The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-12-12
The Future of the Par ties.

Under this title Mr.. Egerton Williams,
jr., of Rochester, N. Y, contributes to
the Post Express of that city a schol-
arly and well-considered forecast Of
American politics which SO nearly CO.
incides with our own belief and advice
that we offer no apology for reproduc-
ing portions of it herewith.
The old Democratic party, in Mr..
Williams opinion, is dead forever,
dead in the significance which 1t al
ways had and IL the appeals to senti-
ment which it always made. The
forces which have just fought on the
side of law and order will find them
selves forced to SO fight again In 1900.
Let US call their combination Repub-
licanism, Conservatism. or by what
name you will. The names will not
matter. The redivision which has been
made will be inevitably. unavoidably
maintained; and all who respect the
sacred rights of property, of whatever
political party they may have been
formerly. will have to stand shoulder
to shoulder for their individual safety
We shall see also that we shall follow
the lines of national progress in that
the Conservative, called Republican
party will not only repulse the success
sive demands Of socialism-no matter
what shape they will assume-but will
also turn its attention to our foreign in
terests. AS conservatism, representing
Low h,,i in, ole nd
vast foreign trade and territorial en-
pire. SO will our conservatism, repre-
senting wealth and law, extend our pos
sessions of wealth and land. secure our
right to a large share of the worlds
commerce, obtain our irresistible he
gemony of the Western Hemisphere and
advance our nation to its destined pre-
ponderance amongst the powers of the
earth"
A clear recognition of this fact sup
plies its own teaching. Let not, there
FORE adds Mr.. Williams, "those who
We're formerly antagonistic to the old
Republican party and who have just
fought in defense of property rights
fancy that they will have any oppor-
tunity to renew their allegiance to
theories now dead The old Demo-
cracy has expired: it is merged, just
as the Republican party Of the war
is merged, in the Republican party Of
to-day. If they desire to leave the
ranks of conservatism which they have
just entered, they can go nowhere but
into the camp Of socialism; and this,
we must assume, will not be entered by
any man who voted on November 8
last to preserve his own property. He
will find himself shoulder to shoulder
with patriots. engaged in 1900, 1904 and
1908 in repelling socialistic demands
equally important with the one repell-
He must see very shortly that to be
governed by the magic of a name is
fruitless. If he has any individual
property, if he is sensible man. If
he has any seeds of patriotism, he
will not only be glad to remain in the
ranks of the army which defeated
Populism, and will again and again
suppress socialism, but will also rejoice
to see his country attain by the ex-
pansion Of its territory and commerce,
and prestige, that preponderance Of
power which he yearns that it will at
tain amongst the nations Of the world"
1t is pleasant to be able to add that
the pertinency Of this advice is rapidly
gaining recognition among patriotic
Democrats.