The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-06-19

for the presidency statesmen and SOL
diers who were the leaders of the people
in their onward march to larger liberty
and broader and better Industrial condi-
tions.
No party, no matter how glorious it's
achievements or how brilliant Its sue
cesses, can rely upon the past. Its for
mer triumphs are only It's certificates Of
character, which must be met by con-
tinulng effort as beneficent and wise as
anything Of which 1t boasts. The party
which Is to permanently govern a country
and Is secure in Its past, must not only be
equal to the present, but must forecast
and provide for the future. The Repub-
lican party has held possession of the
government of the United States for more
than a generation because 1t has trium-
phantly met these conditions. The un-
eQualled successes of the Republican par
ty, It's hold upon the country, and Its mas
terful influence upon affairs have been
due to the fact that In every crisis its
principles have solved the problems of the
man for the occasion. The greatest moral
and patriotic questions which free
people were ever called upon to meet were
slavery and secession In the early days OF
our organization. But with Union and
Liberty" as our watchword and with Lin
coin as our leader we saved the republic
and emancipated the slave.
A few weeks preceding the convention Of
four years ago at Minneapolis l had an
afternoon with Mr.. Blaine. With marvel
lous intuition he forecast the future. He
said: substantially all the forces Of oI-
| position of distrust, and of disappoint-
ment, of theory and of imagination which
accumulate against party that has been
In power for over thirty years are now
| concentrated for an assault upon our po-
sition and are certain to succeed. The
Democratic party and its allies of Popu-
| lism and Of all other isms are destined in
| this campaign, no matter who Is our caii-
| didate or what Is our platform, to secure
possession of the government" The coun-
| try knows to Its loss its sorrow, and its
grief, that the prediction has been fulfilled
in every part. In its fulfilment the United
States has the experience and Europe has
the business and prosperity.
| We meet to take up the broken cord Of
national development and happiness and
link 1t once more to the car Of progress.
Our Industries stagnant, our manufac-
lures paralyzed. our agriculture disheart-
ened. our artisans unemployed, our
| finances disordered, our treasury bank
rupt. our credit impaired. our position
|
toned. all look to this convention and call
upon its wisdom for hope and rescue.
DEMOCRATIC CONDITIONS.
The conditions created by the practice of
Democratic policies the promise Of Dem
ocratic measures, and the differences of
Democratic statesmen would seem to ar
que an unquestioned and overwhelming
triumph for the Republican party in the
coming election No matter how brillient
the promise, no matter how serene the
outlook, 1t Is the part of wisdom, with
the uncertainties of politics and our re-
cent experience Of the tragic shifting is
sues, to be careful, prudent, and wise in
platform and in candidate.
The last few years have been a campaign
Of university extension among the peo-
pie Of the United Staes. and while we may
In platform and candidate meet all the
requirements Of party obligations and
party expectations, we must remember
that there IL e. vast constituency which
has little fealty to parties or to organi2a-
tions, but votes for the man and the
principles which are in accord with their
views In the administration Of the coun-
try. The whole country, north, south. east
and west. without any division In our lines
or out of them, stands, after what has
happened in the last three years, for the
protection Of American industries, for tho
principle of reciprocity, and for America
for Americans. But compact neighbor-
hood OF great commemorative, In which
are concentrated the majority Of the pop
ulation, of the manufactures and of the
Industrial energies Of the United States
has found that business and credit exist
only with the stability, of sound money.
1t has become the fashion Of late to de.
cry business as unpatriotic. We hear
much of the 'sordid considerations OF
capital" employment" industrial on
ereies" and prosperous hbor." The
United States, differing from the fnediaeva