Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1902-03-26

entering into deep water or becom.
ing surrounded by a hedge OF thorns
from which they could not extricate
themselves intact. He says: For
the first time in these thirty years 1t
is the Republicans who are at sea.
Their boat may not yet have sprung
a leak, both compass and rudder may
still be intact, but there are two pi-
lots aboard and rocks ahead"
Mr.. Watterson thinks he sees the
beginning of a revolt among Repub.
lican leaders against President Roose-
welt and his aspirations. Judging
from Mr.. Watterson's insinuations
Mr.. Hanna will eventually develop in.
to a leader of this antagonistic ele.
ment.
This may possibly happen but Re.
publicans generally will want some
better evidence than Mr.. Watterson's
vivid and brilliant imagination. So
far President Roosevelt is endeavor'
ing to carry out the policy inaugural.
ed by the late President Mckinley,
and If Democratic statements and
charges are true, it is a policy in
which Mr.. Hanna was in thorough
accord. II not dictator. II Mr.. Hanna
has changed his views 1t has been
done very suddenly, and II he would
seek to antagonize the president
through personal ambition. the Re
publican party as a whole would not
stand for il. President Roosevelt
must prove untrue to his pledge to
carry out the policies OF his dead
predecessor or in other ways show
himself unworthy of the high Office
he holds before he will be turned
down by his party. Thomas c. Plat
e~ndeavored to thwart the will of the
Republican party at st. Louis in 1896.
but he proved as insignificant as the
fly on the chariot wheel. II there is
anything despicable in this country
it is the politician who thinks he
knows more than his party. The man
who ~misinterprets the popular senti
ment or ignores it is not fit for lead.
ership. We don't believe Senator
Hanna is such a man. Up to date
he has gagged party sentiment very
accurately and has never attempted
to act contrary to it. Until he has
done so the Republican party will no.
distrust his loyalty to President
Roosevelt.
Mr.. Watterson may see some signs
of Republican dissension at Washing.
ton but the wish is father to the
thought, largely. The war with
Spain and the resultant freedom OF
the Cubans raised some knotty prob.
lens, as was anticipated, but the Re-
publican administration is going to
meet them with fairness to the PEG,
pie of the island and at the same
time with safety to the great interests
o. this country. No party of intelli-
gent men. representing varied inter
ests over a great expanse of country
are expected to harmonize upon every
question. There must be compro-
misses and concessions. and this prom.
Uses to be the result of the struggle
over the Cuban tariff. Senator Han.
ma is with President Roosevelt on
this question and the latter is carry.
ing out the views of the late William
Mckinley.
While Mr.. Watterson sees some
hope in Republican d~isaffection he
is not blind to the mountain that
must be moved before Democratic
harmony can prevail. That his sym
pathiesf are largely with the eastern
or gold wing of the Democracy is GER
tain. He has but little use for Bry'
an or any of his teachings. Mr.. Wat
terson is in favor of sound money
and the retention of the Philippines
and he knows there Is no show fol
Democratic success by opposing eth
er. He would like to drop these old
issues and unite upon some strong
eastern man for the presidency, but
how he is going to pacify William
Jennings Bryan is the question. HI
is the mountain across the pathway
He has a following that must be con
sidered. The latter would not sup
port Hill and possibly not German
yet they are the men most frequent
ly mentioned in connection with tn
Democratic nomination for the pres
idency.
One thing Is certain. II the Demo
cratic party ever expects to win an
other national election, the wester!
or Bryan element will have to max,
the greatest number of concessions
1t will have to purge itself of Popu
lism, Socialism and a few other ism
that are not Democratic according I,
the ideas of a large element Of TIT
party. Spells being the chief objec
sought and as they cannot be game,
oy threshing over old straw thos'
who hunger and thirst may be will
ing to concede anything for part.
harmony. This is the hope of MI
Watterson and the method of gel
ting together will be one of the inter
esting sights of the coming two years