The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-03-23
REPUBLICANS ARE AT SEA
The Issue of Issues in 1904 Will be
the Philippines.
TEDDY" AND "ANTI-TEDDY" FACTIONS
Democrats on the Philippines Committee Should
Demand That a Sub. Committee
be Sent to the
Islands.
(Henry Watterson in Louisville Courier
Journal)


(Henry Watterson in Louisville Courier
Journal,)
Washington, D. c., March Ito a
hayseed like myself, who comes to Wash
ington to pick up little information and
polish, the outlook is discouraging. Chaos,
Everywhere! In society which has not
quite recovered it's equpoise, though the
Prince has been gone fortnight. In poll
tics, where broco buster in the White
House is making fingers and thumbs of
things, so that no man can foreteIl what
next"
In the face of such limitations. 7 am
going to write, not as if l were writing
FOR publication, but as L might talk to a
group of neighbors and friends ranged
about my own fireside. 1t is so hard to
set at the truth, even when one honestly
seeks it.
There is but one thing that at this mo-
ment stands out bold and clear upon the
horizon of the national capital before the
eyes OF all intelligent men. That is that
the Democratic party has in front of it a
great opportunity if it but knows how to
improve it, For the first time these thirty
years it is the Republicans who are at
sea. Their boat may not have yet sprung
leak. Both compass and rudder may
be still intact. But there are two pilots
aboard and rocks ahead
FACTIONS ANB FACTIoNIsMs.
In the first place, on the Republican
side, the situation revolves about the
succession. 1t is Teddy an "anti-Ted-
dy." Little of this yet appears above the
surface. Both factions are out in sub
marine boats, but these are loaded with
explosives. Observe that sleek, smooth
shaven gentleman crossing the r0tunda
between the House and the Senate. His
step is light, jaunty, even springy. Not a
cloud across his brow, not a care in his
eye. You might take him for a pros
porous professor, and so he is, of the
shoals and depths of party management
for that is the chairman of the Republi-
can National committee, the junior SEN
ator from Ohio, Mr.. Hanna-Mr Mark A.
Hanna-and don't let it escape your mem
cry. He is field marshal of the Old Guard,
Past Grand Master of Mckinley Lodge,
knights of the American Protective Sys-
tenn and Dean of the Ancient Order Of
Robber Barons.
He, with Senator Fairbanks, of In
diana, for a good second, is easily the
the leader of those reasonable elements
OF the Republican party who reject the
autocracy set up by the man on horse
haa OH ut Of
Senator Hanna and Senator Fairbanks
and those behind them do not intend to
indicate either their power or their rights
They refuse to stand and deliver. They
do not want to repeat the mistake the
Republicans made in 1884 when they
turned Arthur down But if they can
help it, neither do they intend to place
themselves in the hole where Cleveland
placed the Democrats during the years
between 1893 and 1897. They may agree
finally to Mr.. Roosevelt's nomination in
1904. But he must, as the saying is, be
have himself
The President is in many ways dis
ciple of Grover Cleveland after Mr.
Clevelands own heart. He brooks no
rival, is impatient of opposition. There
are those, indeed, who doubt his sanity.
Yet is he, after his kind and fashion,
politician of no mean professions.
Gradually, but surely, has he been weed
ing out the distinctively Mckinley ele-
ment from the cabinet. In the fulness of
time they will all go. He is filling each
vacated post with practical politician
made in the Roosevelt image-tnat is to
say. with a politician who knows how to
work the civil service racket for all it is
worth. Bronco buster though he be, there
is method in his bronco busting. Mind
full of the fate of John Tyler and Andrew
johnson. he draws the line about where
Grover Cleveland left it. That he is a
clean. honest man of good impulses and
the best intentions should go without
saying. but he is an inconsiderate man,
combative and aggressive, and, while
much heartier and more genial than Mr.
Cleveland, less coldly reserved and sell
fshly resolute. Mr.. Cleveland made no
mistakes. at least in padding his own
canoe. He had nose for his particular
interest. He generally got there 1t
to be seen whether Mr.. Roose-
welt can duplicate the peculiar tactics of
Mr.. Cleveland.
There is Mr.. Fox German. And, again.
there is Mr.. Fox HILL But as sure as
either offers to furnish the needful patch
ing some one speaks up and exclaims
against his foxship; declares him no fox
at all, but only a gray wolf of Repub-
lican in disguise.
We need not impugn the honesty of the
critics of this description to doubt their
wisdom. Their idea of party warfare Is
to meet every Republican assertion with
an indiscriminate denials or vehement
They would make the dis
tance between the two parties so great
as to place them out of sight and range,
and even at that rate, they would seem
to prefer for their weapons bows and ar
rows to powder and ball. Meanwhile, it
is as true now as ever it was that po-
litical battles are gained chiefly on one
or two simple issues, plainly stated and
visible to the naked eye, driving home to
the actual business and bosoms of men,