The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-03-03
Protection the True Issue.

"a Republican Since Fremont" con-
tributes to our New York namesake
letter containing some timely advice
TO voters i'm the Republican party.
The point with which he introduces
his communication is that unless Re
oublicans are careful Mr.. Cleveland
will force the next campaign to be
fought on an issue of his own choosing.
instead Of on the one which lie and his
party most dread, namely, the protec-
tive tariff.
After three years of pusillanimous
disgrace abroad, and impot"nt cropping
among disasters at home. Mr. CleVe-
land" this writer observes, has sud
denly treated us to Il display of be
lated vigor over the nfty-year-old Ven
ezuela dispute, and at once the whole
country is afiame. Next comes another
crusade for Cuba, and congress Is
aiame again. What he wants to
know Is whether Mr.. Cleveland is to
be "allowed and actually helped TO
bunco the people after this stale, old
Democratic fashion into shifting the
real ground of contest? Is it not worth
while for voters. before choosing their
delegates to stop for u moment and
consider what it is they really need to
vote about, this fall?"
Failing into IL reflective mood. the
writer asserts, what is everywhere ad-
mitted. that -four years ago this was
the most prosperous country in the
world. Its credit was at the highest.
It's currency was everywhere current.
Its internal development, it's advance
in diffused wealth ana other elements
of q higher civilization, it's productive
industry. and it's internal and external
trade. were enormous beyond prece-
dent. 1t paid the highest wages in the
world, and it gave it's workingmen the
greatest leisure and the greatest COM
fort" But
The very plenitude of their prosperity
intoxicated them. The workinSmen were
so well Oft themselves that they fancied
the manufacturers must he TOO well off,
and resolved to vote for II change, which
Democrats said would strip their employ
ers. and give them more. They voted ac-
cordingiy, and instantly inaugurated the
worst panic and ~ protracted season OF the
times the country has ever seen. Every
election from that day to this has only
brought out more and more clearly the
fact that they have discovered their mis-
take. Every election has shown that the
one thing they want is to undo their mis-
take in 1892 and get back to where they
We're. Now what does this mean? Does
ii mean that the politicians are properly
interpreting the popular want when they
play into Cleveland's hands by raising a
hullaballOo over the Monroe doctrine,
which everybody supports and England
viii never resist; or by starting Il new
1ilibuSterng crusade about Cuba, which
IVprVhDIy EnnvsZ "a
and knows also that we ought to avoid
taking as long as possible?
The authors real purpose, however,
appears in the paragraph which fol-
lows:
If the one thing the people want is to get
back to where they were. u natural re-
sponse to their desire would have been
the nomination of General Harrison. He
himself prevents that What is the next
most natural response? Is it Iot the nom
ination of the man whose very name ex-
presses to every voter the system which
now 10 restore as quickly he can?
Names In a popular canvass are somc-
times the most powerful of arguments.
Every voter now knows that four years
ago what was derisively called "McKin-
leyism' meant to him personally high
wages, and meant to the country protec-
tion and prosperity. Every voter knows
that the mistaken abandonment of il
brought panic, lower wages. less con-
Why should not Republicans now brush
away Mr.. Cleveland's cheap limitations of
old Democratic devices to make the coun-
try forget their blunders at home and
abroad by reviving the war spirit; and at
once clarity and inspire the canvass by
putting forward the one name that means
to every voter in the Union. a return to
the old system. which gave prosperity,
and the abandonment of which brought
disaster? Why help Cleveland to confuse
and bewilder voters by ourselves trying
to elevate side issues on which the party
is not united. and neglect the one issue
on which 1t is not only absolutel'- unite,
but on which 1t now counts hosts. of sup
porters In the ranks Of the Democracy It.
self? The very name of Mckinley would
bring the campaign to the true fighting.
ground, and furnish inspiration for the
fight
In other words it would be nomina-
tion that would make it's own argu-
ment and a canvass which would run
itself" This no doubt is all true. We
have no opinion to exnress concerning