The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-11-07
FRIDAY. NOVEMBER I. 1902
a TIMELY REBUKE.

ATlMELY REBUkE.
An intelligent New York correspondent
IL discussing the political situation in
,tat state says that the Republican
party mas become top heavy: that si1
years OF power In the nation and e.shc
years of power in the State have resulted
in a condition which may be described
as political dyspepsia" in consequence
OF orer-fcedins on official patronage
.Those who are able to look behind the
scenes. he goes on. can see readily
enough what is going on. They see the
clash OF personal ambitions. the contests
,f factions the works OF revenge. and
even some OF the evidences Of corruption.
rhere is reason to believe that certain
aspects OF Republicanism at Albany are
no better than Tammany in New York.
The party has been too long In power
for its own good quite as much as for
lhe GOOD OF the State.
These statements are all the more IN
e.rcstinE because they are made by the
correspondent OF q reputable Repupli-
ran newspaper in the State OF Penn
sylyania We do not know so wen
abo,,t the state Of politics in New York,
int we know that this correspondent
has stated a sound principle. ana we
know that what he has said OF the Ma
sional Republican party is aosolu'els
true, The party has been too long IN
power for its own good or Tor the gooa
IF the republic. The Republican party
Ia q. business party. is sort OF close
corporation, and Its members are usu-
ally in harmony on its principles ana
noIicies. 1t Is for this reason that 1he.
Republican party has been popular Win
7he business interests OF the country. AZ
~ ,,,an said by business men that they
ALWAYS know what to expect from the
Republican party when ii is IN power.
nor example. In the campaign OF 1876 the
Republicans claimed that the hard times
wore duo to the Democratic tariff law
and nron1ised that k they should succeed
.hcy would at once revise the tariff ac-
co,f5inp to the Republican ideas. They
aid succeed and as soon as President NC
1I,nley was Exaggerated he called an ex-
IRA session Of Congress and put the
ningley tariff In force as soon as pos
+ ,,hle That this act brought prosperity
~ge do not for one moment belleNe' tut
nj any rate the new tariff schedule Was
p,,t into effect as quickly as praotcablc
ana with as little confusion as possible
Business men knew what TO expect ana
lost no time in adapting themselves to
the new condition. Indeed they began
10 prepare for the new condition as soon
rs Mckinley was elected with a Repup-
lican Congress behind him. for they knew
that the party would do what 1t said it
would do.
But that is all that Democrat can
say for the Republican party. Democrats
believe that the Republican idea OF gov
eminent is radically wrong, and all OBJ
serving men believe that IL the Rcpub-
lican party should have its own Way
without any check from the Democracy
ii would go on step by step to monarchy.
The Republican party has indeed be-
come top heavy" 1t has become ar
rogant 1t has become puffed up with
power and it sadly needed the 1ehrke
which 1t received on Tuesday last The
pity is that the rebuke was not more
severely administered.
The Republicans claim that the bust
ness interests OF the country are safe only
IN their hands: we know. however. that
the interest OF this Republic are safe only
an the hands OF the Democracy. The time
has come for the Democratic party to as
cert itself and it is now in position to do
the Republic noble and a necessary ser
vice. The party should take to heart
she leseon OF the recent campaign and
put itself in strong position for 1904 by
planting Itself firmly upon those p,in-
Siples which lie ct its foundation.