The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-07-25
In Response to Mr.. Whitney.

TON On tne stump u answer NlT. BTya an
He can do it,
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In Response to Mr.. Whitney.
In curious statement given to the
public on Thursday William c. Whit
ney alternately pleads with Republi-
cans to keep still with reference to the
tariff and threatens that IL they do
not swallow their convictions on this
Fundamental issue the so-called sound
money Democrats will organize party
by themselves and thus try to make it
easy for Bryan and free silver to win.
After picturing in lurid phraseology the
alleged great growth in free silver sent-
ment throughout the country, ne adds:
1T ought to be plain to all thoughtful
and patriotic Republicans that the tima
has come when 1t Is absolutely neces-
sary for all good citizens to drop for
the time being partisanship and work
together earnestly and intelligently for
the common good. To trife with
crisis SO serious as this, or to attempt
to ignore or belittle it, would be both
blunder and a crime"
With due respect to Mr.. Whitney, It
needs not his voice to inform the Re-
publican party Of its duty. 1t was not
the Republican party which gave vital
ity to the free silver agitation by bank
rupting the revenues of the nation,
opening the ports to an inundation OF
foreign-made goods, throwing the IN
dustries Of the nation into a period Of
inactivity approaching stagnation, sap
ping the integrity Of the national nm.
ances and finally endeavorlng to check
some Of the consequences Of the Wilson
tariff law by the sale Of government
bonds at almost Incredible discount to
a syndicate Of bankers whose negOtla-
tions with the executive department
were. conducted in secret. When Mr..
Whitney can put this responsibility on
Republican shoulders 1t will be time for
him to arraign the Republican party as
deficient in patriotism. Until then, he
simply perverts the truth by asserting
that the tariff has ceased to be an
actual issue In this campaign"
We want to say in all candor to Mr..
Whitney and to other Democrats who
think with him that the Republican
party four years ago predicted Just
what has come to pass since the second
election Of Mr.. Cleveland; that 1t then.
as now, stood as the champion Of
policy which. had 1t been continued in
force, would have averted the troubles
that have intervened since its defeat
in the national election Of 1892; that the
national uprising which nominated Nc
Kinley at st. Louis was a popular call
for restoration Of that policy at Wash
ington; and that to call upon the NOM
inee of that uprising to stultify himself
by repudiating or suppressing the be-
liefs Of a lifetime Is not only foolish
but also, IL we must say it, impertinent.
In this campaign there is only one free
silver candidate. Three different parties
have indorsed Mr.. Bryan. 1t rests with
the Democrats of the East to say
whether this concentration Of the op-
position shall be met by q concentrated
attack led by the man whose teachings
the past three years of revenue deficit.
wage reduction and general trade par
alysis have magnificently vindicated.
They and not the Republicans are in the
balance. They must act either as pa
triots or as partisans. If they act cs
partisans and cause sound money to be
defeated, the whole country will suf-
fer but upon their shoulders will rest
the blame.
Six years ago the Daily Report was
in Lebanon. Pa. as an iI,de-
pendent afternoon newspaper at one
cent q copy. Inside Of two years. under
the capable business pilota ge of the
Sewers Bros, and the cican-cIt and ag-
gressive editorial control of Lee l..
it had become one of the
foremost interior dailies OF the state. I
Although Mr.. Grumbine has since re.
tired, the Report is steadily g,lining IL
strength. a noteworthy proof of whia
Is afforded in the handsome. twentr
four page Industrial number it has jtFt
Issued. This issue would reflect ere"
upon any metropolitan newspafr
printing plant. 1t is admirable in e