The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-03-27
In the Enemy's Camp.


publican party has got into
Il something of snarl over Puerto
Rico. On the surface it looks
like bad snarl. but pretty soon the
common sense Of the party will gain
the mastery, fluttered citizens will be
Gained and all will be again serene.
How is it, meanwhile. with the oppo-
sition? Lest we should be accused of
bias, we intend to summon recog-
nized Democratic authority, the Phil
adelphia record, to the witness stand.
Says the Record: 1T is a long. long
time since the Democratic party had
an opportunity as bright, in presi-
Dental year and before the meeting
of the conventions. as that which is
now offered" Our contemporary dwells
lovingly on this brightness; magnifies
the Republican differences, belabors
Mark Hanna and the trusts and AYERS
tina. the people are literally hungry
for the chance to elect a Democratic
president. But-there is large but"
in the Records forecast-the "oppor-
tunity of the Democratic party de-
pends upon the assemblage of a wise
and truly representative convention
which shall realize that the Democracy
ought not to be tied to the fortunes
of any one man, but should be the
party of the people, as its name and
traditional principles signify--a party
with living issues, seeking success not
for the vindication of particular man
and his doctrines, but from patriotic
motives and far-reaching purposes"
To be more specific, our contempor-
ary wants its brethren in the Jefferson
ian faith to toss Jonah Bryan over
board, drop the free silver corpse, and
stop the idiotic outcry against expan-
sion. THAT a majority of intelligent
and patriotic Democrats believe that
the Philippine archipelago rightfully
belongs to the United Estates now and
for all time, and that all talk of it's
independence is mischievous folly, is"
says the Record, fair to assume from
the attitude of nine-tenths of the DEM
ocratic papers of influence. There is
further proof in the steadfast refusal
of any number of Democrats to Join
in the unpatriotic clamor of the mis-
called anti-imperialist agitators. They
cannot be persuaded that prolonged
territorial condition, such as most of
our states have experienced, would be
a hardship too great for the Filipinos.
or that people too primitive for such
a condition are fit for self-government
to the degree that absolute independ-
ence requires. Intelligent people arc
not to be frightened by the bugbear of
Filipino competition with American la :
Dor. 1t has been proved in the past
two years that the superior skill and
greater productiveness of our workmen
place us beyond all danger Of serious
rivalry in any quarter"
Democratic victory. our contempor-
ary thinks, can be snatched If the
Democratic convention will put itself
abreast of the times; but it mourn
fully adds: 1T Is useless to deny
however, that at this moment there
is the danger that a convention which
| will not represent the best intelligence
of the party will prefer to proclaim
it's loyalty to lead issue rather than
triumph at the polls" We are not SC
sure about there being the possibility
| of a Democratic victory under any
| circumstances; but the Records in.
sight into Democratic prospects while
Bryan is the chief mogul has certainly
the weight of inspiration.