The Aberdeen Democrat. (Aberdeen, South Dakota) 1???-1909, 1903-01-09

make an attempt to COLOMBO some OF
these countries as sure as a guns iron
and you may mark the prediction.
If they do, we r going to get into
trouble: aud If we do, we may tha'lk
the present administration and its
strenuous head for all of it. l would
not call the President of the United
States a fool, for he is not, but he
certainly does do some rushing in
where even angels would fear to
tread. hen The Hague Tribunal
gets through with this arbitration
business, the Monroe Doctrine will
look like IL fodder stack after hurr!-
cane-hal toyed with it. II will be
like Mrs. Malaprop said of Mrs. Harris,
"They ANT no SIGH a person. Some
day the people will come to UNDER
stand the course of this administra-
tion, which is remarkable formischief
and then there will be something
doing" Let US hope that the hand
of time may not be too leaden in It's
movements in pointing to the hour
for this devotedly-to-be-wished con-
summation.
NV
II the good people of the country
are expecting the Republican party
to enact any legislation during ibis
session OF Congress that it promised
so faithfully from the stump in the
last campaign, they are doomed to
sore Disappointment. There will be
nothing done except the passage of
the necessary appropriation bills and
adjournment on the 4th of March.
The statehood bill will be talked to
death in theSenate, allthe reciprocity
treaties, including that with Cuba,
will meet the same fate. and any man
who asks for a revision of the tariff at
the hands of a Republican Congress
will get the hoarse boot. This Re
publican Congress, or any other Re
publican Congress, will do nothing
along those lines until made TO do SO
by the force OF public opinion en-
pressed in tones so loud that all nay
hear. In the meantime the people
are paying the piper that the trusts
may dance. 1t will continue to be
just this way so long as the people are
%neglectful of their duties and remain
away from the polls on election days.
When will the awakening come?
Instead Of Congress graphing with
the serious problems before it and do
ing business as the country has a
right to expect, it hangs back and
balks at any and every suggestion
looking to the accomplishment of
beneficial legislation in any direction.
The Republicans act as though they
knew the situation was loaded but
didn't know which was the business
end, and we're afraid to take hold Of
it for fear the old thing might go
off. The Democrats are suggesting
legislation with no apparent effect
and must content themselves with
waiting for the opposition policy to
show its head; while the Republicans
are afraid of their job and dread to
make a move lest they tip their hand
and give their opponents an advan-
tage. And besides all this, they don't
know what to do, poor things. They
are like the Pharisees of old, they are
waiting for a sign. They are trying
to get an insight in the future. They
want to know what is expedient. But.
they have too large a contract on
their hands. They are like the man
who caught the bear and then wanted
to help him let 60. Their
in the situation is growing
smaller by degrees and beautifully
less. If they dare touch the tariff,
the entire protectionist gang will be
upon their backs. If they tackle the
trusts, every n of the monsters will
be at their political throat. If they
offer any modicum of relief to Cuba
through reciprocity, Goth Of the above
combinations will howl like a pack of
hungry wolves, and this is the s%'situa-
that is keeping the .'bell-
wethcrs' Of the g. o. p. mentally busy
and deeply perplexed.
CHAs. A. EDWARDS.
THE sToRn.