The National tribune., 1896-10-01
THE OLD FIGHT OVER AGAIN.

THE OLD FIGHT OVER AGAIN.
This is as clean-cut, istraIght-out 9
fight as that of 1S61-'65, and the line:
of that contest are reproduced with
startling exaotness. 1t is rare in history
that a struggle taking place 81 year.
after the close of the preceding ont
should have its alignments so closely
following those of the older strife.
Like that of 1868 this fight is .
clear-cut issue Of National honor, hon
esty, good Government and prosperity
| All who favor il are on one side; al
who are opposed to it on the other. Ihe
main difference is in the flag the enemy
carries. In 1861 the enemy's flag repre-.
sented Secession. Slavery, Dismember-
ment of the Nation and Financial Ruin.
In 1896 the enemy's flag means Free
Silver Republication, Anarchy and FL
nancia1 Ruin. 1t can mean nothing else.
Without respect to party, every man IN
the country whose opinions have hereto
fore been listened to with respect has
said in the strongest terms that from its
first to its last paragraph, the Chicago
platform is filled with direst threats
against the well-being of our country.
There never has been such unanimity
among our men of commanding intellect
and wisdom. During the war of the re-
bellion there We're very many men OF
prominence in the council of the Nation,
and In business and social life, North
and South, who sided with the ecession.
There are now substantially none. Not
a man supporting the Chicago platform
has ever been distinguished for his sup
port of measures of benefit to the country,
or has been looked up to as wise leader
in craftsmanship or business.
Party lines have been obliterated as
they never were before, and every real
leader in the country, whose influence
has hitherto been for good, whether in
the press, the pulpit, in business or in
politics, has pronounced his condemna-
ton Of the Chicago platform in the
strongest words at his command. He
has said that Free Coinage is the most
dangerous of chimeras, that it involves
ideas which have been tried thousand
times In the worlds history, and never
without bringing measureiess misery
upon the people. He says that the
plank in regard TO Federal interference
is a most dangerous reerudescence of
States Rights, and threatens the over
throw Of all that was settled by Apo
mattox. He is emphatic that the
denunciation of the Supreme Court is an
assault upon our most cherished institu-
tons and the entering wedge for An
archy.
On this line-ofbattie and under the
same Old Flag are arrayed substantially
every man who fought the good and
faithful fight for Old Glory from 1861
to 1865. With him are his sons, who
think like him, and the men whom the
past 30 years have taught valuable les
sons as to the Nations real interests and
her glory and greatness. With him are
all the men who have come to rightly
appreciate the meaning of the events of
80 years ago, who have kept step with
Progress, and whose understanding has
been cleared by experience. 1t is from
these that we expect the overwhelming
majority which will be given for Com
rade Mckinley on the Sd of November.
On the other line-ofbattle are arraycd
all the men who are dissatisfied with the
decision of the sword ia 1865. These
form the great bulk of those who line
up under the new FLAG. Their allies,
abettors, and supporters are men who
were Copperheads from 1861 to 1865,
or would have been had they been alive
or ia the country at that time, and a
small number of veterans who have
suffered themselves to be deluded by
demagogic appeals and false prophecies.