The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-11-09
The True Liberal Party.

Inc true L1Oeral P0rty.
We have spoken during the recent
campaign of the Detroit Tribune as one
of the ablest and fairest newspapers
advocating free coinage. 1t remained
almost alone on it's side In maintain
ing throughout the canvass an imper-
sonal and argumentative tone. Its
owner, Hon. James L. Scripps, assist
ed at the foundation of the Republican
party and left that organization only
when he found himself unable to in
dorse its attitude on the financial issue
as expressed at St. Louis. We have
read with interest the view which Mr..
Scripps' paper has taken of the future
OF the political parties in this country
in the light of the recent election, and
1t is possible that that view will be of
interest to our readers also. After re-
viewing the past differentiation of the
leading political organizations the De-
troit paper says:
Undoubtedly the effect of this years
campaign will be the crystallization of a
great liberal party, which will include in
supported the silver ticket on Tuesday
last. The principles crudely expiessed
in the Chicago platform will be recast to
better adapt them to the average senti-
ment, and the mistakes and niisfOrtunes
Of the Republican party, which has now
definitely assumed the place of the con-
servative party of the country, will be
taken advantage of to carry the new
party into power, perhaps in 1900. 1t will
Of hn toll md caI N
trusts and will stand for the broadest
liberty to the citizen consistent with pro-
lection to all. 1t will be a wholesome
check on the Republican party and upon
the encroachments of corporate and un-
warranted civil power. Whether it will
triumph in 1900 will depend on how
conservative in the strict sense of tho
word the Republican party may show it.
self in the next four years. No doubt so
wise and liberal a policy might be adopt
ed that the new Democracy would be dis
armed altogether, but that is hardly to be
expected.
Why is it hardly to be expected?
Mr.. Scripps. Senator Teller and other
Republicans left their party because
they believed that free coinage alone
would insure return of general pros
perity. If prosperity returns without
free coinage, will they be SO unfair as
to decline to recognize it? Will they
prefer the means to the end, or will
they, as honest and candid men, hold
themselves in readiness to he con-
vinced by results, no matter what their
preconceived theories may have been?
To speak of the POpocracy which
Bryan led as liberal party is an
euphonism. True liberalism is essen
TALLY constructive; the liberalism"
of the Chicago platform was essen
TALLY destructive. In the real sense in
which the term Is used in designating
political movements the Republican
party is the only liberal party in Amer
lean politics. That under its adminis-
tration many members Of society have
grown rich and powerful does not
necessarily signify that it, also, has
grown aristocratic. No political party
can prevent the accumulation of
wealth unless it follows the Democratic
plan of keeping all persons poor. So
long as the Republican party governs
to the end that all persons may have
a fair and equal chance in life, it re-
mains a liberal party, a party of and
for honest people. 1t will not have any
other aim under the administration of
William Mckinley.
1t will not stoop to the role Of pam
der to the lusts and prejudices of the
mob and the party which does will
get whipped just as surely as the Popo-
cracy got whipped last Tuesday; but
it will be true to the interests of the
honest and Industrious poor; it will
keep ever in mind the welfare Of what |
are known as the common people, and
if it doesn't it will itself get trounced |
at the next presidential election. OF |
these things we are certain.