The San Francisco call., 1898-08-24
RETURNING TO THE RANKS.

" ! directed attention short time ago to a \N| report from Salt Lake that the Silver Repub-
 licans of Utah had closed up their State head quarters and about abandon further attempts campaign of education in support ot their freak monetary policy News now comes from Seattle that similar condition of affairs prevails there he men who followed the Silver Republican leaders III Wash ington during the Bryan campaign are returning to their allegiance the party of protection and sound money, and the leaders themselves, III many in- stances, acting with the same wisdom.
 The reasons for the change of sentiment among the misguided Republicans of two years ago are many. In the first place, there has been marked return of prosperity the country at large and all classes have benefited by it. This has enabled all except those who are wlfully blind to that the evils which befel the industries of the people during the Cleveland administration were due not to the gold standard as the Bryantes asserted but to the Democratic tariff legislation, and to the lncessant disturbances of finance and business which the ag- tations of the free traders and the silver fanatics brought about.
 As soon as 1t was known that Mckinley had been elected and that the Republican party would once more direct the affairs of the nation confidence was restored, trade revived, the mills reopened industry resumed its work labor and capital found occupation for their energies and the dawn of prosperity began to u1nine the horizon. From that time on the con- dton of the country has improved. Wheat rose while silver continued to fa and the main argument of the siverites was reuted and demolished by the resistless logic of accomplished facts.
 These demonstrations in the domain of commerce and industry served prove the truth and soundness of the Republican claims during the Presidential campaign and led to reconsideration of the subject by all Republicans who had been nlisled into bolting their ticket and voting for Bryan. Then came the war with its demands for loyal support of the ad- mnistraton and the army and navy while fighting a foreign foe, and at the great mass o the wan derers returned their rghtful party and are now as loyal in supporting Repubcanism they were in the days before the silver craze of the panic years mised them.
 If to these factors there had been needed any other to impel the wandering Republicans of % to return to their former allegiance it would have been found in the pursued by the Bryanites since it has been made clear to them that they cannot make a successful campaign this year the silver question. Deprived of that issue they have gone wild in search of others They have raised in different States different standards, but all of them inscribed with demands which tend to Populism to outright socialism
 Conservative men can no longer act with that party even if still holding to the theories of bmet- allism The struggle Is now one of settled govern ment against the fanaticism of innovators who seek to overthrow all existing institutions in the hope of profting by the spells they may gain from the gen. eral ruin. Under conditions prevailing 1t IS not to be wondered that Silver Republicans return ing their place in the ranks of the party of pros perity, and that conservative Democrats follow ing them. There is other place for any one to go who is opposed to experimenting with socialism in the government of this country E