New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-10-28
THE CLOSING ISSUE.

The last week Of the campaign brings into
peculiar prominence the issue of law against
Anarchy. and loyalty against revolution. 1t Is
natural that men who have been beaten out OF
the field on the tariff question, and whipped out
of even a pretence Of decent debate on the silver
question strive as their last resort to ncite men
10 rioting and revolution by kindling the passions
OF the ignorant and the poor and appealing to
the hatred Of the dangerous and criminal classes.
IL Is the fitting elimination Of the most wicked
campaign ever conducted by any party In this
country.
No law-abiding party can ever afford to appeal
for support In the election Of executives OF law
or makers of law. to the lawless and lawbreak-
crs the rioters and Anarchists. 1t Is truth so
obvious that it has never needed argument, nor
has any political party ever failed to muzzle
ard suppress any Of its members who inclined
10 such appeals. If the vilest creatures in the
city have been melted TO feel tina. they may ac-
quire some hold upon and ownership Of the
Mayor or prosecuting attorney or other prom
inent official by voting for him, or contributing
to his campaign expenses. that is quite as far
as even Tammany degradation has gone. But
the betrayal Of the fundamental obligation and
sacred function of free government, the surIen-
der Of the right to maintain law against rlOting.
or to keep itself alive against revolutiOnists, this
was left for Bryan and Altgeld, whose whole
behavior during the last weeks OF the contest
has been an attempt to get office by counting the
support Of the most dlsloyal motives and the
most dangerous classes.
It is not well for Americans to overlook the
real gravity of the situation. President Harrison
was the first to make it entirely clear in his
speech in this city. and he has rendered great
service by exposing continually that feature OF
the operations of Altgeld and Bryan even in his
strong speech ON Saturday night. 1t is not
enough barely to defeat such an incendiary ap-
neal. To the safety of free institutions it Is es
sential that the defeat shall be so complete and
overwhelming as to teach men OF today and
men Of future generations that a free people
will not tolerate any alliance Of wOuld-be execu-
lives with lawbreakers and rioters. but will
make it their first duty TO bury under an ava
lanche OF ballots a conspiracy Of that nature
Icnes's circular, Bryans speeches. Altgeld's
platform and pretence Of explaining away the
platform, all go together as fitting parts Of this
most wicked campaign.
Men had much to say, when Mr.. Bryan was
first nominated, about his personal virtues. his
Christian character his consistent service In the
Church. The accounts did at first meet with
much credence. But nothing that any friend or
neighbor can possibly say will now give intell-
gent people clearer and surer knowledge Of
Mr.. Bryan's character than his own speeches
have given After preaching the gospel Of Hate
Of spite and envy and Of all malice, In every
speech for weeks; after doing his utmost to
transform Industrious and Woodworking men
into rioters, and law-abidng citizens into re-
VOTERS against law, and doing oil this for the
sake of getting personal victory which he had
hoped to get through argument on the money