The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-08-16
A MERE SCARE CROW.
Editor OF Tie Tribune

Editor OF The Tribune
sir:-The Democratic party leaders find them
selves without any real issue in the coming
presidential election. The silver question is OF
no avail The good sense Of the best elements
in the party will not tolerate any tampcrng
with the present monetary system. Yet there
are as many Democrats now as ever who cling to
the same crude and heretical ideas about finance.
When paper money was resorted to as an expe'
dent to help the government in the dark days
Of the civil war, they condemned it as worthless,
but when after the close Of the war 1t was pro-
posed to return to specie payment the meas
ure bitterly opposed by the Democrats who
declared that resumption would ruin the coun-
try. More than this they wanted to initiate the
paper currency as the way TO prosperity.
But resumption came about in spite OF their
opposition, and II a magnificent success,
Never did a nation enter upon such an era OF
prosperity as ours did soon after the close OF
that costly war
Now in their desperation the leaders Of the
Democratic party are trying to make scare
crow out Of what they are pleased to call "mili-
tarism" and imperialism" Militarism means
the maintenance Of large standing army in
time Of peace. This is opposed to the spirit Of
free government for miltarism is the policy Of
despotism. But the policy Of the Republican
party is to have on army only for the sake OF
restoring and maintaining peace wherever the
nag floats. When peace and order have been
secured in the Philippines our army there will
be reduced and the civil will displace the mill
tary power. We are bound to restore order IN
the islands or prove recreant TO our high des.
tiny. We are doing service to humanity by
planting the seeds of political order where
hoodshed robbery and anarchy would prevail
had we withdrawn.
The inevitable result OF our withdrawal would
have been that Germany would have soon found
a preteSt for seizing these islands. It does
seem that all patriotic citizens should be proud
Of our present position among the nations in
the present crisis when China, the most ancient
empire in the world, seems on the point OF
breaking up. Vast commercial interests are at
stake and were it not for position in the
Pacific we would have been at an immense dis
advantage in the present crisis. The wise and
dgnihed way in which President Mckinley has
borne himself in this emergency is matter OF
pride to every citizen Of the land.
The cry Of imperialism has no sense or ap-
propnateness in reference to the Philippines, for
We do not propose TO treat them as mere pos
sessions, but will grant them the measure OF self
government for which they are fitted and as soon
as they are capable Of self.government under the
constitution Of the United States they will surely
have It. Imperialism would hold the islands
for the sake OF swelling the revenues of our gov
ernment but that Is not the intention Of any
portion Of our people, nor ever will be.
The truth is the use Of such term is only
trick to deceive the thoughtless, and it is a very
distinct illustration Of the unscrupulousness Of
professional politicians whose only desire is to
get votes.
Besides the appeal TO the "Declaration OF
Independence" and so much prating about "the
consent Of the governed come with bad grace
from the party which brought on the Mexican
war for the sake Of taking territory from
neighbor in which to plant slavery; the party
that was so largely in sympathy with slavery at
the outbreak of the civil war. and the party
that is now responsible for the disiranchisement
OF the colorcd voters Of the South.
We cannot believe that the voters Of this
land are going to be deceived by such appeals,
and we confident that a crushing defeat will
be administered to Bryan and his dupes.
D. J. Williams.
pnck1rlle AiIn