New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-07-19
TIE KEYNOTE STRUCh.

That part Of the population OF Massachusetts
which answers 10 the name Of Gamallel Brad
ford Is In state OF intense alarm. To Mr.
Pradfc-d the present condition OF affairs aI'
pea. n, rfccty dreadful. and the future rs black
20 q pot Following his usual custom when
Engaged in the act OF saving his country. MI
Bradford has issued an address. which IL cal
culated 10 diffusc the authors anxiety through
the remotest hamets 81 the Commonwealth
This remarkable document Is couched In The
form Of an appeal 10 the Democrats ~ Mnssa-
chusetts. enireaiing them to sink all poHccal
differences and rise MS on" Mr. Bradford.
for example 10 hurl the Republican party from
power The idea IS that The policy Of military
and naval expansion must he defeated instan-
tancously or everything will bc lost. Including
whatever small supply Of honor We may sull
possess, and we are not aware that the resources
~ a coplous vocabulary were ever more rcck-
lessly expended in a desperate cause. MI
Bradfords appeal Is reared upon IN" thesis that
the real object Of the war Is not the defeat or
Spain nor the Independence OF cuba. nor even
"thc conquest ~ territory. but 10 keep the Re
publican party I'm power" We do not know
where the Hon Champ Clark Is at the present
moment hut n ne IS within reach OF n tele-
graph station Mr.. Bradford has probably got
something hot of the wires before now for
Champ IS on record to wit. The Congressional
Record rs saying to his Republican brethren
in the House: 1--WE took you by the scruff of
tho neck and dragged you into It; rs our war.
Rut as this IS doubtless Of the differences
which Mr. Bradford wants to have sunk, his
positon cannot be rendered untcnable by any
thing that Champ may say, and We are there
fore warranted in proceeding with the nrgu-
ment.
II appears that though the Army was dis
missed 10 private life after the objects OF the
Civil War had been accomplished. Il Is the pres
ent intention OF the Republican party. with
lightning rods thrust ont into the Pacific.
"whethcr AT the Philippines, or even In lia-
"waii" TO raise the cry that unless we have
IAN Army and Navy equal TO those OF Europe
1--WE shall be constantly in danger not only OF
"attack. hut Of defeat" For rhetorical pur
poses Mr.. Bradford chose an extremely I'm
prnssive figure as everybody must admit but
We question its political value. The lightning
rod Industry has been much depressed OF late.
and if there are 1s many agile and industrious
agents in Massachusetts rs there used 10 be- the
idea Of fhrustng lightning rods ont into the
Pacific as far rs Manila or even Honolulu, Is
likely 10 impress them favorahIy. and largely
diminish the number Of Democrats who might
otherwise consent 10 be brought mp N the feet
OF Camaliel They are q ncrvy lot ana we
surmise that they will not be deferred from
encouraeing such a stroke Of business even by
the hidoous cataclysm which Mr. Bradford thus
deplcts as the Inevitable consequence Of so cx
troyocant nm Installation. 1--WE shall stand be-
fore the world in the much lauded position Of
III
that is. thos, whose people exist only 10 sup
"port the fighting machincs And - with those
"peoplc. the Army and The Navy may he used
"for interim, rs well rs external purposes New
"York or Boston may be ovcrawcd with battle
"shps. Chicago or St LouiS may be placed nm
"dcr military rule for alleged characterization
eat the bidding Of the rulers in Washington.
"just as well as Havana or MarI.,a.
Far he II from ia t. minimize the horrors Of
such situation II the Iowa, with Bob"
Evans on the bridge should ever open on the
sacred Goldfish in obedience to orders from
Washington the sioutost hearts In Boston would
have reason enough 10 quake; or if we should
haprcn 10 he short Of battlcshlps nj the mo-
ncnt. we have no doubt that even the cruiser
BROOKLYN would be "A frghtful sight when all
her guns were going of Coney Island. Faith
does indeed suggest that
Oftontimes celestial bcnedcticns
Assume this dark disguise.
and Mr. Bradford may not have sufficiently
considered the immortality Of doubt; hut good
deal must he pardcned to n man who really be
lieves that a sudden transition from Boston 10
Heaven will presently becom" the only alerna-
tive to submission to a military dospotlsm If
such dilemma does not make powerful ap-
peal to the Democrats Of Massachusetts and
cause them to sink all their political differences
nothing viii. At MI events. II Is worth trying.
though. as we have said. large detection from
TIE li.htEinx-rc alen Is probably Inevitable