Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1900-09-20
AGAINST THIRD TICKET.
sentiment OF the Leading Conservatives
Setting Strongly in Favor of Mckinley.

chronicle, of New York. widely
known as one of the strongest and
most truly independent journals in
the country, contained in a recent is
sue noteworthy editorial on the
supJect or the proposed Third
Ilcket OF the Independent anti-ina-.
perialists. The Chronicle while svm-
pathizing with the opposition to ex-
travagant theories of colonial exnan-
sion, as held by some extremists. and
with the more conservative views of
the moderate men of both parties, ex-
presses itself strongly against the
nomination of q third ticket in the
present campaign. Undoubtedly. it
says. third tickets and third parties
have sometimes done much good. even
where the vote of the third party was
insignificant. Thus. in 1896. the cam
paign Of the Gold Democrats, though
resulting in poll of only 134,G45
votes, "has never been looked upon
rs failure" says the Chronicle.
and for the reason that it served at
least to bring about the decision i'm
favor of honest money. The prob
lem at issue was very simple. and
the work of the third party helped
to define it. The problem of 1900 is
very far from simple. 1t embraces.
for one thing. all the issues at stake
in 1896, with the Chicago platform
Of that year boldly reiterated. Yet
the party which pronounces thus for
false and dangerous system of
finance is the very party which makes
positive objection to the expansion
policy. 1t is therefore necessary at
the outset. us even the organizers of
the third party are aware, to con-
| slider how far Il third ticket. formally
placed in nomination, would affect the
result as regards not only the anti
| imperialist plank, but the other i'm
portant issues of the canvass.
IF we can take as Il forecast of the
| Independent Presidential platform the
declaration of the recent third party
conference at the Plaza Hotel, New
York, its attitude would he purely
one of negation Directly, the indie
pendents could help neither party.
The New York declaration opposes
President McKinley's policy with
Spain and with the Philippines and
declares that a vote for him will be
counted as vote for Imperialism
But on the other hand it describes the
opposing candidate as "a man of hal
tucinations or n demagogue-in either
| event, dangerous man. and charac-
! terizes vote for him as a vote for
free silver; still further debauchinc OF
the civil service; packing of the Su
preme Court by men to be governed
! by the will of the Executive Ap-
parently, therefore, the only practical
effect of such Il canvass would be to
draw away voters from both parties.
That both could or would be over
thrown by it is out of the question.
That Mr. Bryan's chances would be
favored by the independent canvass.
under existing conditions. is at least
assumed by Mr.. Bryan himself and
his associates. The plain question 10
consider, then. is whether the effec-
| tive rebuking of what is considered
a dangerous expansion policy would
compensate. in an imagined emer-
gency. for the throwing over OF the bal
ance in favor of party which this
weeks Independent manifesto itself
describes rs 'disorganized fanaticism.'
I'VE cannot believe that even in the
eyes of the strongest anti-imperialist
the gain in such Il case would out
weigh the loss. 1t seems to us thai
the attitude of the Administration on
the expansion issue is not only one
which was forced on it by circum
| st, 1,,,t to, x,-1i oh hos
strained and modified by the force OF
intelligent public opinion. We can
hardly, therefore. share the apprehen-
sion of the third party advocates that
the country stands in imminent peril
| of reckless and irrevocable action in
| this regard. On the other hand. the
attitude of the Kansas City nominee
has not only not been modified by
conservative opinion. but was fixed. SD
far as the silver question is concerned.
in open disregard of the protests of Il
sober minded majority even in his own
party. Mr.. McKipley's policy regard
ing our foreign acquisitions is tenta-
tive. and will necessarily be brought
to its final shape In the light of intelli-
gen, criticism. Mr.. Bryan's policy re-
garding the currency is outlined in II
distinct and formal pledge TO upset the
existing order at the earliest opportun-
/ ity. and the fact that the candidate
staked his personal fortunes on the
/ adoption of such Il plank gives some
| hint at the full extent of his fanati-
! cism. In the light of such situation
/ IL seems To us that conservative
/ third party ought To move very care
/ fully In yielding TO the temptation for
an independent canvass. We are glad
/ TO say. from our personal knowledge
of the facts, that the risk which would
+ be run In this direction, through the
{ formal entry of the anti-imperialisis
/ into the campaign. is receiving fun
/ and serious consideration from some
OF the guiding spirits In the move
ment."
Dewey aa Brysu and AEui"sida.
I Admiral Dewey, who has been pass