Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1899-10-09
FREELAND, PA, OCTOBER 9, 1899.
President Dewey.
From the Philadelphia Record.


Although Senator Hannas silly talk
about Dewey as candidate for the
presidency merits little attention, the
subject is such an alluring one that its
discussion cannot be avoided. The
hero of each of our great wars has been
rewarded with this highest gift of the
American people: and it would be
deemed a reproach to the country
should Admiral Dewey alone fail OF at
tanning such well merited honor. He
has earned all the people can give him,
and II he shall liye the reward which he
deserves will not be denied. Nor will
his modesty prove an obstacle. That
the great captain, diplomat and admin
istrator is, after all the adulation heap
ed upon him, still modest enough to
think himself unfit for the highest office
in the gift of the nation will only make
the people trust and love him more, if
that be possible.
But Admiral Dewey to-day stands as
our national hero without the slightest
stain or tarnish to obscure that glory of
which we all, Democrats and Republi-
cans alike, are so proud; and nothing
could compensate us, or him, for lessen
ing in the slightest degree the reverence
with which he is regarded. Such is our
debt of gratitude that if he should be
nominated on either party ticket we
would hope and work for his election;
and yet we cannot but feel that, under
certain circumstances, his election
would take far more from his enduring
fame than it could add.
1t is alleged that Admiral Dewey has
been lifelong Republican. He has
earned his high place in the nations re-
gard in the position assigned him by
President Mckinley who has given him
constant support and the highest ap-
probation. This being so, Admiral
Dewey could not be true to himself If he
should change his politics as means of
personal advancement and allow himself
to be used as means of supplanting
the administration through whose
agency he obtained the opportunity he
so we'll used of making his name i'm
mortal
So long as he should approve of the
policy, of the Republican administra-
tion, though it might not be deemed an
act OF bad faith or unnatural if he
should be prevailed upon to stand for
the presidency uncommitted except up
on his past record, he would thereafter
no longer be the Dewey whom we now
look up to. That Dewey can only accept
a nomination from the party in which he
believes, and which is now pre-commited
to President Mckinley for second term.
In 1904, If he shall live so long, moth
ing can prevent Dewey's election
Should the Republican politicians fail
in their duty of nominating the admiral,
then could the Democratic party repair
the wrong without injury to itself or
him. He would be overwhelmingly
elected. For the present, with the high
qualities which we believe he possesses,
he could not take a Democratic nomina-
tion, and would not take a Republican
nomination.
We wish we had Dewey free from
obligations, safe and sound in the Dem
ocratic ranks; but as that cannot be it
is our hope that in pulling down his
admiral pennant and taking his place
in the body OF our citizenship he will
not find any lesser level in the whole
country's grateful regard. He is our
Dewey, free from reproach as he has
always been from fear. Let him be
president, if he will, but in such fashion
that the presidency shall in no wise
diminish tho lama nf the admiral