New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-07-05
THE EyHTRJTJON AT CHICAGO.

The National birthday anniversary cannot DE
more fifty honorcd than by candid and fearless
estimate of the citizenship which century or
self-government has developed For there are
few who deny that free institutions are In
many respects wasteful and expensive. The
liability to radical change in the policy or the
government. even regarding questions on which
the welfare of the whole people depends. Is
now and must ever be a cause of much absolute
loss and a brake on the wheel OF enterprise.
In spite Of all these Obstacles freedom here has
brought higher individual prosperity. more
daring and progressive enterprise than can be
seen anywhere else and the explanation must
be found in the character Of manhood which
self government has helped to develop.
1t Is not easy to speak with enthusiasm OF
American citizenship as a whole at the very
time when a great party processing to embrace
nearly half the voters Of the country Is In the
act OF demandi ,g dishonest and rulnous Ma
tonal policy. Cranks there are. In considerable
number. whose devotion to silver theories has
In 1t no vestige Of individual greed. A theory
about money has so captivated their minds that
they sacrifice 10 il their personal fortunes, their
political, possibilities and even their strong de-
sire for progress and prosperity through adop-
ton of a wise economic policy But such men
are not the majority Of those who demand free
silver The power Of the silver movement Is in
It's appeal to the selfish greed Of mutitudes
who imagine that cheap money would make 1t
easier for them to pay debts and would secure
them higher prices for things they produce.
II is not necessarily dishonest for a man TO
want higher prices for wheat or cotton. But II
he is getting for wheat and cotton as much In
ofo oil at no
in like conditions OF demand and supply. his
desire IS really to appropriate for himself part
of the fruits of others labor. Neither is it
necessarily dishonest if man borrowed money
twentyAv years ago. When debts were pay
able in silver for him to wish that he might
pay under the conditions existing when he Dor
rowed. But there probably is not one man in
the United States who now debt created
before 1873 and every debt created since that
time has been subject to the monetary condi-
tons which now exist. a desire to change the
terms of such debt is desire to pocket part
Of the money due to the ere ditOr
II the Nation were really represented at Chi
cagO this anniversary would warrant not much
pride In the results Of century Of sclfgovcrn
ment. The sort Of citizenship exhibited there
is not an honest or intelligent manhood and
Americans might well be ashamed of il. The
Anarchists and lawbreakers. who are not toll
Grated ms decent members Of civilized society
in other countries. have more influence at this
hour at Chicago than such persons possess in
any other land on the face of the globe. But
the throng at Chicago does not represent Amer
lea. 1t represents only the dead weight OF
ignorance, prejudice and dishonesty, which in
other countries may be distributed among
many factions, but which In this country has
gravitated into the Democratic party ever since
that party undertook the defence of human
slavery. The outcome at Chicago will prove
blessing TO the country if II causes n final rupt
IRE between the more worthy and respectable
elements which have chung to Democracy in
partisan spirit in spite of It's steady degenera-
ton for fifty ycars.