Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1900-08-09

ana Bryan and all the other Bryanites
Of the present wild-eyed leadership Of
the rattle-trapped national Democracy.
Guffey, while protesting to be with
David B. Hill In favor Of a conservative
platform and the elimination Of the 16
to / plank, upon which Bryan had set
his heart, permitted the Pennsylvania
delegation, which was absolutely un-
der his control, to vote down Governor
Hills proposition to have minority re-
port against the 16 to l plank intro
duced. This was to have been fought
out on the floor of the convention,
where the undoubted sentiment of a
large majority Of the delegates was
against the 16 to proposition.
The vote in the Pennsylvania dele
cation under the unit rule made the
Keystone state Democracy put their
GA votes on record with those of the
most rampant of the Till2nens. the Alt
gelds and the Joneses in opposition to
a minority report against 16 to l. With
Guffey in this game was Richard Gro
ker, who closed Hills mouth by spring
ing the unit rule upon him and cast
ing the entire New York delegation of
72 votes against the minority report,
advocated by Hill. The action OF Guf-
fey and Croker decided the fate Of the
16 to 1 plank. 1t went into the plat
form without attempted objection on
the floor Of the convention.
1t was quite natural that Col. Guf-
fey and Richard Croker should be
summoned to the first conference ar
ranged by Chairman ]. X. Jones, of the
Democratic national committee. Guf-
fey and Croker were the only promi-
nent party leaders invited.
GOLD DEMOCRATS SHY.
Guffey is going to have his own trou-
bles in pushing his canvass for United
States senator.
The Republicans are now familiar
with his game, and are going to watch
him closely, but there is conservative
element in his own party that will not
sonal advantage.
Guffey stands for Organism and free
silver, and the sound money men Will
have none of either.
No other consistent course Is open
to the gold Democrats. Practically the
only reason that they opposed Bryan
four years ago was his advocacy OF free
silver. The action of the Kansas City
convention in specifically adopting
free silver plank at Bryan's demand
brings the silver question again before
the public. Gold Democrats cannot
support Bryan or Guffey in the pres
ent campaign without virtually repu-
dating the principles they progressed
in 1896.
Their leaders evidently perceive that
the only way to crush out the free Sill
YER delusion Is to concentrate the sound
money vote of the country on Mckin-
ley. The course of Bryan in forcing
free silver again on the Democratic
party shows that it Is futile to expect
him to abandon this craze as long as
he thinks there is political profit In 1t
for him, and the only manner by which
he can be cured of this error is by an
other overwhelming defeat. For this
purpose no occasion could be more
propitious than the present. The coun-
try is prosperous, and farmers, work
ing men and other toilers, contrary to
Bryan's predictions, have seen prices
and wages rise under the gold stand
ard. Many men can understand the
truth now, as they could not in 1896,
when the nation was just emerging
from a disastrous panic.
Guffey stands for Organism and the
gold Democrats of Pennsylvania Will
vote against them both.
FUSION WILL HELP BRYAN.
The gold Democrats are primarily
opposed to Guffey, because his success
means Bryan's success. Those who at
tended the meeting OF the Chester
county Democratic committee held
last week or read reports OF the pro-
ceedings were impressed with a state
ment made by w. S. Hastings, who
was a delegate to the Democratic con-
vention at Kansas City. He is an ar
dent advocate of fusion on the legisla-
tive ticket, and in speech before the
county committee said he favored fu-
sion because it would help Bryan, and
he wanted to do everything to poll a
big vote for Bryan. OF course he is for
Guffey for United States senator.
THE PARAMOUNT ISSUE"
Paramount isues are sometimes ex-
pressed, but they are never made by
platform declarations. The people
think and form impressions of parties
as organized entities, with virtues and
vices like individuals, and the party,
considering its history, character and
professions, that has the best claims
upon the public confidence usually
wins. Many voters have pronounced
party predictions without being able
| to define them, but they have an intel
ligent basis just the same.
imperialism will receive its share
of attention on the stump and in party
organs during the campaign, but the
people are disposed to look upon the
question as a political stalking horse,
| trotted out for this campaign only. II
Democrats were sincere in their denun-
citation Of Imperialism the country
would regard 1t as a case of political
'jimjams.'
81 have no doubt that the people OF
this country would oppose imperialism
If it were seriously proposed, but they
cannot be led to confound that specter
with patriotic effort to establish or
der on American soil. The people ex-
pect us to govern the newly acquired
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