New-York tribune., 1902-11-03
PRESIDENT AND CONGRESS.

One Of the last resorts Of the workers for a
Democratic House of Representatives is the
argument that Republican defeat would mot
he a rebuke to- the President but to the
''recreant Republicans who had thwarted his
policy in Congress" If that be true, it IS
wonder the President has not discovered it, and
that his Cabinet officers should be about in
various States making the strongest kind of
speeches in favor of Republican candidates for
Congress. If it be true, it must he possible to
show the converse OF the proposition. namely,
that Republican victory would be a rebuke to
the President and disapproval of his policy. IL
also must be possible TO show just how his
fortunes would be promoted by Democratic
success, and how they would be depressed by
Republican defeat. Does anybody seriously be-
lieve these things:
How would President Roosevelt gain by a
Democratic House: Even supposing that his
policy is not in its entirety acceptable TO Re
publicans In Congress- would its adoption be
brought any nearer by the choice of a Demo
cratic House? Not one BIT. The Democrats
are as far from supporting-except for tactical
purposes OF oppostion--the Presidents meas
ures as those proposed ny any other Republican.
They denounce his plan 10 curb trusts by
Strengthening the federal laws as an intolerable
invasion of State rights. They attack his pol
his views concerning the Improvement of the
army and navy. They oppose the reciprocity
which he believes in. and want 70 plunge the
country into the business uncertainties of gen
eral tariff revision In the last session Of Con-
gress they gave him no assistance The one
thing on which his heart was set that he failed
TO secure was reciprocity with Cuba. They
pretended great concern for Cuba and a great
desire TO uphold him in doing Justice TO the
Cubans. They. however, made common cause
with the handful Of Republicans from beet
sugar districts and prevented the great body Of
Republicans from passing a measure lowering
our duties on Cuban products. Their whole
scheme was an attempt TO put Republicans lin
hole" They professed dlsapproval of the beet
sugar insurgents" but instead of letting the
majority which stood by the President pass a
simple measure for the relief Of Cuba they
helped TO load it down with irrelevant tariff
legislation which they knew the President did
not want and the Republicans in Congress could
not possibly accept That is Ihe sort Of sup
port they gave to the President
How would a Republican majority in the
House unfavorably affect the Presidents pol
icy? There may be a handful of insurgents"
whose reelection would mean that the voters in
their districts cared more for supposed local
interests than for the general welfare and
honor. Where is there another Republican
whose return 10 Congress would be interpreted
by any human being out of an insane asylum
as evidence that the President was losing the
confidence Of the people: On the contrary, it
is perfectly we'll known that Democratic vic
tories in the Congress districts would immedi-
ately be acclaimed by the Democrats the
first step TO the overthrow of Mr.. Roosevelt
The Republican party has Loyalty supported the
President A few Republican Congressman
have differed with him. n few always do
with any President. The great majority, how
ever. has worked in harmony with him. His
policy has not been thwarted. One measure IA
vored by him has not yet been secured because
minority of Republicans made a combination
| with Democrats 10 block IT, 4 Democratic
victory would mean approval of their tactics Of
! sacrificing Cuba TO petty partisan opposition.
! 1t would mean that for the next two years the
President would be able 20 accomplish nothing.
but would be at the mercy Of opposition
which, whatever it may profess now Of regard
for him. would be untiringly active in trying to
| ruin his administration and defeat his re-elec-
ton No admirer Of the President can pos
sibly suppose that a vote for a Democratic
! Congressman is anything but a blow aimed
/ at him