The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-08-20
A Great Year for thermometers.

There has been no public announcement
yet of any reward offered by the present
leaders of tho Democratic party for long
distance thermometers. Were there such O
| prize, it would be difficult matter to de-
eide between the contestants. On nearly
| every point Of Democratic party faith the
number Of those who stand fully prepared
| to adjust all differences and to appease all
antipathies is unprecedcntedly large. There
| are those who propose TO harmonic the
financial dispute by an unequivocal declare
ton for silver leaving the ratio to take
care OF itself or to be settled by Congress.
There are those who favor discreet silence
In the platform as to all financial questions;
those who propose the moss-covered device
Of leaving the whole matter to Congress, "
and saying nothing about it meanwhile.
There are those who are for pledging the
nominee to disavow all convictions as to the
question Of currency. There are those who
propose that the nominee shall withhold
until after the election any declaration Of
his views. however radical, positive and
determined they may be.
On the subject of the hated and fated
trusts the all-round Harmonious are just
as busy. Here are some Of their methods Of
dealing politically with the monsters:
/. Denunciadon Of trusts. and all.
2. Denunoiation OF one trust in particular select
ing one in which 10 Democratic statesman happens
to be interested.
3. Vigorous denunciauon Of the present tariff
the cause Of trusts. No war Oh trusts TIL tariff Is
changed.
Z. Submitting the trust question to Congress.
g. Municipal ownership. State sociAlism or single
tax means OF delverance from trusts; referen-
dunn to decide which.
g. Silence to the trusts. their enormity being too
great for minor details.
Z. More silver. the money power" being accepted
Is the largest trust Of ALL
He is an unreasonable person indeed who
would not be willing to accept one Of these
planks and the busy thermometers are not
particular which plank is taken, providing
all Democrats will stand upon it.
On tho subject of the foreign relations Of
the Unaed States, the exercise Of its sove-
reignty where it is forcibly assailed, and
the acceptance Of the responsibilities in
Cured through the victories Of American
arms in two hemispheres, the thermometers
offer equally varied political schemes for
suiting all tastes in platform declarations:
/. War to the knife and knife to the hilt No steps
backwards. The National Administra ton to be
criticized roundly.
2. Haul down the flag. In dealing with armed foes
and with disturbsrs. the policy Of the United States
n the policy of peace through arbitration.
8. Praise for American soldiers and sAilors-but
don't let them do 1t again.
4. No militarism. No imperialism. The Copstitu-
ton at all hazards. No martial law in the United
States or elsewhere.
3. Submit the whole matter to Congress-
o. Adjust present differences by correspondence
with A9UIsAIDo.
7. Appoint new ommission for the settlement of
matters Of dispute and elect meanwhile the Demo-
cratic nominee for President.
1t is clearly observable that the uncon-
trollable activity OF these thermometers" is
exclusively limited to the Democratic line.
No Republican thermometers have appeared.
Nor does there appear to be need tot any.
The position on all public questions of the
Republican party is clearly cut explicit
and unmistakable. The voters OF the United
States, whatever their predictions, have
little sympathy and less respect for the
professional thermometers and trimmers at
an important period OF national affairs, and
the Democratic thermometers do well to ex-
ert themselves while they may, for they
will be sent to the rear by their own party
very soon after the close Of 1899 and before
next years fight really begins.