Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-08-16
THE BLOODY SHIRT" AGAIN.

If any proof were needed that the
Republican party is in sore straits, it
could be found in the attempt to raise
the bloody shirt as Il rallying standard
in the Northern and Western States.
In it's national platform this party
boosted of it's splendid ideals and it's
constructive craftsmanship, under the
impulse and guidance of which the
country was to move forward in "un-
tried paths" to the Splendors OF
world power. benevolently assimilat-
ing even distant and alien peoples into
one homogeneous whole. Taken at is
face value. the scheme had much in ii
that appealed at once to the intense
pride of the American in his country.
to his love of the colossal, and his adj
miration for the man of action and
achievement.
Is ii not strange, then, that before
the real fight has begun we should find
these alleged constructive statesmen
quitting their lofty ideals. cschewing
their fine phrases Of destiny and what
not, foregoing the dream of n homo
geneous world power. and seeking 4
sordid victory of politics by arrayinG
section against section, Conjuring with
the malicious epithcts that abounded
when the country WAS rent by internc-
cine strife, and appealing to the preju-
dice that hates half it's own country
instead of the patriotism that knows
no section In its devotion to the whole
country? The Republicans promised n
world power looking forward in unity
Of purpose and sentiment into larger
fields OF usefulness and glory: they are
doing all that ingenuity ana venom
may to give us a country that shall
shut its eyes to the justice. or injus-
tice, 1t works or may work abroad,
while it divides itself into sections that
shall thrust and parry, revilc and
abuse, because one section is labelled
North and another South. and because
each has views. interests ana problems
peculiar to itself.
1t is worth while to ask in all scri-
BUSINESS whether n party whose leaders
in thirty-tive years have been incapa-
bic of burying their hatred of one sec
ton of the country they seek to govern.
who would create dissension at homo
that they may profit by it, are fit to be
entrusted with responsibility of this
nation to the helpless millions who by
the fortunes of war have come To be its
wards in Cuba. Porto Rico and the
Philippines. If in all these years these
men have been unable TO understand
the people of one section of their own
country, or, IL understanding, they
choose TO misreprcsent and maign
them, how is it to be expected that
they will either understand or do JUS
tice to a people of alien race. different
tastes. instincts and interests?
The Republican party is dying at the
top. In the places once filled by states
men are now 10 he found spincless.
special pleaders, who hold briefs before
the people for the special interests they
represent The shrewd trust attorney
has elbowed the man OF stern principle
out of public place in the Re
publican party. With the going OF
Tom Reed the last of the old
breed passed from the scene. leav-
ing us Hoar, who votes to perpet-
uate what he had branded as infa-
nous; Lodge, who would rcllndlc the
flame of sectional hatred to win a few
votes: Roosevelt. who libels COCO, 600 OF
his countrymen in one sentence; Nc
kinley, who knows the right and dares
not do it.
From these and what they stand FOR
appeal in vain TO the sober sense of the