The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-11-09
A Period OF Tickle Politics.

The political fickleness which has dis
tinguished the American people during the
last thirteen years, or since the defeat OF
BLAINE and the first election Of CLEvE-
LAND, has had its logical consequence in
the most serious disturbance of business
conditions from which this country has
ever suffered. 1t has also been accompa-
MED by untoward popular manifestations
of querulous discomfort which are a not less
logical result of such mercurial political
sentiment and conviction.
The prime cause of this mischievous
fickleness was the unreasoning resistance
to the wholesome conservative influence OF
strict party organization and division
which became known as M~ugwumpcry
when it was started in 1854 as a protest
against the nomination of Mr.. BLAINE. 1t
began in the Republican party, and was not
impelled by any political principle, but was
due purely to animosity against Mr.. BLAINE
personally, and 1t also exerted its force
in behalf of Mr.. CLEVELAND, on per-
sonal grounds merely. Newspapers and
individuals previously supporting the Re-
publican policy turned around squarely
in a day and advocated strenuously the cleo
W. - ~ tHo -"
ocratic party, to which they had been stead
lastly opposed from the very 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 had all stoutly supported
Gen. GARFIELD in 1880 on substantially the
same platform and the same theory of gov
eminent represented by Mr.. BLAINE in
1884, and they had opposed Gen. HANCOCK
in 1880 on a platform identical In spirit
and intent with that on which was placed
Mr.. CLEVELAND, whom they supported 80
hotly in 1884.
That is, this revolt was not on political
principle, but simply against the party or
ganization of the Republicans because it
did not consult their personal prejudices in
the nomination of a candidate. n they
went over to Mr.. CLEVELAND because of
purely personal reasons only. Thus was
begun the assault on party organization
simply as such, from which this country
has since suffered so grievously. Thus was
started the querulous disposition to kick
against party government, of which the
result has been a continuous period of
tickle and mercurial politics, injurious to
every American interest, confusing and
perplexing to trade and manufacture, and
productive throughout the world of a rep
utation for instability very damaging to
the American republic.
In MSS, the country turned about square
ly and elected Gen. HARRISON over Mr..
CLEVELAND. going back precipitately to
Il h. - Id -1tl T.. IOO4
In 1892 it again reversed its position
squarely, rejecting Gen. HARRISON after a
most successful administration, so far as
concerned the prosperity of the coun-
try, and electing Mr.. CLEVELAND on
the most extreme anti-protection declara-
ton ever made by any American party.
MIR. CLEvELAND's platform even denounced
protection as unconstitutional. We do
not need to recall the dismal and disgrace
full record of his Administration, except to
say that, in spite of its professions, the
Democratic party passed a strictly and
avowedly protective tariff, but 30 bung-
lingly constructed that it brought disaster
to every business interest. Mr.. CLEVELAND
went out of power amid the ruin of the
industry and enterprise of the country.
In 1896 he Democratic party itself
turned a complete somersault. 1t flung of
from its shoulders all responsibility for
the Cleveland Administration, and took a
new and radical departure OH the questions
of currency and judicial authority, which
forthwith plunged the country into even
worse distress. After a campaign of unex,
ampled earnestness, during which all prop.
perty was terrified as never before in Amer,
lean history, Mr.. MCKINLEY was elected
by a vote of about 100000 to $500, OOC
for BRYAN. Thus we escaped ruin, but It
was a close shave.
During that campaign the Mugwumps
terror kept them in line with the Re
publican party. In order to save theil
property they could do nothing else but as
soon as the Republicans were proved sue
cessful in the election they began to plot
anew against party organization, and they
have been plotting ever since. Meantime Il
was demonstrated that the destructiv,
principles of the Chicago platform hat
become the established political faiti
OF the Democratic party throughout thu
Union, and hat accordingly they con
tinued az a menace to business and ever
the stability of our social system. TIL,
political revolution that platform sough
to produce was still aggressive and threat
ening, and it took advantage OF the elec
; tions of last week to strengthen and extend
I its lines with an eye to gaining control o
the Congress in 1898 and the Presidenc,
, in 1900.
| Naturally and obviously the place wher