Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-04-21
REPUBL1cANIsM AND PROGRESS

In his speech in defense OF President
Mckinley. the other day. Congressman
Grosvenor boosted that the Republican
party was the party of progressive
ideas and of generous and bencficent
achievement in constructive statesman
ship, and cited the course 1t has fol-
lowed In this Congress in substantiation
OF the claim. Indeed. from time to time
we have been given to understand by
the utteranccs Of its leaders that the
| Republican party of to-day Is some
| thing of n cross between a University
Extension Settlement, n Missionary So
clety. the Salvation Army and q Polit-
| icol and Social Science Club. We have
been told that. like the Rev. Jaspers
sun, ut do move" and the light OF civ
iiization. and or hope. prcccdc and ac-
company it's progress.
Mr.. Grosvenor may believe all this.
Mr.. Mckinley may believe 1t.
But is it SO? Is the Repub-
lican party really the party OF
progress and benehcence and light?
Have its policy and its achievements in
the past three years been such as TO
entitle 1t to the support of those Of our
own people to whom it would appeal If
Its claims were well-founded. and to the
gratitude of other peoples who have
been wont to find inspiration and en-
couragement in the American example?
We believe that n candid examination
OF the facts will show that the Repub-
lican party is not to-day the party of
progress, but Of retrogression; that so
far from having furnished the world
with new and inspiring example of
national altruism. its course has been
such as to heartcn every aspirant to
absolute power, and to discourage those
peoples who have cherished dreams of
ultimate scJf-govcrnmcnt 1t has been
no idle boast that this nation has been
the most powerful evangcl of human
freedom in the worlds history. It's
stalwart growth and its splendid vlndi-
cation of the assertion that men can
best govern themselves, have been n
standing menace to every monarchy of
the world. There Is not one but shows
traces in the enlarged liberties of its
people. of the influence OF the American
example. From the adoption of It's Con-
stitution old world statesmen and phil
osophers have predicted It's speedy
downfall. only to find that 1t has SUR
vived every shock and has gained in
strength and influence.
What has the Republican party done
to heishten this magnificent achieve
ment? Mr.. Grosvcnor says 1t has some
thing to show for its opinions. What is
it? For the first time 1t has taught
our own people to sheer at the Declar
alton of independence, and has assured
them that to do so is TO be progress
svc. Yet every petty tyrant has been
doing that for n century and a quarter.
1t has repudiatcd the doctrine that
governments derive their just powers
| from the consent of the governed" So
| did the first savage, who, by reason of
his strength. made himself the master
of his weaker fellows. 1t has enforced
its authority upon other peoples with
| out comforting upon them the privileges
of the citizen. So has every brutal
ccnnueror since the dawn of history; so
| did Rome: so docs England. 1t heralds
as n new and infinitely excellent doc
trine that the interests of trade JUS
tify forceful and bloody aggression on
foreign peoples. Yet England, years
ago. compelled, at the point OF the bay
oEct. the Chinese to smoke opium, and
under the same plea The Monarchists
Of Europe are to-day merrily proceed
ing with the dismemberment of the &C.
lestial Empire. The Republican party
asserts that there is resident in "our
rulers sovereignty" higher than the
collective will OF the people. This Is
merely the application of the "divine
right of Kings" to Il Republic with an
elective President. instead of an hcrcd-
itary Monarch. vested with absolute
power. 1t is taxing Porto Ricans with
out representation. Our forcfathcrs
threw off the yoke of England because
she attempted the same thing.
Indeed. the Republican party has
something to show for its opinions"-
butitisnothing new. 1t has borrowed its
opinions and methods, and has borrow
ed them from tyrants. What i. has 10
show is mt variance with the sp.rit and
genius of the Republic. and IS con
demncd by every page Of glorious his
terry. Downward into the abysm"
that has been our Wanted progress
under its guidance.
|