New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-08-21
CONVERSATIONS OF THE CRISIS.

A campaign involving such issues as this in
wolves must be n time of trial to all earnest
citizens No matter how confident Is ones be-
lief that right will prevail or how well founded
that confidence. the mere fact that National
honor Is at stake and our industrial position
threatened is sufficient to create serious and
widespread anxiety. Yet crises have their COM
pensations Now, as in 1861, the country Is CON
fronted with question which transcends the
ordinary issues of administrative policy about
which men differ. Then It was the question
whether or not the Nation should be destroyed
by those who could not rule it. Now 1t Is
whether or not public and private obligations
shall be repudlated by those who hope to make
profit from dishonesty. The one question In
volved a war with its trail of death and misery.
The other has involved stagnatlon OF business,
destruction Of values. loss Of employment, and
general hardship. worry and want. But 1t VIII
be seen that neither struggle was without its
need Of good. The war made its heroes, taught
the blessing of having a country to live and die
for and gave us a consolidated Union. The
fight for sound money Is teaching lessons some
what the same
The loss and the anxiety are not entirely IN
vain when, for the second time within half
century, they exhibit the mass of the American
people as patriots before they are partisans
Every generation needs to have that fact forced
upon It, and as domestic trials teach the MEM
bers of family TO know and respect one another
better so National trials give us a renewed sense
of the dignity Of our citizenship renewed faith
that the country has a firm foundation in the
character Of its people. When the issues are
something less vital. men wrangle over admins
trative methods and fight for place. However
much they may differ. however vehement be
their quarrels. however sure they may be that
their way Is the best still they have no ser
Gus fear Their sense that their differences. after
all. are minor makes them feel more free
to press Them develops the selfish side Of po
litcal warfare and incnes them TO judge
one another harshly Then they can safely IN
dulge those tendencies. But threats to scale
down debts TO interpret anew the Constitution
and open the door TO disorder come home to
every man who, assured of his countrys safety
has had time to struggle for its political prizes
Men rise 10 the occasion. Some turn to work
with old opponents Others, with no less patriot
ism, extend their sympathies beyond party lines
giving a cordial welcome TO those who come TO
Join in the good work they have already under
taken.
Such cooperation and good feeling are en-
Of Democrats have come to the support of sound
money. and are no less earnest for Mckinley
than those who were his original supporters
So too Republicans have risen above the tempta
ton TO carry on a partisan struggle, and striven
to make it easy for every man TO cast his whole
influence for National honor. In both parties
the patriot has overcome the partisan Not that
men have changed their opinions. Republicans
VI o welcomo thpir old OnDonents &C allies in a
common cause are under no delusion about their
party affiliations They know that the Demo
Gratis have not been converted to new principles
but are Democrats sill. And the Democrats do
not for moment pretend TO be anything else
or ask their allies TO change. II Is not an ALI
ance Of bargain and barter. AS Mr. Cochran said
the other night: I'VE know full we'll that the
success of our opposition 10 repudation)
twill mean our exclusion from pub
''lic life but we shall be consoed and graft
fled by the reflection that ii will prove
that the American people cannot be d.
'vided into parties on question OF simple
morals or common honesty Adherents OF
each party stand true to their principles, and
recognize and respect the steadfastness of those
who differ from them. Each set with the Oppor
tunity would carry out its own ideas of govern
ment but each recognizes that above methods
of admnstr ltion plans Of taxation and trad
tons of association is the general safety. To
preserve that they all meet on common ground,
willingly leaving all other things 10 be deter
mined as the future may allow after the great
work is accomplished
This coming together IN high plane Is the
compensation for the troubles which force 1t.
OF course the separation will come again. The
victory will be won, the country's honor pre-
served and men will fall to fighting for place
and power as before And yet it can hardly be
that the good understanding. the mutual respect,
the agreement to differ and still work for com
mon purpose should not bear fruit in future con-
tests. 1t will be harder for men who have met on
such terms to engage in controversy afterward
except with courtesy and honest dealing. Mem
bers Of both political parties will remember how
they combined against dishonesty, and more
firmly resist the temptation hereafter to compro
mise with dishonesty lest their rivals should reap
some advantage.