The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-01-21
The Call of DUTY,

at its command. 1t has more thar
once during It's career. had to decide
whether 1t would support distastefu
candidates or. by Withholding it's sup
port, sow the seed of party dissensior
and encourage the political opposition
1t has decided always in the aftirma'
tive, believing that principles are in
variably superior to men; and that
principles cannot triumph when the
men who believe in them split them.
selves up into wrangling factions, and
then steadily refuse, the one to support
the other.
The Republican party in the city OF
Scranton is today face to face with the
question whether it will permit the
Jealousy of one or two disappointed
leaders to cause it to waver from the
straight pathway Of party duty. 1t is
face to face with the question whether
upon the eve of a presidential contest
which promises to settle the chief ma
tional issues for a quarter of a century
to come, it will allow itself even to con.
slider course of party recreancy which
might, if followed out, turn over the
whole city government to the Dem
ocracy and to this extent leopard the
chances of a wholesome Republican
victory next November.
1t is profltless now to discuss what
Mr.. Connell or any other gentleman aid
dozen years ago. or to delve back
with the hand Of Misrepresentation into
any other chapter of ancient political
history. The question today before the
Republicans of this community Is
whether a regularly nominated Re-
publican municipal ticket, having be-
hind 1t the Endorsement of a large ma
jority of the Republican voters of the
primaries. and bearing upon it's face
the indisDutable fact that it is a ticket
of exceptional personal ability. courage
and manliness shall or shall not be ac-
corded the support from all progressed
Republicans which they would be
quick to demand If they themselves
were the party nominees. This is the
question, and We propose to press it
home.
For the first time in it's history, the
Scranton Republican, beginning by
stealth until emboldened into open
treachery, has trained it's guns on the
fairly-nominated and personally irre-
proachable local nominees Of the party
whose name it bears. We therefore
present to its readers the question
whether they are willing, as Republ-
cans, to sustain such course Of party
disloyalty. Can they approve. by vote
or otherwise, line of political policy
which would, if followed by them to its
logical conclusions. lead directly to
party dissolution? Are they ready to
apply the knife to the vitals of Republi-
canism in this city merely because Mr..
Scranton, or any other individual lead
err, failed at the recent primaries to
have his particular way?
If there yet remains in the minds Of
any honest Republican voter the
thought that there Is substantial truth
in the One-sided cries OF fraud at the
recent primaries, let him remember
that the courts are still open, and that
failure to appeal to them is equivalent
to a confession Of false representa- tions.
But even If it were shown, in open
court, that there were minor irregu-
larities on both sides at the primaries
on Jan. 4, does any honest Republican
suppose that Ripple, Williams or "id-
mayer planned fraud. knew of fraud
or sanctioned fraud? Does any sane
citizen believe for an instant that these
gentlemen were not the fair choice of
a clear majority of the bona fide Re-
publican voters Of this city, or that they
are not now fully entitled to the fealty
Of every one Of those voters?
We are not in any alarm over the ex-
pected treachery of Mr.. Scranton's
newspaper, which months ago pro-
claimed it's intention when it hoisted
the label of Mugwumpery to it's mast
head. But we believe that a time has
been reached in the progress Of it's de-
sertion of the party that has SO long
supported 1t, when the common sense
Of the party masses should vigorously
assert itself. If the Republican wishes
to go over bag and baggage to the Dem
ocracy, whose campaign it is now try
ing to invigorate. let it do SO and be
welcome. In that case no one could Of
fer word of objection. Such a course
would be at once manly, fair and can
did. But whatever attitude it may
wish to assume in this campaign, let
the Republicans Of Scranton remem-
ber that this is q presidential year,
when every Republican will be expect
ed to do his honest duty. The political
year which brings such responsibility
with It does not call for Inauguration
with a Republican defeat.
Since 1890, according to the Indepen-
dent, there has been an increase Of
churches in the United States to the