The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-09-21
The Hand of Welcome.

The Hand OF welcome.
The letter of John F. Scragg, ESQ.,,
in another column, giving the reasons
why he has decided to identify himself
in the future with the Republican par
ty, is a public expression of what has
lately become the private thought and
purpose Of thousands of men formerly
active and prominent in the councils
and battles of the Democracy. Mr..
Scragg takes the whole community into
his confidence and permits 1t to know
just how the conversion to which he
thus testifies was forced upon him.
In a community like this there ought
to be and we have every reason to be-
lieve there are very many voters who.
in the present political emergency, oc-
cupy precisely Alr. Scragg's attitude.
The Democracy OF Lackawanna coun-
ty in the main has always been friendly
rather than with Frank Hurd. 1t
elected to congress in Mr. Amerman q
man who, in his tariff ideas, halt
cd far short of Cleveland, Wilson and
bryan. 1t has had abundant demon
stration during the past three years Of
the unwisdom of revenue system
which both fails to supply current de-
mands and simultaneously causes much
of the manufacturing for the American
market to be done abroad.
Nor have the solid ana substantial
Democrats of this valley. the men who
are in politics for something higher
than the spoils Of office, any reason to
sympathize with the new slogan of free
silver. The adoption of this revolu
tionary financial experiment would
bring no benefit to any class of our
local citizenship. 1t would benefit no
miner, save the silver miner; help no
artisan save the one unwilling to pay
his honest debts: and bring to our va
ried business interests at least cOnfu-
sion and continued uncertainty if not
actual bankruptcy and ruin. From no
standpoint of self-interest. therefore,
does the free coinage proposition ap-
peal to the, thoughtful Judgment and
intelligent favor Of those men in this
community who, though formerly in
affiliaton with the Democratic party,
yet hold their citizenship free from the
dominance of blind partisanism.
If, then, they find themselves, as they
do, at variance with their party on
the two great issues of present poiitl-
cal contention, why should they not,
as honest and courageous men, frank
ly accept the logic of the situation and
proceed to align themselves with the
party with whose present teachings
they are more nearly in accord? The
nominee Of the Democratic party, Mr..
Bryan, has set them the right example.
In a speech made more than year ago
at Memphis, he declared in effect that
II the Democratic party took position
on the currency issue different from
mis- own he would leave that party.
Here Is manly acquiescence in the
right and duty Of the individual citi-
zen to act in politics in accordance with
his true convictions. regardless OF for
mer party affiliations; and MIR. Bryan
cannot with fairness object when his
own rule of action is put to the test.
Mr.. Bryan, being for free trade and
free silver, has headed a party which
battles for those ends. That it Is not
the Democratic party of former days.
albeit invested by questionable meth
DDS with that time-honored title, is
shown by the fact that SO many emf
nent and respectable Democrats in all
parts Of the country refuse to recog-
nixe 1t as such. The Democracy of
Lackawanna county. not perhaps as an
organization-for that is held together
by certain politicians for purposes of
their own-but certainly as individuals,
regarding parties merely as instru-
ments wherewith to promote the gen.
eral good, has surely as clear right to
act In the direction of its beliefs as has
the Democracy Of any other section.
If Mr.. Bryan typiies free trade and
free silver and on these pro,inds alopc
solicits popular support. Democrats
who want neither free trade nor free
silver should feel no hesitancy in CIV
ing their support to the candidate of
Protection and sound money.
We believe they will do this in large