The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-08-29
RepubIican Convention Runcomhe

me strike VIII not last much longer.
Republican Convention BuncOmbe.
II one knew nothing Of the past rec
ord and present policy Of the Republic
can party, and judged it merely by its
own assumption Of virtue and political
wisdom, he would be forced 10 the con-
clusion that the party represented hui
man perfection. II not something more.
II is, indeed. difficult TO imagine any
thing more e;.tTavaEantly Overdrawn
than the self lorifcatiOn just INDUCED
in by the Republican conventions in
Virginia and Nebraska. Every good
thing to be found in existing conditions
on the surface Of our broad domain is
ascribed to the policy Of the RepubG-
can party. and some Of the claims are
even more widely sweeping A little
buncombe in politics is always 10 be
looked for. and. perhaps. measurabIy
eXcusable, but there is such a thing as
passing the limit Of tolerance. and this
the conventions Of that party very sell
dom fail 20 do.
In Nebraska the Republican conven-
ton simply stamped itself with the
was manifested most strikingIy in the
resolution ccndemuatory Of the paroI-
ing Of the defaulting treasurer. Bart
ley. The President Of the United States
has been exceedingly liberal in extend
ing clemeucy 10 defaulting and p=culat-
ing bank officials. but when the Cover
nor Of Nebraska simply paroles an
official who has already served a long
term in prison. he is assailed with a
perfect storm Of deuUnciaticn. We do
not know whether the Governors &C
ton was based upon sufficient grounds.
but we DO know that the terrific on
slaueht upon his course was inspired by
political considerations only. Men pre-
sumably worse than BARLEY are being
pardoued almost daily. but those cases
are not usually taken into State con-
Ventiuns and made the subject OF a
Sweeping denunciation of the pardoning
power.
In this case the underlying motive is
as plain as light BARLEY was Re
publican and his malfeasauce in office
contributed 10 the overthrow Of his
party in Nebraska His parole. il was
feared, would initiate against the par
~ in the approaching election. He had
been In prison 50 long that ne had no
friends Of political influence. and there
fore a torrent Of denunciation could be
poured forth upon him with safety.
The attack upon Governor Savage was
a more serious matter, but as a politi-
cal stroke IL was deemed better 10 haz-
ard the anger Of the Governor than TO
lose the opportunity OF cOndemning the
parole. The Republican convention
simply played pOtEouse politics.
To analyze the platform and refer in
detail 10 its utterly groundIess assump-
ton that the Republican party has been
the potent cause Of every favorable
feature Of the business situation would
Be a waste % time In general terms
II mentions every substantial change
that has taken place in recent years.
claiming that il Is due entirely 90 the
wise policy Of the Republican party.
Even our enormous export trade is
brought in and by implication at least
placed 10 the credit Of that party. II
would make interesting reading if
Somebody would attempt 10 show how
anything the Republican party has
done has induced foreign nations 10 buy
more Of our products. We may be sure
that no statesman OF the Grand Old
Party will attempt it. And yet. in
small way. il can be done II can be
shown that the Republican party has
built up the trusts behind an impossible
tariff barrier. and that the trusts. thus
protected. have charged high prices at
home and cut Tie prices abroad, which
has enabled them 20 sell more than they
otherwise could. In effect the trusts
have received an export bounty through
the operation Of a prohibiuve tariff.
But the great bulk Of our exl orts as
been II other classes Of goods. and
these have beea bought because foreign