The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-10-21
Our Disseminated Classes.

The London Spectator, in a long
article devoted to discussion of
Bryan's chances, lays great stress upon
the existence in our cities and on our
farms, of large element OF the SER
iously discontented, who in its judg-
ment are not amenable to argu-
ment or reason, and who therefore will
be likely to make Bryan's large vote.
To send lecturers and literature to
these people magnifying their blessings
and affecting to make light Of their
grievances is. in its opinion, like
arguing with a man with liver COM
plant on the beauty of the day, and the
health which in all other respects Pro-
violence has bestowed upon him. He
only feels that, in addition to his mis-
cries, he is misunderstood"
Abstractly, the Spectators point is
well taken. But it INDUCES in mere
theory when it infers that the thought
full men who are this year active for
Mckinley, Protection and sound money
are oblivious or Indifferent to honest
discomfort in any quarter. They are
concerned now with trying to prevent
the discontented classes from making
jump out of the frying pan into the
fire; by and by, when that danger is
averted and the peril of chaos is put
to one side, they will bring their minds
and their actions to bear upon the real
trrta nc t1o ~,
view to their remedy. 1t Is the quack
who promises instantaneous cures. The
man who Is really skilled in medicine
does not have the audacity to guaran-
tee miraculous restoration as the sure
result of one call and one prescription.
If we turn back to the year 1892 as a
fair time for the examination of the
nations symptoms under Republican
unemployed men and of unproductive
farms was relatively much smaller than
it is today, or than it had been during
most of the preceding years. A fair
deduction from this premise is that
the political conditions of 1892 Chat is,
ample Protection, sound money, trained
statesmen in charge of affairs and
general confidence in the governments
able to the conditions which exist to-
day, with deficit tariff, an adminis-
tration at cross purposes with itself,
its party and its masters, the people.
n1 1lx,i,, nf I,n
satisfied for a wild charge on the ma,
tional credit. In other words, most
of the present discomfort is due, not
to the "crime of 49," but to the blum
der of '92.
1t follows, then, If we get back to
the political conditions which existed
before that blunder, or rather bring
them forward to fit the altered circum-
stances of today, we shall have done
as much as wise government can do
for the immediate relief of the patient.
1t is out of the question to legislate
every citizen into the haicyon pos
session of health, wealth and happi-
ness. He must do his part, too. He
must work. and save, and study; he
must help himself. After the imme-
date crisis Is past there will be time
and disposition to consider minor all
ments. and to set in motion the requis-
lite remedies. This will do away with
as many Of the discontented classes as
can be done away with by means of
legislation. But it will work no revolu-
tion in human nature neither will it
make sure the future safety of the re-
public. We must not forget that "eter-
nal vigilance is the price of liberty"
Walter Wellman now predicts that
Mckinley will carry Kentucky, and we
must say that 1ya nprna ,,,ith hin,