New-York tribune., 1896-07-29

Really. this is an interesting political situa-
ton. From n perfectly dlsnterested point Of
view one of the most Interesting and we might
almost say amusing. situations that ever taxed
the attention or pQued the curiosity Of the
American people. Here Is n great political
party holding so strongly TO it's traditions that
# vas hardly n figure of speech to call it hide
bound. and describe it as bourbon" after pass
ing through not merely successive political de-
feats at the lOls. but the tremendous disaster
of failure in the field when its issues were sub
mtted to the arbtramcnt of arms, and which,
having survived all. and having been restored
TO full power In the Nation. suddenly finds IT,
self--wcll, where does 1t find itself! Nowhere.
It's record. It's prestige its name and It's or
ganzation have been stolen away. For hun
dreds OF thousands Of Democrats there IS now
no party home. Since the Pcpulists seized and
carried away all they had to hold to and be-
levc in they have been beating the air and
seeking place Of refuge There is none eX-
cept in The Republican party. and they nre loath
to enter The Republican party brcause-though
they are at one with ii upon the issue of sound
money, which. they say, is essential and all
mportant-hey are at odds with it upon the
economic question Of the tariff. They want
to contribute to the success Of the only sound
money candidate in the field. but they cannot
bear to think that that sound-money cardidatc
is also an advocate of Protective tariff.
The Republican party has thrown its doors
wide open 10 then. Its newspapers ana its
representative men, its leaders and It's man
ayers have offered them most cordial well
come-nct to the party. which might have given
offence-but 10 the support OF the only cand-
date for whom they could consclentionsly vote.
The way has been diligently made smooth for
them. We may safely appeal 10 the record Of
the metropolitan Republican press for vertical
tiOn of the assertion that with absolute unanim-
ity the metropolitan press--and. for that mat
ter. the Republican press Of the whole State
and the entire East-cOnceded, what they lad
not before, that the action of the Chicago Con-
vention by its open advOcacy Of free coinage
as the leading issue Of the campaign. had set
the money question before all others When
the Chicago Convention dismissed with a few
stereotyped phrases and pcrfunctory lines the
whole subject Of the tariff, which for years the
Democratic party had made its leading issue.
and thrust into the foreground a new financial
doctrine, involving population and National
dishOnor there was nothing left for Repub-
dOnment by their opponents Of the old issue
and accept chcerfully in all its fulncss the new.
All Republicans. Republican newspapers and
leaders and managers, and the Republican can
didates themselves, have been doing it. No
body has been thrusting the tariff question 10
the front. except certain Democrats like Mr..
Whitney, and certain Democratic and Mug
wump newspapers unnecessary to name. that
t1,a
ton must be kept in allegiance. but that Re-
publican newspapers and Republicans generally
must fOrswear their conscientious convictions
on the subject Of the tariff in order to make it
pleasant for sOund-mOney Democrats who eX-
pect to vote for Mckinley, not because they
want to, but because they cannot vote for any,
body else Well, now, without taking the risk
of disturbing the mourners," may we not
venture to say that this Is asking a trife too
much? We Republicans take the view that
beyond the negatiOn Of the 1G TO free-cOnage
heresy something positive is needed in order to
establish the revenues Of the Government upon
a self-sustaning basis rs well as to promote
our industries and enhance the general welfare.
We are very much in earnest about it. We be-
lieve just as much In the necessity for change
In the tariff as we do in honest finance. We
believe that the two needs OF the Government
run together on all fOurs, and that change in
the tariff Is as important in maintaining the
sovency Of the Nation as the assertion Of the
soundmOney principle is In maintaining its
credit and its honor. We are not saying so in
any manner that can be construed as offensive
by the most sensitive Democrat But we are
holding 10 that view all the same because we
believe In 1t. The queer feature of the situation
is that some qucrnlcus but probably honest.
Democrats are imbued with the notion that We
should abandon our distinctive doctrines In
order that they may vote our ticket Doubt
less they mean we'll. But. after all. the Rcpnb-
llcan party Is not so short Of honey that II
should give up Its own hive because wander
ing swarm. that has neither hive nor home,
desires to occupy it. Let us be considcrnte in
this matter. but self-respcct and selfprcserva-
ton are not to be entirely forgotten.