The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-06-21
THE WAY IS oPENINo.

THE WAY IS OPENING.
 Win there be . split in the Republican Party? is now a question Of vita, irterest to both Republicans and Democrats. The Advertiser has not heretofore considered such an event probable, notwithstanding the many evidences of discontent which have for some time manifested them seives, because we have thought that, ''the cohesive power of public piunder" would induce the malcontents to forget their grievances and get into line for the next great battle. Events of the very recent past however, have led us to change our opinion.
 Reciprocity for Cuba is the lever which is prying gaps in Republican solidarity. That is not the sole cause of disagree ment, but just now 1t is the prominent one. When Nr. Mckinley was alive he pledged the faith and honor of this gov ernment that trade between the United States and Cuba should be carried on 'n such way as would be least burdensome, or most beneficial. to the Cuban govern msnt and the Cuban people. Sugar, which Is one of the principal products of the island, was selected as one of the articles which should be admitted into the United States on payment of such light duties as would not embarrass or burden the sugar planters. On the other hand cer- tain articles were to be exported to Cuba at nominal tarif charges. In other words there was t, be treaty of reeip- rocity entered into and carried out which | would be mutually beneficial to both countries.
 To this Mir Mckinley was pledged and if he had lived the pledge would doubt less have ben carried out. We believe President Roosevelt is honestly endeavor- iEg to carry out that pledge Both in his opening message to Congress in Decem- Der and in his special message last Satur- day he urged earnestly and strongly. that Congress must redeem the oleise made and do justice to Cuba by entering into such a treaty as would be reciprocaliy beneficial to both countries.
 But the President has been defeated. In the words of Zechariah he can say Fl
  and that is not the worst of 1t. He has been defied, betrayed and defeated by those upon whose support he had bean leaning. He was honestly endcavoring to carry out the pledge of his predecessor, he was cnceavoring to uphold the hon,c and credit of the government, and he was contending for that which is right and just and fair.
 And the shame and degradation of 1t is that he has been brazenly defied and overthrown by the trusts. those .daught- | CTS of the ,horseleech." those legitimate children of that tariff pystem which is part of the Republican confession of faith, and of which the President himself | is an apostle. The protective system which he upholds gave birth to the trusts which bid fair to be his undoing.
 ''The horse-leech hath two daughters. crying, "Give, give.' said Solomon. and in this case the two daughters are the sugar refining trust of Havemayer and the beet sugar trust of Oxnard. These two trusts own--for that is the proper word--enough Senators to defeat the re- ciprocity treaty and thereby defeat the President. It has been evident for quite a while that these influences were secretly at work, moling in the dark, to accom- plish the defeat of the measure and they have secured sufficient strength and fol- lt wing to throw of all disguise and to come out openly and brazenly in the light of day and boast of their victory.
 What will be the result? What has
 been done, and what is going to be done,
 certainly indicate a permanent breach in the party. In fact, there are three divergent issues confronting the Repub- licans. There are the original, consistent
 protective tariff Republicans who con- tend for the present system. There are the more liberal and enlightened Repub. licans who see the iniquities of the pre- and reform, and last, but not least. there are the advocates and beneficiaries of the trusts, who love the tariff system for the profit there is in it and who will fight to the bitter end with an eye single to the dividends. These three have diff ferent views and different interests.
 What of the President? He is face tc face with such revolt as confronted MT Cleveland during his last term-a revolt
 which eliminated in the demoralization and defeat of Democracy. These nal
 contents or enemies may not be able tC
 prevent the renomination of Roosevelt
 The high-tariff Democrats were not able
 to prevent the nomination of Mir. Cleve
 land in 1888, but their lukewarmness ol
 open opposition defeated him at the polls
 In like manner Roosevelt may be suf- , ficiently strong with the rank and file oi
 his Party, and with those leaders whs
 look to him for place, to force his nomi
 nation in spite of his enemies, but these enemies may be able to prevent his cleo
 ton.
 And this brings us naturally around tC the Democratic Party, its duty and 1t. , opportunity In 1896 and In 19O0 the Re publicans faced divided and demor
 alized Democracy and won. In 1904 tn conditions will be reversed if Democrat. so determine. The Republicans ar
 almost certain to be divided and at Wal
 among themselves. Their condition. uE
 less all signs fail. will be such as to in
 vite defeat, and that defeat depends en