The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-07-22

dwels on its country's glory rather than
its superficial blemishes. The spirit OF
defamation of America was first propa-
gated in the colleges, and thence 1t spread
to clubs and coteries OF imaginary criti-
cal refinement. 1t has not chilled the
patriotic enthusiasm of the great mass
OF the people, but II has insidiously sown
In them the seeds of querulous discon-
tent. 1t has encouraged them to revolt
against conservative party leadership and
TO assert dangerously their independence
OF the salutary restraints of partisanship,
and thus become an undisciplined politl-
cal mob. In fine, the purpose of this
malgn movement has been the destruc-
ton of existing organized parties, with
view to producing. political chaos
simply. Those engaged In II have moth
ing conservative to propose. Their enter
prise is destructive only. AS a direct con-
sequence of their malevolent activity, the
Democratic party has been disrupted and,
for the time being at least completely
disintegrated. A great conservative force
in this republic from its very foundation
has thus been perverted into a baleful
social and political agency. Mugwump-
cry tried to break up the Republican
party in 1884 but 1t failed to accomplish
more than to assist in its temporary de-
feat The victory, however, brought ruin
to the Democratic party: for 1t turned
out in truth to be the victory of Mug
wumpery and not of Democracy DEM
ocracy did not come into power, but came
under subsection to a Mugwump ruler" "
When again elected in 1892 he completed
the disruption of the Democratic party
| and brought about its disintegration. The
old Democratic party gave place to a
new party with radically opposing prin-
ciples.
Meantime the spirit of distrust and de-
~ Of x,I aru
| representative, had worked injuriously to
| all departments of business. Confidence
| gave place to gloomy misgivings. The OPP
| timistic feeling which had characterized
| this young and aggressive country was
| replaced by a spirit of doubt as to the
wisdom and security of our institutions
and the value of the actual results OF
our American political methods. 1t was
| the bear spirit replacing the bull spirit
which needs must always characterize
| q progressive people. The fashionable cry
| became howl that congress and the
| legislatures of American states generally
| had fallen into hopeless decadence; that
our public men had declined in ability
| and moral respectability; that the "boss'
had arisen as a consequence; and that or
| ganized parties were merely corrupt ma.
| chimes. Such was the howl that went VI
increasingly, though every competent
| student of our political history knew thai
1 III our political methodS ana IN the char
acter of our public men there had beer
advance rather than retrogression.
| o
| The time has come when this treason
| able defamation of the great American
| republic must be stopped if we are tC
| have progress and prosperity. 1t ha:
| been suffered to go on too long without
| the sharp rebuke it deserves from publ,
| opinion. Its continuance has involved in
| calculable injury to this country and al
its interests. 1t has lowered American rep
utation in the eyes of the world, lesseneC
| confidence in American integrity, secur
| ity. and enterprise, and spread among
| the people at home dangerous dissatisfac
| ton with conditions inseparable from hu
man society. The men ana the newspa
pers engaged in propagating this spr
| of defamation. detraction, and suspicion
must be curbed by the business commun
| ity more especially, and compelled to de
| s!st from their essentially treasonabl,
| enterprise. This country is now enter
| ing upon a new stage in its development
and, in order that it may proceed un
| hampered in the fulflment of it's destiny
| the influences of which we have spoker
| must be repressed by the whole force o
our society and our politics. They con
| sti;ute a dangerous conspiracy agains
our national prosperity.