New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-07-26
SILENCE As AN ASSET.

Democratic contemporary dwells upon the
advantage possessed by a Presidential aSpirant
over Il President seeking reelection, owing 10
his ability to control the statement OF his VIEWS
while the man in office is compelled by clrcum-
stances to set out his opinions on all sorts or
troublesome questions. The aspirant can Sc
lect his own topics and throw veil OF secrecy
over all his opinions which seem likely 10 excite
any opposition. He refuse 10 answer
searching question which it is easy to force
upon the President by a practical problem In
volvinC H. The candidate of the outs is thus
always helped 10 play more or less of bunco
game on the people. They have to take MIN
largely on his own valuation. His possible att
tude on a hundred matters is not seriously
brought to the attention even of those particu-
larly interested, while the partisanS on one side
or the other of every one of these matters have
4 definite knowledge about the President and
possibly petty feeling of resentment toward
him.
A President, like a party in power. is, Of
course always on the defensive. He must meet
minute and malevolent criticism of all his poll
cies and all his personal acts. The other side
has merely TO denounce and TO make vague
promises which nobody can test. The Republi-
cans expect 10 meet these conditions. There IS
no mystery about their conduct and actions in
the last eight years. and they have no desire
that the Democracy can be induced TO give the
people lis real measure. 1t Will be as difficult
10 md out what the Democrats would really
do in the face Of any one Of a hundred admin
istrative problems, on which Republican action
would be easy OF prediction as it was TO get
Hill Sheehan and Littleton TO tell what were
Judge ParkeT's financial views while there were
yet any delegates 10 he alienated by the revela-
ton. We should not think, however. that Dem
ocrats would care TO lay stress on the useful
ness of concealed opinions TO Judge Parker
They have for some days now been endeav-
oring 10 persuade an incrcdulous public that one
telegram constituted an enduring and sufficient
pedestal for heroic statue Of manly self sacri-
ice which scorns concealment and would rather
be right than be President They have sought
10 forget six months of unbrOken silence before
II, TO forget that the nomination was won by
that silence. and have been rejoicing in their
candidate. who, finally, at a convenient season.
had come 10 stand four square to one Of the
winds that blow. We had expected that the
candidate would relapse into silence and hide
from the voters, so far he could. till after
election, opinions about which his possible sup
porters might differ, just as he hid his currency
views from the delegates as long as he could
safely do so. Still. we had not expected 10 see
this openly proclaimed rs an opposition policy
and the ability Of Judge Parker 10 continue 10
befog the voters nicely calculated as a political
asset.
No doubt il is often embarrassing to be forced
to answer question by yes or no. We wonder
with our contemporary. how Judge Parker
would like to answer such a question as. DO
you believe that colored people should he al
lowed TO eat in dining car when passengers
'on a train:' That is perhaps a social ra ther
than political question, but how would lie an
swer the question, DO you believe in the equal
'ity OF all citizens before the law and the en-
''forcement Of the Constitution OF 4he United
States" How would be answer: ar Won had
been in President Roosevelts place. what
would you have done concerning Panama.
What would he say to this: DO you favor the
open shop?' These are questions on which
President Roosevelt has given his answer WIN
his opponent continue TO pose as the great One
Telegram Sphinx or viii he help the peopIe in
teiiigently to choose the policies they want? Is
me democracy going to continue to count as its
chief asset the ability Of its candidate 70 hide
his views? 1t looks So