The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-10-20
CHOOSE THE ROCK
OR THE SAND BANK
Secretary OF the Navy McAdoO Repu.
dates the Chicago Platform.
SITUATION IS CLEARLY EXPLAINED
II Admits Of No Neutrality Toward
the Doctrine 1t Party
Associations should Not BE Allowed
TO InterpOse to Prevent the Per.
fOrmance Of Duty in standing by
the Republic.


New York. Oct. 19.-Mr w. j. Cur
It's. of the law firm of Sullivan and
Cromwell, with offices on Wall street.
this city, and member OF the National
Democratic committee of New Jersey.
has received the following letter from
the assistant secretary of the navy,
McAdou.
Lakewood, y. j., Oct. H. 1896.
My Dear Mr.. Curtis:-I am in re-
ceipt of your letter, and also those of
other friends in New Jersey. asking
my views on the questions involved
in this section, and requesting a public
expression of the same. The issues
at stake are too momentous not to con-
Germ every citizen and | would consider
myself unworthy the friendship and re-
spect of those who have hitherto hon.
ored me in this regard If | were guilty
of either evasion or silence.
The question. depending ON the elec-
tion are above all partisan and per-
sonal considerations. and concern the
maintenance of our Institutions and
the honor of our country.
Personally it is with deep regret that
| find myself differing with some of
my friends. and for the first time in
my life unable to support the platform
under the auspices of the Democratic
party. 1t would be Il poor reQuital for
the honors given me by former consti-
tuents in New Jersey IL ] should fail
in this crisis to sneak to them with
candor and sincerity on matters so
vital to their interests. at the risk of
offending some of them, rather than
assume II cowdardly acquiescence in Il
policy which | heartily and sincerely
hAl Fp tol, 10, n
aster to the interests of the party and
ominiously ovcrshadowed with peril
to the nation.
The greater questions OF the cam
paign are too sharply defined, the re-
suits altogether too momentous and
far reaching, to allow political eXpe-
diency or temporary partisan advan-
tage to permit Indifference. neutrality,
or neglect. The best service one can
render to his friends is to boldly differ
with them for the preservation of what
he honestly believes their best inter-
ests at the risk of foifeting their
friendship OF even mourning their en-
nifty.
UNSOUND DOCTRINES.
II am opposed to the nlatform and
unable to support the ticket nomina ted
at Chicago. because r am thoroughly
convinced that the doctrines therein set
forth are unsound and dangerous. and
would work intalculable injury to the
whole people Of the republic. being
from political and economic point of
view extremely radical if not revolu-
tionary. fired with the heat of renewed
sectionalism, and savage with the bit
terness of class distinctions hitherto
unknown to this new and happier hemi-
sphere.
AS representative in congress had
the privilege Of speaking and voting on
several occasions against the free coin
age of silver one Of the more, objec-
tionable features of the Chicago plat
form, and have heard no new argu-
ments in its favor since then, and in
deed a careful reading Of the best that
can be said for it strengthens my con-
viction as to its folly and danger. The
untenable character of this proposition
/ and its especially Injurious effects on
he wage workers, has been so clearly
demonstrated that do not deem it nee
essary at this time to review the Objec-
tions to a scheme which seems to me
both visionary and vicious. Bad as I
believe this measure to be. when in ad-
dition it is coupled with drastic and
violent remedies for evils in govern
mcnt imaginary or existent. and which
would prove worse than the evils them
selves, it must give the most violent
partisan who still remains patriot,
pause before giving such a platform
support. either active or passive. Did
the principles at issue beget only min
or differences as to degree and expedi-
ency we might well within party lines.
and for the sake of organization. apply
the Augustinian maxim. Unity in es-
sentials. liberty in non-essentials, and
liberation in all things" but the plat
form has the only virtue of being bold
and undisgused. and admits of no neu-
tral position toward the doctrine it ad
vOcates: on the rock or the sand bank
you shall take your stand, and between
them runs the deep sea.
MOST PAINFUL REFLECTION.
"'The most painful reflection in con-
nection with this subject is that those
who advocate necessary and progress
sive reforms, either in the principles
or practice of government and who
would constantly, under normal condi-
tons, be active in their support. are
likely TO become cowed and silent from
alarm at the serious proposition to ap-
ply reckless. unusual and violent rem
edies to existing conditions. as If Or
der, light and peace We're the children
of chaos. darkness and disorder. 1t
is an acknowledged and known fact
that those great reforms which so ad-
vanced Democracy in England We're
driven back and delayed for many
years by the eXcesseS of the French
revolution. The fear Of violent and un-
natural remedies Is the best shield of
abuses; the best way to make reform
odious is To tinge it with the red hues
of the menace of reckless radicaliSm:
and to prevent hereafter the undue re-
action against wholesome and legiti-
g
sary to reject with an emphasis ap-
preaching unanimity the extreme and
sweeping innovations proposed at Chi
cagO. In it's whole history the Demo-
cratic party has glorified in it's conser-
vatism. and in the period following the
civil war it won the allegiance of vast
numbers of young men then coming of
age by it's consistent opposition to all
radical tendencies; indeed. in it's Of
fetal appeal to voters in New Jersey
and New York, 1t has called itself the
Democratic conservative party. From
this attitude to that of the convention
at Chicago which found nothing worthy
of conservation. is indeed a long dist
ance.
II yield to no one in my belief in the
majesty and independence of this great
country: it's imperial place among the
powerful nations: it's duty to assert it's
rights and maintain its honor in all
lands and on all seas, but I cannot be
convinced that the best way to make it
omnipotent against the world. If not,
as proposed, against nature itself, is
to weaken it's prestige and clip it's
authority at home. discredit its insti-
tutions. and impair its business integ-
rity. In contest such as this, party
associations, personal friendships and
interests, and even family ties con-