The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-07-14
A Midsummer Fantasy.

Senator Morgan is one of the first
ard ahlost free coinage advocates in
the Democratic party. He is also one
Of the most intelligent politicians in
that party. When, therefore, he says
that the wise thing for the Democracy
to do is to drop the silver issue for the
present and with it Mr.. Bryan and
those other extremists who insist upon
pushing it to the front place in the
next presidential campaign, and go in
for conservative nominee and plat
form better calculated to unite the
party he cannot be accused of un-
friendliness to the cause. He has III
mind the impossibility of achieving any
legislation in behalf Of silver during
the next six years at least, on account
of the large Republican majority in
the senate, and he would ike to see
the ragged edges of his party sewcd
up before the rents become irreparable.
But just here a question arises. II
silver is to be eliminated from the
Democratic programme, what is to take
its rlace? Not free trade, While in
the lcnG run present business condi-
tions may lead by imperceptible stages
t. a lowSr ultimate basis of tariff duties
adjusted with a view to larger recip-
rocal relations with other nations, no
intelligent man familiar with the Dem
ocratic party's past attitude on this
question can helieve that there is the
ghost of a show for that party to make
tariff revision successful issue in
politics one year hence. The business
world has adjusted itself for a period OF
years to the existing tariff conditions
and the most that it would be likely to
sanction in way of changes would he
minor readiustments of particular
duties tending toward correction of in
equalities. There is no more political
capital to be invested in this field by
the Democracy of our generation.
If we come to the subject of trusts
it is equally unlikely that a division
can be forced on that line between the
two parties. Public men of both par
of trusts is inspired by the i'll conGuct
of comparatively a few among the
many large organizations of capital
called into being by modern economic
conditions. Ii is possible in party plat
forms to denounce all combinations of
capital in unneasured terms, as out
RACES upon the people and a menace
to liberty, but it is not possible to en-
act laws which under fair iudiCature
can do more than punish proved in
stances Of injustice; and the American
people are not yet ready to make the
administration of justice a partisan is
sue. The intelligence of the country
will hardly commit control of the
courts to a party showing in its rela-
tions toward property and thrift the
mad frenzy of revolutionists such as Is
today the dominant characteristic Of
Bryanism; and even though Bryan
were deposed Organism would remain
for time the controlling Influence
among the Democratic masses.
When we take up the last possible is
sue under existing conditions-the is
sue of Expansion" so-called-we real
ize and symrathize with Senator Nor
gan's embarrassment. There exists be-
tween him and the Republican national
administration no substantial differ
ence Of opinion regarding this policy.
He Is a statesman and patriot enough
fI,at I.
has done in this direction it could not
have left unGone without dishOnoring
itself and the national interests COM
mitted to its care, He knows that
sovereignty already ratified it must
stay until organized rebellion is crush
ed and the foundations of law, order
and Christian liberty are laid for all
future time. He cannot without stul-
tification and sef-contempt follow his
party into an anti-eXpansion campaign.
What, then, is left? Absolutely moth
| ing sufficient to make a distinct cleav-
| age. With Bryan in the saddle, how
| ever, there is an issue and a sharply
| against have; an uprising of the disaf-
fected against property rights; a mad
and furious socialistic assault uron
thrift and all that appertains to thrift.
The Democratic party can make a fight
with Bryan at its head which. Though
it will not be successful nor indeed,
come anywhere so near to success as il
came in 1896. will yet be sufficiently
animated and impetuous TO cover the
whole country with its excitement and
its din. If its will is to be a factor
in the situation; II its aim is to cause
another rafting of the dry bones, the
denomination of Bryan is the Dem
ocracy's sole recourse. All talk OF con.
yerting it into conservative party be-