The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-07-07
Mr.. Bryan's Vain Hope.

1.-THE question of imperialism" says
Mr. bryan, "will bring more votes out
of the Republican party in the coming
campaign than in any of the campaigns
since the last canvass of Abraham
Lincoln" The statement is ambiguous,
for the reason that the question of
imperialism" has not figured In any
campaign either before or since 1864
But if it be the Nebraska orators
meaning that an anti platform will
draw to the Democracy more Republi-
can votes than have been DETECTED
in any presidential campaign since
Lincolns second canvass, Mr.. Bryan
must have read political history un-
comprehendingly. AS the esteemed
Washington Star points out:
THE Democracy has made and lost
three national campaigns on the lines
of understanding the popular intelli-
gence. The campaign of 1864 was made
on that line The country was asked
to believe the war for the Union fail
ure, and set Mr.. Lincoln down as man
whose politics meant the total destruc-
ton of the Constitution. But the peo-
pie were sane. Mcclellan carried just
two states, and received only twenty
one electoral votes out of two hundred
and thirty-three.
In 1872 the county was asked to be-
lieve that a second term Of General
Grant would imperil civil institutions.
He was pictured as a Man on Horse
back, surrounded by personal favor
ties. and riding rough-shod over the
law. 1t was thought that the nomina-
ton of Mr.. Greeley would bring more
votes out of the Republican party than
any other than could be made. The
nomination was made, but the Republi-
can votes expected did not materialize.
beaten that he went to his grave in a
few weeks broken-hearted
THE nomination of General Hancock
in 1880 was made on a foolish calcu-
lation of bringing votes out Of the
Republican party He was a Demo-
Crat, but the fact that he was also one
of the most brilliant of the surviving
Union generals was relied upon to
make heavy inroads on the old soldier
vote, then largely Republican. The
calculation was wholly erroneous. The
candidate in his personality was most
attractive, but, as the representative
Of a party leaning then, as now, to
unsound money, he went down to de-
feat The old soldiers who were Re-
publicans did not divide at the polls"
The question of imperialism" can be
raised dneXt year only in one way. Itmust
take this form and this form alone:
shall the United States scuttle out OF
the Philippines and haul down it's flag
in the fact of hostile firing?" This is
the only form in which imperialism, >
so-called, can figure in the pending dis.
cusson. Some few hysterical Republi.
cans of the watery blood type
| may scare over the spectre which
| Mr.. Bryan threatens to utilize
but how about the opposite
| tendency among virila Democrats? Al.
| ready for every Republican of promin.
| ence whose voice has gone forth in ait
of the Filipino insurgents at least two
| loyal Democrats of equal prominence
| have announced their intention tC
stand by their government. In a mat,
ter of this kind patriotism does not di
vide along party lines, and Republicans
may we'll view ith complacency the
threatened exodus of Aguinaldists il
view of the certain gain from Demo-
| cratic sources.