The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-07-14

nave
arranged to glorify the plat
form and nominees of the Kansas City
convention and to get their vocal or
Sans warmed up for the active work
of the coming campaign. They expect
a large outpouring of people and a
lively time, and, to be neighborly and
not churlish, we trust that they will
not be disappointed. Enthusiasm such
as theirs merits a certain measure of
respect, even though exhibited in a
pernicious cause.
All those who base any expectation
of profit in Democratic success ought
certainly to attend tonight's ratifica-
tion rally. This should include those
who are looking for local office or ap-
pointments from the Democratic par
ty, and in a county like our own, with
its multiplicity of township, ward, city
and county places many of them pay
ing generous returns for the work re-
Qured, it ought to make a consider
able muster Naturally the Democrat
ic politicians will be there, since it is
a part of their trade; and no doubt
some others will go, attracted largely
by curiosity and the willingness to be
entertained. The more the merrier;
we shall not begrudge them a single
auditor.
But it occurs to us that the conser-
vative and reflective portion of our
citizenship, without regard to past
1f ia Ntsi11 oCly
in vain what there is in either the
platform or the ticket of the Kansas
City convention calling for their slight
est Endorsement and not, on the other
hand, challenge their earnest antagon-
ism. Four years ago, after the Cleve-
get the country into a hole where
workshops were closed, capital was
scared and there was no telling how
soon the government at Washing
ton might be forced upon a silver
basis, it was conceivable how an in
genious speaker like Mr.. Bryan, dram
atically picturing the distress of the
people and charging it to the then ex-
listing financial system, might make a
plausible appeal for the trial of six
teen to one The dangers of the gold
standard, as he depicted them with
his extraordinary gifts of oratory.
were cleverly calculated to make an
impression upon minds that had given
the subject no particular study and
that were somewhat in the position of
the invalid eager to try each new nos
trum purpOrtlng to cure.
Today however, conditions in every
respect are different. The country is
not sick and fretful and in a mood TO
experiment 1t has regained its econ
omic health and wealth and never was
more vigorous in all its life. As Presi-
dent Mckinley says, I'VE have lower
interest and higher wages; more money
and fewer mortgages. The worlds
markets have been opened to Ameri-
can products, which go now where they
havoc never gone before. We have
passed from a bond issuing to a bond
paying nation; from a nation of boc-
roWers to a nation of lenders: from a
deficiency in revenues to a surplus;
iloill rear " CpIHuenCeI from enforced
idleness to profitable employment. The
public faith has been upheld: public
order has been maintained. We have
prosperity at home, and prestige
abroad" These things have come in
spite of William Jennings Bryan's
prophecies and warnings, in spite OF
his sarguments and his attempted dem
onstrations, directly contradictory tc
his teachings as put forth four years
ago, The test of experience has shown
that he was mistaken in 1895, that
the gold standard meant none of the
frightful things that he said it meant
that the Republican party was not a
menace TO the public welfare, but con.
servatiVe and successful administrator
of the public business. that it did ex,
actly what 1t said it would do, be-
sides carrying on a successful wal
into the bargain. Certainly the ex.
periences Of the past four years in the
matter of currency legislation do not
inspire fair-minded and prudent citi.
zens TO view with enthusiasm a sec,
ond candidacy on the part of Mr.. Bry.
an, based on the same old calamity
howl.
But they tell us. the speakers at to.