The San Francisco call., 1898-06-11
THE WORK OF FUSION.

n FRESH political breeze blows from Oregon / The Republicans of that State declared openly,
 plainly and without reservation for the single gold standard retirement of greenbacks and sound money.
 The Democracy, Populists and free silver Repub- licans fused, tight and fast, free silver unlimited paper issued by the treasury, and the whole line of fads in the Popust platform. The fusion programme was regular political bargain counter, intended to attract customers with any kind of wheels in their head
 The result IS the greatest Republican victory Ore gon has had in many years, and the fusion forces scattered in ghastly and hopeless confusion.
 The vote stands: Republican 35,648 fusion 28o78 with few small counties to hear from, which will increase the Republican total much and the fusion total little.
 The Bryan Democracy in Oregon can now take its bearings and see how much 1t has gained under the leadership of Pennoyer, Miller and Burnett
 In 1888 Oregon gave Cleveland 26,5Io votes, to Harrsons 33,2oo. That was the last straight party in the State. The natural increase in the Dem ocratic vote should be about per cent per annum, Io6o7 votes in the ten years since IS88 and the straight party vote should have been this year 7o26 Therefore the fusion policy of Pennoyer has deprived the party of its natural accretions and leaves it weaker in fusion alliance than it would have been standing alone.
 Herein is a warning to Republicans. The history of political fusion in the United States is that when parties suppress abandon their principles to enter into such alliances the resulting fusion finally weaker than the original, straight party would have been standing alone
 The best of party leadership is exhibited in stand ing stify by principles and educating the people in them until majority comes to agree to them. Vic tories waited for and won by that policy are won to stay
 With the single exception of Mr. Cleveland's twelve years leadership and Mr. Tilden's brief rule, the Democracy has had no principles that it was not willing to abandon for the sake of fusion which promised office to a few of its self-seeking leaders. Beaten in 1888 on the free trade issue Mr. Cleveland compelled 1t to fight on the same line four years later, and won. The party in power had not the devotion to its principles necessary carry them out, and Democratic Congress failed so wretchedly n its tariff nkering as to Mr. Cleve- land to declare that the Wilson bill represented noth- ing but perhdy and dshonor. In 1890 the party rendered the free trade issue and in defiance of its traditions took up fiat money
 Note now the difference between Republican stead fastness and Democratic weathercocking. The Re pubcans beaten in 1890 and in 1892 on the pro- lection issue. There arose among them school of towards and opportunsts, who sought alliance with Popusm and free silver to make substitute issue for protection which they desired abandon The party stood steadfast however, and its fidelity to its prin cples in defeat caused the bolt at St Louis and the organization of the free silver Republican party, which is looking around now for sty and swill barrel and seeks to fuse with the same elements that have just had their quietus in Oregon.
 Spain is said to believe the Philippines lost Much depends on the point of view. To many people they seem just to have been found
 Let none of our boys be sent to in unseaworthy shps The occasion demands sacrifice but not by the boatload.
 California weather ought to be ashamed of itself It is acting as if subsidized by the Spanish.