New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-08-05
NE APE AN HONEST PEOPLE.

WE ARE AN HONEST PEOPLE.
We are not only n great people-as we have
been saying for n hundred years, to the Infinite
amusement of older peoples who nave Deeh
looking on our growth and listening to our pra'-
tie as the elders always do TO the children OF
their generation-but we are versatile as well
We not only take hold of the time-old problems
with the slnewy grip and selfconIdence oi
youth, but we laugh as we wrestle with them,
and in our most serious contentious find sources
of humor and provOcations for mirth we are
furnishing at this moment for all the world ana
for ourselves q most striking illustration or these
pecuarities Of our mercural temperament 10
n great many thousand Of our own citizens ana
to all the outside world the political situation in
this country has seemed for several weeks past
to present features we'll calculated TO alarm
thoughtful patriots and provoke the serious con
sideration Of even the most careless and I'M
thinking For one of the two great parties
which for forty years have commended for control
of the Government-and the one which In the
last Presidential contest carried the country
has been taken off It's feet by n mad craze for
the reputation of honest debts and the absolute
destruction of the credit of the country among
the nations Of the world 1t was and it con
tnues to be really serious situation. 1t has
affected the business Of the country, disturbed
its finances and deprecated values to the OK
tent Of millions of dollars
That mischief Is already done. The panicky
period has passed. And now on all sides are OBJ
servable the signs Of a more settled and calmer
frame of mind This people is beginning TO
shake off It's fears and take stock in self-in
It's general intelligence. It's ultimate sound com
mon sense and most of all. in its own deter
mined honesty of purpose. 1t Is not going to
dishonor itself before all the world by sneaking
forty-seven cents out of every dollar of its obli
cations upon the false and foolish prctence that
1t can make ffty-three cents worth of silver
actually worth dollar by Government say
So and thereon pretending to discharge It's hon
est debts. Out of all this ructon; this general
uprising of financial mediclnemen from abo-
riginal tepees and Of seventh sons of seventh
sons from the woods, who propose to abolish toll
by incarnation and wipe out debt by universal
note of hand secured by mortgage Of all there
is anywhere, we are cOming-indeed, we may
almost say we already have c0me--to a clearer
and more definite sense Of our actual selves as
a people and Nation. We are tossed about by
angry contentious as 10 what Is the best fiscal
| policy for all of us. or who Is the best man to
carry out our policies or be our leader, and a
lot Of other things and most serious and dan
gerous Of our besetments is the existence among
us Of a class Of men who prey upon society and
make living out Of the foibes of their fellows
But in the long run and on the general aver
age, we are an honest people We are going to
demonstrate It to all the world. There's great
comfort in that thought.
! Not least OF the encouraging signs on the pO-
tical horizon Is the fact that most of our sound
money Democratic contemporaries are beginning
to be jocose about the situation. Not as TO the
somewhat anomalous relation into which they
| have been thrown by the capture Of their own
party by the freesilver pirates, but to certain
local complications among the Republicans.
The Tribune does not doubt that all these sound
money Democratic newspapers earnestly desire
the defeat Of Bryan and the election OF Nc
Kney. 1t is not disposed to resent anything
they may say by way OF diversion about fac
tional disputes and differences among Repub-
leans 1t all only goes to show that they reckon
| Nick inley's election certain, and propose in
the absence Of other enjoyments to have little
fun with their old opponents upon the little do
nestle troubles In our own household We
! rather rejoice In seeing them do It. 1t indicates
that they have no anxiety as to the result, and
| In that view Of it are rather glad 10 have some
| fun with the winners And as some Of them
seem disposed 10 be merry over the relation Of
| The Tribune TO the local situation In this State,
we desire TO say that so far from being offended
ut anything they may say about 1t, we rather
| like It, We are especially glad that such long
| time opponent and always good friend THE
Hartford Conn Tines finds something in the
existing Republican complications In this State
| to be merry over, because we know 1t dverts
! its attention from n somewhat awkward situa-
ton in it's own party In Connecticut That THE
Times" desires the election Of Mckinley We
| have no doubt The Tribune differs with It upon
some very important points OF political doctrine,
but It cordially recognizes rs well the sincerity
| Of purpose by which 1t is now-as 1t has been
| always-anlmated, as the somewhat difficult
| position in which 1t Is placed by the rape Of Its
party. The Tribune recalls apprecatively the
great service 1.-THE Times rendered good cause
| in 1354-a great many years ago-and the many
good things II has done since under the same
editorial charge II forgets everything else ex-
cept that for a great many years its editor,
his beliefs and an unwaverng advocate OF hon
est politics
We shall let all our Old-time opponents have
what fun they may with local Republican COM
! plcations, and We shall have no word Of resent