Kootenai County Republican. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1899-1903, 1902-05-02
Is DM-E,s THE ISSUE?

Scand il is not tit food for healthy
minds. Lies may fatten and still give
no strength, says the Chronicle. The
man or the party that trusts to SANDER
for argument, that confounds foul
abuse with eloquence, risks rude
awakening from drugged dreams Of
power.
One year ago great democratic jour-
nails which aspired to party leadership
were toiling day and night to heap
contempt upon the president OF the
United States. With deliberate mis-
rcprcsc ntatiun, with crafty innuendb,
with bitter satire, with grosS.ridcule,
they strOve To make Americans dis
trust and despise their president--tO
convince them that William Mckinley
was selfish sycophant, miserable
weakling, the fawning slave OF the
peoples enemies. Then came the man
who gave the awful Illustration Of
their policies CzolgOsz the assassin;
and as the true grandeur OF William
Mckinley, the man and the states
man, was revealed a storm Of indigna-
ton swept across the land that drove
his shamed traducers to their dens.
1t wasia lesson not to be forgotten
In q moment, or day. Though months
have passed, the president is still
treated with singular consideration by
those who hurled such coarse abuse at
his predecessor less than a year ago.
but a new mark for their venom has
been found, Il broad and shining mark
the army Of the United States.
Scan your democratic newspapers
pick up some Of those which delight in
posing as leading journals Of their
party. Is any story TO gross and palp-
able for them to believe II 1t reflects
upon the honor of thearmy? Is any
evidence too flimsy for them to accept
II II accuses u soldier Of injustice or
cruelty? Is anything too black for
them to use In parading each rumor
that might nourish the theory that the
! uniform OF the United States Is worn
by cruel tiends or brutal murderers?
Is any type small enough to find room
In their columns To tell OF acts Of kind
ness, generosity, unseltishness. nobility
In Americans treatment Of the people
across the:sea?t
/ Mistakes have been made; wrongs
have been done; here and there man
false to his trust may have been guilty
of injustice and cruelty. The repnb-
lean party deeply regrets the mis-
takes and the wrongs, and rspnb-
lican president, with characteristic
vIgor, has shown his purpose OF tracing
the guilt to those to wlumit belongs
and visiting upon them such punish
ment sswill prove warning for any
who may forget that the people of
these islands. like those Of our own
states, are now under the protection OF
the Stars and Stripes.
Does this satisfy our democratic
friendsg Or do they desire to make
the coming campaign upon the issue SO
gleefully brought forward, by leading
journals Of their party--the abuse OF
the army Of the United States? II SO,
then let the challenge be quickly ac-
cepted. The republican party is well
fitted by experience and by tradition
for the task Of defending the good
name OF the American soldier. 1t is Il
duty handed down from the dayswhe
copperheads aSsailed the armies of the
Union with SANDER worse than these
now dealt out TO the voters OF the
nation. II is a responsibility which
any party might be proud To bear
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A fr..Ii..,. IAl.iI. .. Ia 49,, r.l.,,A ~,