Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1903-01-02

AAoA Va bdSlAASSS ltAASS ShOSA
q y in order to ascertain where
he is at" to borrow phrase
made famous on memorable occasion
by statesman now out Of job. Let
us follow the example.
The results Of the November elections
prove that the trend is toward Democ-
racy. That we did not win the house
is true but we cut down the Republic
an majority by one-third.
Except for the action of one man
President Roosevelt in the matter of
the anthracite coal strike we would
have captured the house and carried
New York, Even as it is, great many
persons believe that we did carry New
York. for tue party which stole the
presidency from Tilden is not above
stealing the governorship from Colcr.
The revolution in Rhode Island and
the reduced Republican majorities gem
orally in the eastern states show that
Republicanism is on the down grade.
Since the confusion of tongues OH the
plain Of Shinar, Mt the foot of the unfin-
ished tower of Babel, there never fell
from human lips more ppepostcrous
statement than TINT made by General
GroSvenor in the house on Dee, II in
these words: when the election was
over, there was nothing left of the DEM
ocratic party"
After winning great fight In which
his losses were frightful. reviewing the
field of slaughter, Pyrrhus, king of
Epirus, mournfully exclaimed, IF we
have such another victory, we are UNI
done" commend those. words of
wisdom to my venerable, Yitriolic and
jubilant friend from Ohio.
At present the differences among Re-
publicans are more pronounced than
those among Democrats. The Repub-
lican factions are getting wider apart,
while the Democratic sections are draw
ing closer together.
The war between the whole hog tar
iff Republicans and the tariff reform
Republicans Ia an jrrepressible conflict.
The hope of securing eligible places at
the pie counter may postpone tho iney-
table struggle from this session to the
next, but then it will break out with
redoubled fury.
II tariff revision downward prevails,
the tariff barons will be disgruntled
and will refuse to contribute the sinews
of war to the Republicans, and with
out an abundance of the sinews the Re-
publicans never did win-can never
hope to win. On the other hand, if tar
III revision AeWnward is refused Re-
publican tariff reterssaears will desert
the G. o. p. in shoals, Join tlasls with
the Democrats and overthrow those
who believe in standing pat" and in
Getting well enough alone" theories
which every Hgconyicted criminal in
the land indorses NEST heartily.
On the tariff With Republicans it is
a case of scylla and Charybdis-the
devil and the deep sea-"damned If
you do and damned IL you don't"
Republicans have grave cause for ap-
prehension, Democrats good reason for
hope.
The Democrats will reafiirm all the
essential features of the Chicago and
Kansas City platforms, plant them
selves firmly on the time honored and
benefcent Democratic principle Of
equal rights to all; special privileges
to none," more necessary now than
ever before, and wage the battle MAIN
ly on the triple propositions to destroy
the trusts, to reduce the tariff rates to
reasonable basis and to curtail public
expenses to the needs of the govern.
ment economically administered.
Upon that platform all Democrats
and all others who love justice can
stand
Upon that platform We will place a
genuine Democrat of high character
and approved capacity as our candidate
with an equal chance of success.
Leading Democrats are already be-
ginning to express opinions as to what
manner Of man shall be the candidate
and some go so far as to specify the
man.
In an elaborate interview Congress-
man Charles Fremont Cochran of Mis-
souri,, one of the best informed men in
public lIfe. after outlining platform
much like tho one set forth above,
says:
The nominee In 1904 Should be a man in
sympathy with that platform and one who
can prove incontestably his loyalty to the
presidential candidate in 1888 and 1900.
Going just little farther back. he should
be able to prove unmixed devotion to the
Democratic platform of 1892 and in no
way responsible for the emasculation Of
the Wilson tariff bill. The Democrats of
the west would not support candidate
for the presidency guilty Of opposing an
income tax or who assisted in puncturing
the Wilson bill with hundreds of amend
ments, each embodying Republican pro-
tectionism and contrary to Democratic
doctrines. In my judgment, the nominee
must come up to these standards Wheth-
er he happens to reside east or west of
the Alleghenies is not so important.
Hon. Samuel Bronson Cooper of Tex
as, member Of the committee on
ways and means, expresses his ideas
in these words:
The Democratic party in 1904 should
nominate for president man who was
not in harmony with the Democratic
platforms Of 1896 and 1900 on the money
question, but who Loyalty Supported the
party's candidate for president. Such q
man is Senator German Of MARYLAND Or
form should make revision Of the tarin
and the suppression Of trusts its para
mount issues. do not mean that It
should declare war indiscriminately on all
combinations OF capital. but it should adj
vocate the correction of evils that have
grown out OF such combinations. The
question of Imperialism also should be