Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 36, Number 106, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 September 1904 — POLITICAL COMMENT [ARTICLE]

POLITICAL COMMENT

Dangers that Confront Us. The greatest blunder the Republican leaders could make would be to assume Chat the election of President Roosevelt is a foregone conclusion. The victory eight years ago was made decisive because the perils of Bryanism were made apparent, and voters turned out for self-protection. But when party lines are strictly drawn there is no safe Republican majority, no safe Democratic majority. It Is largely a question of which party can draw the independent vote, which ticket appeals to a third party of uncertain numbers but which wields a potent influence In national affairs. For the past two campaigns the Republicans have won this element, and should win it again. There is nothing in the Democratic platform to reassure the country. It is evasive on every great issue, and even • the tariff plank is constructed in a manner that satisfies no one. It declares that protection is robbery, but instead of promising to stop the “wrong.” plans a “reasonable” revision, a palpable sacrifice of principle in the great game of vote catching. 1 The antics of the St. Louis convention on the money question were so ludicrous that its candidate for President, after agreeing through ills spokesmen to swalllow any kind of pill the delegates might offer, was forced to recant, and its juggling of the Panama canal plank showed plainly the differences that exist within the ranks. There Is a well-defined determination on the part of Democratic leaders' to pay no heed to principle, to let all Issues drift where they may, but to go after the votes. The platform therefore ifi a mere assembly of words.

formed to deceive the unwary. The free trader will be shown that tariff Is robbery. The protectionist will be told that the party is pledged to go no furtber'than “reasonable revision.” The silver Democrat will be appeased by jhe declaration that the money question is merely held in abeyance and that his principle will triumph all the sooner for its present suspended animation, while the sound money Democrat is to be convinced by Parker's telegram that he Is for the gold standard. It is against tills doublebarreled proposition that the Republican party must make its fight, and it will require yeoman effort to bring the truth to light that all may see. The Republicans have plenty of ammunition to use upon this ambiguous structure. There is jyithing evasive in t lie Republican platform. Net an issue Is dodged. Every principle is blazoned on the party standard. And the people have the glories of past performance as pledges for future action. The Republican record speaks forjtself. The administration of President Roosevelt stands out conspicuous for its Americanism. for its courage, for its fidelity to conviction; and it would be remarkable. Indeed, if the masses of the voters can be led astray by tiie lying standards of the opposition.—Toledo Blade.

West la Anti-Pa rker. The game of rainbow (basing has ever been a favorite pastime with Democratic newspaper*. Just now the Eastern organs of the party are publishing predictions that Parker will carry certain Western States which are reliably Republican. In point of fact, had they been in the doubtful column In the last two campaigns, they would be to-day, as they are, absolutely certain for Roosevelt The condition Is this: The President Is enormously popular throughout the West. It Is a personal popularity that would arouse sweeping majorities In his behalf, even were there no other factor making for his success, but the Democrats of that section are Intensely free silver In sentiment, and Parker's telegram has turned them away from him. Like Bryan, they are disaffected, ■nd they will by thousands and tens of thousands vote for Roosevelt. There are a number of Instances which may be given showing the drift of Democratic opinion. The chairman of the Michigan Democratic State Committee has repudiated Parker; the former chairman of the lowa Democratic Htnte < Committee has publicly announced Ids support of Roosevelt In th* Missouri Democratic convention, which named Folk for Governor, Bryan’s name was received with mighty cheers when it was mentioned, but

Parker’s was. received with cries of “Who is Parker?” These are straws showing the direction of the political winds of the West The Democrats detest David B. Hill, and resent the capture of the party by him and the Wall street crowd. They look on Parker as the tool of Hill and the trusts, and on the trust proposition alone they will vote for Roosevelt The nomination of Davis, a West Virginia railroad and mining property promoter, strengthens their view that the party is in the hands of the element the Western Democrats call “the plutocracy.” There is no hope for Parker in the West.—Toledo Blade. The Situation in Ohio. Republicans of Ohio are preparing for a live, aggressive campaign, says the Toledo Blade. The organization is In excellent shape and thoroughly drilled for the work. It has won notable victories before under the splendid managment Of Senator Dick, and it will add another laurel to the wreath in November. There are no dissensions in the ranks, no differences of opinion over the platform, and absolute unanimity as to the ticket. The modern normal plurality in Ohio is very close to a hundred thousand. President Roosevelt may fall short of this a few thousand, and, allowing that many Democrats who keep away from the polls in off years will vote in the national election, he will lose a percentage of the gold Democratic vote that went to McKinley, but he will gain two votes for every one he loses. There was nothing in the work of the St. Louis convention to enthuse the Ohio Democrat. The Buckeye delegates were led to believe that Harmon

would be chosen as candidate for Vice President, but his barrel didn’t measure up to the standard. In turning him down, Parker's managers virtually served notice on the Ohioans this State was to be considered hopeless territory. No part of the Davis millions is to be distributed among the faithful here. They must work out their own salvation. Bryan’s friends —and he has a host of them in the Buckeye State—are indignant over tiie treatment accorded him. Every effort to humiliate him struck deep in the Buckeye heart. No matter how earnestly he may urge them to be regular, they will have their revenge. The Democrats who opposed him in '96 and 1900 furnished a precedent and Dave Hill gave the provocation.

Decreasing Failures. In the matter of recent failures there is evidence of our general prosperity, and the fact that our protection la panic-proof. The liabilities for the past six months were as follows: January $18,183,573 February 15,812,553 March 13,770,595 April 13.136.d88 May" 9,817,998 June 8,469,502 The above shows an improvement every month since .January. The liabilities for May and June. 1904, as compared with the same months of 1903 and 1902, were as follows: 1904, $lB,287.500; 1903, $20,640,860; 1902, $19,303.751.' Democratic spellbinders should cut out the above figures nnd paste them in their hats for use this summer. They fit in well with the savings bank statistics ami all other general evidences of a substantial prosperity, unaffected by midsummer dullness or the business lull of a campaign year.

Attacking the Tariff. The Democratic party, including Bryan, admits defeat until the next campaign on tiie issue of honest money. So It is proposed to fight this year on the Issue of the tariff. For eight years the Democratic party has fought the honesty of the laborer's wages. Now the fight is against the sufficiency of the laborer's work. The people resisted successfully In 1890 and in 1900 the fifty-eent dollar in the pay envelope, and will resist as successfully half-time in the works of industryThe Republican [>arty and its candidates represent steady employment at American wages. That pnrty and Its candidates will be victorious over the tariff tinkers aa over the dolilar pluggers.—Troy Times.