Jasper County Democrat, Volume 19, Number 52, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 September 1916 — IF THE G. O. P. ELEPHANT COULD SPEAK THE TRUTH [ARTICLE]

IF THE G. O. P. ELEPHANT COULD SPEAK THE TRUTH

VOTERS of the U. S. A.— We, the Republican party, being at our wits’ end and desperate, put it up to you: For nearly four years how a Democratic Administration has been in power. Contrary to every law of reason,, every principle of progress, the country Is at peace and alive, nay, humming with prosperity. Business is rushing. Wages are high. The only discontent is the discontent of those who are reaching for bigger chunks of plenty. We are flabbergasted. All this has happened during a period when the rest of the world has been agog, when international crises were impending on all sides,“when we would have sworn only Republican statesmanship could pull the nation through. No war has engulfed us. No panic has paralyzed us. No nation has with impunity continued to infringe upon our rights. We can’t deny what has been done. All we can do is take our oath we could have done it better. How, we do not know. If only. we said it loud and long enough we hoped the country would believe us. But the country is busy and our voices grow hoarse. We are having a hard time. Woodrow Wilson has nothing to show but what he has accomplished. He has none of the glamour of the what-might-be. We, on the contrary, have our old promises and policies, mellowed by age, but still bearing the stamp of the nation’s solid interests. Protection, privilege,, government by influence —surely the county has not given them their last trial. Wall street is with us. Big business is with us. But O, Voters, we Confess it, we need you. Don’t keep looking at the peace and prosperity around you. Try to get our point of view. Whatever Wilson has done, the man is a Democrat, and neither Federal Government nor Federal offices were meant to be forever in such hands. Let’s forget issues and talk as friends. Turn him out and give us a chance!