The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-11-10
MGgWGHlpery as a
National Danger
From the New York Sun.

From the New York Sun.
The political fckleness which has dis
tinguished the American people during
the last thirteen years, or since the de.
feat of Blaine and the first election of
Cleveland, has had it's logical conse-
quence in the most serious disturbance
of business conditions from which this
country has ever suffered. 1t has also
been accompanied by untoward popular
manifestations of querulOus discomfort
which are not less logical result of such
mercurial political sentiment and convic-
ton.
The prime cause of this mischievous
icklenoss was the unreasoning resistance
to the wholesome conservative influence
OF strict party organization and division
which became known as MuSwumpery
when it was started in 1884 as a protest
against the nomination of Mr. Blaine. 1t
began in the Republican party, and was
not impclled by any political principle
but was due purely to animosity against
Mr. Blaine personally, and it also exerted
Its force in behalf of Mr.. Cleveland, on
personal grounds merely Newspapers
and individuals previously supporting the
Republican policy turned around squarely
in day and advocated strenuously
the election Of a candidate nominated by
the Democratic party, to which they had
organization of the Republican party, or
at least from the time of the election of
Lincoln. This radical change in them
was not induced by any change made in
the Republican policy at the time of the
nomination Of Mr., Blaine. They all
stoutly supported General Garfield in 1880
on substantially the same platform and
the same theory of government repre-
sented by Mr.. Blaine in 1851, and they had
opposed General Hancock in 1880 on a
platform identica! in spirit and intent
with that on which was placed Mr.. Cleve-
land, whom they supported so hotly in
1854.
That is, this revolt was not on political
principle, but simply against the party
organization of the Republicans because
1t did not consult their personal preJud-
ices in the nomination of candidate and
they went over to Mr.. Cleveland because
of purely personal reasons only. Thus
was begun the assault on party organi-
Zation simply as such, from which this
country has since suffered so grievously
Thus was started the querulous disposi-
tion to kick against party government, Of
which the result has been a continuous
period Of tickle and mercurial politics, in
furious to every American interest, con-
tusing and perpleNing to trade and manu-
facture, ard productive throughout the
damaging to the American republic
o
In 1855 the country turned about square
ly and elected General Harrison over Mr.
Cleveland, going back precipitately to the
protection it had rejected in 1851 In 1892
it again reversed its position squarely, re-
iectng General Harrison after a most
successful administration, so far as con-
cerned the ospcrity of the country, and
electinS Mr. Cleveland on the most ex-
treme anti-prOteCtion declaration ever
made by any American party. Mr.. Clcve-
lands platform even denounced protec-
tion as unconstitutional. We do not need
to recall the dismal and disgraceful record
OF his administration, except to say that,
in spite of its profess ssions, the Democratic
party passed strictly and avowedly
protective tariff, but so bunglingly con-
structed that it brought disaster 10 every
business interest. Mr.. Cleveland went
out of power amid the ruin of the indus
try and enterprise Of the country.
In 1896 the Democratic party itself
turned a complete somersault. 1t flung
off from its shoulders all responsibility
for the Cleveland administration, and
took a new and radical departure on the
questions of currency and judicial author
ity, which forthwith plunged the country
into even worse distress After a cam
paign of uneXanpled earnestness, during
which adj property was terrified as never
before in American history, Mr.. McKln-
ley was elected by a vote Of about 7,lOO,-
900 to 65O0,0OO for Bryan. Thus we es-
capped ruin, but IL was a close shave. Dur
ing that campaign the Mugwumps' terror
kept them in line with the Republican
party. In order to save their property
they could do nothing else; but as soon
as the Republicans We're proved success,
ful in the election they began to plot
anew against party organization, and
they have been plotting ever since.
Meantime II was demonstrated that the
destructive principles Of the Chicago plat
form had become the established politieal
faith OF the Democratic party through
out the Union, and that accordingly they
continued as q menace to business and
even the stability of our social system.