Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1904-04-22
WHAT "STAND PAT" MEANS.
II Represents Dire Extreme, n Par
~ Forced Against . Wall.

ty Forced Against Wall.
Democracy's disposition toward exist
ing evils and injurious institutions
which have fastened themselves in sub
stantfal growth is, and ought to be,
sane There is no desire on the part
of Democracy to Wreak mischief, TO
destroy without regard for the wei
fare Of legitimate business here Is
no mind to do violence where sound
mcthod Will achieve better end.
Democracy will pursue no hysterical
purpose, but rather q calm and scien-
tiic course of eradication consistent
with the least disruption.
But, Oh the other hand, it will by no
means content itself with the KIND OF
conservatism expressed in Mr.. ROoSe-
velt's famous backdoWn message on
the tariff and trusts, in which he de
clarcd that the evils in these nStitu-
tions We're overmatched by the good
and that to disturb the evils would be
dangerous. In fact the operation OF
attacking them at all seemed to him
to be so very delicate that he declined
to adv Use it He announced the doe
trtne of liberation of ills and subluis-
sion to injury.
Democracy will not consent to view
as "ncceSSary evils such matters as
federal corruption, mnIcting tariff pro-
lection and the palpablc disorders of
the trusts.
Speaking upon the tariff Representa-
tive Williams in his recent and widely
read address exhibited the sound and
discriminative views which character
iZe the Democratic attitude. saying
that his party had no desire to de
molish the tariff at a single blow, to
explode it with dynamite or to pull
down its pillars and throw down the
structure with crash 1t would re-
quire a considerable time to recon
struct a tariff on Democratic princi-
/ plies. In his opinion, though, the par
tvs final intent was clear. To Democ-
racy a tariff virtually represents a tax
upon consumers. A Democratic tariff
therefore, should as nearly as might
be provide for equal taxation of con-
sunerS. for an equaliZed charge upon
CONSUMPTION or the thing consumed
MI Williams thus correctly Interpret
ed Democratic conScrvati5,n kppub-
li"Hn conservatism is a lnSnoulpr un-
less the English language has suffered
Il distinct l9s~ # meaning He Repub-
lean part stands pat on its fe,tera!
scandals. ea the trusts, on the tariff
and especially on its machine nr.anizd-
ton now in lhe flower of dpVei. =Fnent
The Republican par; is ioatl Ia fore
90 the iuorc abundant fruitfUli!esS
which eight years perfection of a n4;-
chine holds forth. 1t is obliged to seek
vindicatIon upon its past record. its
past politics. It is rigidly held by cir
cnmstHnces to the defense Of it's ca
r"rr, It's purposes, its att;}iIincntS.
Change Of attitude is utterly denied it,
Its forced position from which the
times admit of no escape is expressed
in the unfortunate phrase stand pat.
signitying extreme negation excluding
the idea of determination to act, to inl-
prove, to move at all; denying inten-
tion and suggesting impotence of will.
stand pat is the position Of Il dire
extreme, party forced ag inst Il wall.
Can there be conservatism in such an
ultra attitude?
The country is thoroughly tired Of
stand pat which denies not only the
possibility of remedy. but the existence
of essential wrongs. Democracy will
move along a middle course carefully
guarding against unnecessary damage
seek ing gradually to effect desirable
ehanges.-St. Louis Republic