The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-05-01
Intellectual CrOaking.

1t will reassure those Republicans
who believe that William Mckinley's s
nomination and election to the presi-
dency are practically assured that this
probability of the near future already
sits heavily on the stomach Of the in
consolable Larry" Godkin. Being con-
stitutionally opposed to whatever
smacks of Americanism and inherently
predisposed to bow down before what
ever pleases Great Britain. ii Is entirely
natural that Mr.. Godkin, in the ripeness
of his political biliousness, should mark
Mckinley with the high honor of his
disfavor. For has not Mckinley stood
for protection and thereby mortally Of
Tended the English?
In an article which is enormously
given the leading place in the table of
contents of the May Forum, Mr.. Godkin
volunteers at considerable length his
views of the political situation, and 1t
need scarcely be added that those views
are full of gloom. His conclusion is
that the Republican party, in its search
for standard bearer. has reached "a
region of extraordinary intellectual
poverty and moral weakness" and he
thinks that the election to the presi-
dency of Mr.. Mckinley would be Moth
ing less than national misfortune.
But before he draws rein at this pessi-
mistic terminal, the sad-eyed prophet
remarks:
If the Republicans elect the presi dent
next fall and have majority III both
houses, they will probably pass something
like the old Mckinley tariff bill, and they
will generally suppose that this VIII bring
in an era Of prosperity, but II VII! not 10
30 any more than the old Mckinley tariff
which led TO the terrible defeat OF 1880. 1t
will be full of cxcesses and abuses which
will bring about another reaction, and
there will then he IN few years another
kind of tariff with Il similar result. once
community adopted the plan of getting
rich by legislation 1t bids goodbye TO
steadlness No matter what acts are
passed. the mass of the population remains
poor or fails in business and then lays
the blame on the legislation or on the leg
islators. and tries new men or new meas
ures. 1t has always been SO, and Will al
ways be so. The government Of the day
is always responsible for both the weather
and the crops, and this alone will make
Mckinley's election national misfor-
tune. 1t Is not that he will make pro-
tcctive tariff that we fear, but that he
will make another tariff which people will
not put up with very long.
If the new Mckinley tariff which
Brother Godkin correctly perceives as
a certainty of the near future will sue
ceed as well in furthering the develop
ment of American industry as the old
did until its good effects were neutral
lied by the dread of Democratic exper-
imentation. the great ma ajority of Amer
lean electors will be satisfied. The lat
all its details. In some schedules it
may have gone trifle higher than was
really necessary, although this. If an
error at all, was manifestly an error on
the side of safety But in comparison
with the mongrel deficit measure which
took it's place, with it's dread concomit-
ants of doubt, debt and disaster, and
its infliction upon the nation of bill
lions Of dollars loss, it stands forth
today In the memory of the American
people as success so pronounced that
all she chatter of all the mugwumps
from Portland, Me-, to San Diego will
not subtract one CLEAN from its luster.
In enumerating the causes of Major
McKinley's popularity one should not
forget the opposition to him Of the
New York Evening Post.