The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1896-01-04
ONE OF IRIS STRONG POINTS.


One of the strong features OF the Re
publican party is its manifest ability
to rise promptly above mere partisan
ship and respond to the broader de-
mands of patriotism. A striking illus
tration Of this was had in the popular
branch of congress the other day by
the passage of a strictly administration
measure and the temporary waver, or
modification, of Republican policy. In
his special message, the president made
a strong appeal to congress to enact
measure which would relieve the treas
ury from the constant drain which was
being made on it and indicated plan
which, in his opinion, would secure the
treasury from further danger. The
treasury was represented as being in a
most deplorable condition, hanging
constantly, as it we're, on the ragged
edge of bankruptcy. The Republican
representatives did not believe that the
plan suggested by the president was
the best method of relieving the strain
but appreciated the necessity of doing
something and doing it promptly.
Therefore, rather than risk an execu-
tive veto which might follow an effort
to enact law conformable to Republi-
can ideas, and thus intensity the diff
culties, the administration measure
was passed. The president was sup
ported by a Republican house as he
had never been by the Democracy and
this against the policy and judgment
of the Republicans and wholly in obe-
dienCe to a patriotic sense of duty. In
forming tariff measure, the RepUbli-
cans were inspired by the same high
motives. They sincerely believed that
restoration of the Mckinley law would
cure most of the ills with which the
country was afflicted, but they realized
that it would be asking too much of
president who stood on platform de-
nOuDcing McKinleyism as legalized
robbery to expect him to sign such a
bill; therefore, a moderate measure
was formulated which the president
could approve without outraging his
conscience or his politics. 1t is a rev.
enue measure on protective lines and
differs from the German. Wilson law in
that it is free trade measure on defc-
1t lines. The bill authorizing the sec
rotary of the treasury to issue short
time emergency bonds was passed by
the lower house because the president
wanted it, and the tariff bill was modi-
fed in Difference to the free trade pol.
icy of the administration, In both in
stances the Republicans rose superior
to party or political considerations
They accepted the presidents state
ment that the nation was in delicate
condition and seeing that he and his
party had brought on the disease were
generous enough to place at his dis
pOsal such remedies as he might desire
to experiment with. Nevertheless
there is a disposition among a few
thOughtless and fanatical Republicans
to criticize the Republican majority
for deferring so much to the admins
tratiOn. The trouble with this class is
that they are not broadly patriotic and
do not realize that the welfare of the
whole nation is of far greater import
than the interest of any political party,
and that party can we'll afford to tenn
porarily modify its policy in the inter-
est of national health.
THE antArnrisinn citizens Of Rnise