New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-07-01
1T LAST, 4 FAIR FIGHT.

at LlST, FIIR FIGHT.
The most encouraging feature Of the Prcsi-
dental campaign OF 1886. far as II has yet
developed. is the probahility-lndcrd almost GER
tanty-that by the action of the Democratic Ma
tcnal Convention next week all dsguiscs Will
he thrown off. and for once square and honest
fight be made In the open upon clearly defined
ISSUES II the leaders in the majority in the
convention carry out their declared purpose. the
result will be the nomination of m outspolcn
free silver candidate upon an unambiSuous ana
aggressive frccsilvcr platform. That both can
didatc and platform will be equally unequiv0
cally for Free Tr.,'lr is Of course. beyond pucs-
ton. The lines will then he fairly drawn he
tween free silver and Free Trade on the one
side and sound money and Protection on the
other. 1t will be the first time in many years
that the Democratic party has unequivocaliy
declared itself upon the lc;ding political issues
of a campaign Ever since the disruption Of
the party in 1850 it has played the game OF
hypocrisy and deceit. In every one of the
last eight Presidential contests its chief effort
has been to gather to the support OF its can
didates the odds and ends Of all parties and
all factions by tricks of phrascology in plat
forms or lures of one sort and another IN the
Outgivings of candidates.
They were against the War for the Union
and in favor of its vigorous prosecution; OPP
posed 10 the grccnback currency. and in favor
of the payment Of the debt in grcenhacks; in
favor of resumption in theory. but bitterly OPP
posed 10 Legislation to effect it: opposed to infla-
tion but in favor Of every measure to increase
the volume of the Currency opposed to the de-
basement of values by limited purchases of
silver, but in favor of the free and unlimited
cojunpc of silver wherever that dplIsiOn seemed
TO have any hold upon the voters; opposed 10
a Protective tariff. but ready to enact an I'M
balanced and illogical law which protected GER
tain interests without rhyme or reason. and in
favor Of n tariff for revenue only. their dcvo-
ton to which they proceeded 10 illustrate mt The
first opportunity by the enactmcu of Il law
which did rot furnish revenue enough to meet
the necessary expenditures of the Government.
They have been pursuing this Misunderstanding
policy for thirty years and more. -Four years
ago they corrallcd into their Cave of Adullam
all the horsam and jctsam Of politics in the
country. the dissatisfied and disgruntlcsl. the
cranks fanatics agitatorS. walking delegates.
fcatherhcads and MugwnmpS. and with Il can
dilatc whose chief claim for consideration was
that he was better than his party-and he
couldn't he worsc-thcy carried the country.
The result of bringing into power this con
clomcratc of heterogeneous and discordant el"-
mcnts is well known It's effects are all too
visible in existing financial, commercial and
business conditions But let lis be just. and
avoid hasty and sweeping condemnation. They
were at Least right in one Of their propositions.
Grover Cleveland was. and Is. better than his
party. He deserves great praisc-aiId The
Tribune has no disposition To withhold it-for
the determined stand which he took at the
beginning of his Administration in opposition
10 the silver coinage hrresy. and the steadfast
courage with which he confronted and finally
trumphCd over "A majority Of his own party.
1t was Il short-lived triumph. 10 be sure but
all the SANE he deserves great credit for the
service he then rendered the country. II should
p3, be forgotten. 1t is almost the only ray of
sunlight in the dismal darkness with which the
country has been ovcrshadowcd for the last
three years. But the wild horses which cx
President Harrison with clear forecast said ut
the beginning of the present Administration
Mr.. Cleveland would have IL difficult task to
manage, very soon got beyond control and he
gan cavorting II is not now question Of
anybody's controlling the wild horses but |
rather how much damage the wild horses
will do.
WELL we shall see. -Four years ago the fight |
was against an ambuscadc into which great !
many misguided voters had been lurcd by d. |
ccitful promises and dishonest party cries. To |
day their eyes are open. They see now how |
they were deceived. and know how dearly they !
have paid for it, This fight will be in the open. |
The Democratic party will stand for free silver |
and Free Trade: for dishonest currency
which will cheat the worl;ingman Of his hire.
and ruinous fiscal policy which cheats him |
of n market for his labor. II is altogether best |
it should be so: that the battle be joined with |
Il fair understanding in an open field. and that |
the American people have ~ opportunity TO /
meet the issue squarely. The question then |
will be Of common honesty and common
sense; whether they are such knavcs rs to de- |
base their currency and such fools 10 de-
grade their own labor And no one who has
any faith in free institutions or the capacity |
of man for self government can have any doubt |
rs to the result