Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 184, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 August 1918 — POLITICS IS NOT ADJOURNED. [ARTICLE]

POLITICS IS NOT ADJOURNED.

When President Wilson said recently that politics was adjourned he doubtless meant to express merely what ought to be. Certainly poises is not adjourned—at least not in Illinois. President Wilson, whose power as a public leader depends in considerable measure upon his prestige <as a party leader, has not been able to keep himself entirely aloof from politics. Leaders of the republican party like ex-President Roosevelt and ex-President Taft have joined in partisan demonstration, as when they participated in the (proceedings -of the New York republican state convention. In Illinois factional and partisan alignments are especially in evidence. It might ibe better in important respects if politics of this sort- were lacking at this time. Still, there are disadvantages as well as advantages in political harmony. When the leaders of all factions of both the major parties work together there is likely to be rank disregard of popular opinion and a lamentable and serious absence of popular interest. Situations marked by political harmony are by no means certain to be dominated by the spirit of u» selfish patriotism. There is this to be said of the present state of political turmoil. While parties and factions are struggling against one another for the offices, the opportunity is afforded independent minded citizens to strike telling blows for good government. Voters who place the public welfare above faction or party hold the balance of power. They must study the situation and work earnestly for the best candidates. Sound sense and public spirit should suffice to tell them how to act in order to serve the public interest. It is intolerable impudence in any prokaiserite, ignoble trimmer or weak-kneed and flabby pacifist to aspire to a public office at this time. Loyal voters should administer a memorable rebuke to every can-, didate. It would be monstrously unfair, it would be morally treacherous to our boys at the front to nominate ,or elect to office men who have gone philandering with the disloyal element or who have not had sufficient courage, manliness or intelligence to be 100 per cent patriotic and American, repudiating in vigorous terms all sympathy with Prussianism and its evil work. Loyal citizens should resolve to ; put none but true, sincere and reliably loyal Americans on guard not only at Washington but in every city, town and village in the land. They owe this to themselves and to the gallant Americans who are shedding their blood for the principles to which this republic is dedicated. That candidate who is not, and has not been, earnestly and wholeheartedly for the cause of justice and liberty is against it and defeat should be his portion.—Chicago Daily News.