Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1902-09-05
THE REPUBLICAN DILEMMA.

THE REPUBLICAN DILEMMA.
Notwithstanding their airy treatment Of
the subject. which is designed to produce
contrary impression. 1t is beyond doubt
that the leaders Of the administration
forces in the Republican party are having
most uncomfortable experience over the
tariff Dissension on the question of re-
old man of the sea, and they cannot shake
1t or Every time they put their ears
to the ground they hear mutterings which
warn them that something must be done,
But what to do is the problem. In their
dilemma some of our Independent Re
publican and less thick and thin high
protection contemporaries are. We note,
advising them that the true and wise
policy would be to give positive pledge
that il their party comes out victorious
in the present congressional campaign
Congress will mend the more objection
able flaws in the Dngley law. How they
can do this without placing themselves
and the administration between the devil
and the deep sea is far from clear For
such a pledge would be to blast the
great monopolistc interests syhose cot
fers slutted at the expense Of the masses,
furnish the Republican sinews of war.
But that apart. Granting that the
pledge shall be given, what of it2 Will
the American people who are familiar
with the Republican record put
faith in it? How could they?
What has become Of the several Ret
publican measures for tariff revision
which have been introduced in Congress
just before the opening Of campaigns?
What has become of the various Republic
can assurances respecting banking and
currency reform? Echo answers what!
And it is a hollow. hooking echo COM
ing from committee-room pigeon-holes in
the one case and from the tomb of ma
terialization in the other.
The giving of the pledge suggested
would furnish but another example of
selling the politico-p psychological moment
with view to befooling the people, and
throwing dust in their eyes It would
the disconnected and disafected in the
Republican party, and on the other an
effort to forestall the Democrats and
take the wind out of their sails. The
Republicans are great on pledges made
on the eve of campaigning, for the pur-
pose of tarmonizing the recalcitrants in
their own camp and disarming the Demo-
Gratis. AS illustrating the truth of this
contention witness the fact that the other
day in Manila Governor Taft sounded
note Of Philippine independence" While
in this country Governor Taft had fire.
quent conferences with the President. To
say nothing Of the Democrats, there is in
the Republican fold a large and growing
element who favor the independence of
our Filipino wards, who are followers
of the Hears and the Spooners on this
question. To say the least, is it not rea-
sonable to assume that, coming as it did
at this particular time Governor Taft's
deliverance had relation to propitiating
the Republican anti-imperialists and
weakening the force Of Democratic
championship Of anti-imperialism? We
think SO. At any rate it would be safest
to take the benefit of the doubt. 1t is
true that in substance Governor Taft
voiced an utterance of President Roose-
yelt's Arlington Grafton, with respect to
Filipino independence, but it is also true
that in his remarkable performance at
Arlington the President virtually opened
his campaign.
This, however, is in the nature of di-
gression-a side issue. considering that
the tariff is the vital question. We do
not believe the Republican leaders-the
administration leaders-are in any posi-
ton to make the positive pledge" as to
tariff revision, which we are discussing.
They can't afford to Observation-Disclosures
war on-the trust interest. Moreover.
what with the experience with previous
Republican pledges the masses would
look upon the pledge with suspicion.
Their policy will be doubtless to keep the
matter in the air-their game that of be-
ing all things to all men. But should an
extremity force them to give it, the
Democrats could not ask better campaign
| material Reasoning from the past. the
Democrats could show that in the end
it would prove an utter snare and delu-
sion. They would only have to expose
the Republican record on similar imme-
date ante-election promises in order to
| render the pledge a boomerang. So in any
| event the Democracy have no cause to
be uneasy on account of this latest sug-
gestion as to how the Republicans shall
get out of the dilemma into which the
tariff has placed them. In the meantime,
however. they should wage an aggressive
| fight for tariff revision, on their own
| account-an aggressive fight. and cam
| paign of education touching Dingleyism
and its fostering care of the trust evil.
---------
Roasting ears is the way they are
| spelt. but not the way they are pro-
| nounced. Down here the plain, old-fash-
Toned, homely custom is to speak of them
| as ''rosin yers'; the ~ in years sounded;
I