourselves and fashion our ac-
tions to the lessons Of that conf sson
that unless we prove equal to the new
obligations and responsibilities which
that victory carried with it, the next
GuadrenniGl election, instead of bring
ti0n, may carry one full of mortifica-
tion and ChaGrin. For tha morrow let
us look 10 it that no step shall be taken
in the direction Of giving the scmblance
OF justice to the cry Of the Populist that
this is a victory of the capitalist and
corporate classes. While the Republican
party must not rail at honest enter
prise nor join in any maudin move
ment for the crucinxion Of thrift and
success, it must not on the other hand
forget that there can be abuses of
privilege and Illegal aggression among
the rich no less than among the turbu-
lent and dscontented classes of the
poor.
We wish especially to have it rem
ombered that while there are Altgelds
and Tillmans and Bryans who deserve
censure because Of their appeals to
the coarser and Easer instincts of the
mob, there are not less culpab man.
ayers of great institutions and much
lauded captains of industry and
enterprise who do their share. too to-
ward the creation of class prejudices
when they barter for special Legislative
favors or prostitute their high innu-
ences to ignoble and illicit ends. The
men who bribe councils, corrupt legis-
lators, and even go so far at times
as to lay the hand Of venality upon the
spotless ermine OF the courts are not
all followers of Bryan; and while we
rejoice in the defeat of the latter and
think it highly deserved. let us not be
betrayed into too intimate partnership
in the iniquities of the former nor
get in such relation hips with tn m
that 1t will be difficult to enforce the
law on the big criminals as well as
upon the little.
The confidence which we have in the
strong moral fibre of the great ma
tority Of those who constitute the MEM
bership Of the Republican party leads
us to trust it without hesitancy or
reserve. We do not believe that it has
entered into any dark alliances or that
1t will swerve from the line of future
duty. The millions of honest and
thoughtful men who are behind it; the
personal worth and unsullied character
of its new standard bearer, the emin-
ent leaders who guide and guard its
destinies will not let it go astray. But
we want it to feel that it will soon have
something more serious to think of
and to prepare for than the ACCLAIM
atory celebration Of victory at the
polls, and we hope to see it get ready
for it's coming trials in the spirit which