Idaho Springs siftings., 1904-10-15
ATTITUDE OF PARTIES
POSITIONS OF REPUBLICANS
AND DEMOCRATS.
The Former Stand for Certain Fun
damentai Ideas, While the Latter
Are Content TO Oppose Everything
offered by Their Rivals.

II Is common thing TO hear il said
that there Is iKtie difference in this cam
paign between the position OF the Re
publican and the Democratic parties. and
that some people do not much care which
wins. NeYer was a more radical mis-
take made. There is a wide gulf be-
tween the stand OF the two parties.
Gulf? No, oceans separate the out
posts OF each from 1he other,
The Republican party n planted solid
iy upon certain fundamental ideas, and
the actual working out Of those ideas
forms the main rock of its support. Il
In com bination of men who believe in
action. led by man OF resistless ener-
~. During the last half century the
Republican party has held together the
American Union aud made it nation.
IL has abolished slavery forever from
our shores II has. through the pnotec-
tive tariff and other measures. built up
national and individual prosperity. 1t
has, in very recent years. caused the
American nation 10 be respected through
out the world as a f-si-class power.
debating. to-day, a policy OF justice and
fair dealing in international affairs, in
Europe. Asia and the islands OF the
seas. Il has fought out the fight for
the gold standard, putting the nation on
q sound financial footing with the rest
of the world. Ii stands. now. for hu-
man freedom. equal justice 10 all. equal
opportunities 10 all. without regard 70
race. creed or color. II stands for pros
perity at home and recognition abroad.
for honest money. for national credit, for
practical works of internal improvement.
IL has initiated the digging OF the Pan
anna Canal Ii has begun the irriga-
ton of the arid regions of the West.
II has inaugurated an era OF education,
OF sanitary reform. OF civil and religious
liberty in the new American posses
sions in the Atlantic and Paci6c. The
Republican party is party OF work.
II does things, Il is alive. progressive.
viriie and practical. 1t is, in its very
nature, constructive. L; is a living.
the men OF the nation who possess the
power of taking the initiative in all
forms of activity.
what About the Opposition.
And what about the Democratic party,
the party which some people are saying.
10 not far different. at present. from its
yivaif
What has the Democratic party said
1t has simply laid its ears back and
kicked, 1t has been the ieaden lump
to lift in all great enterprises under
taken by the country from 1850 on to
the present moment of time. II opposed
che war for the Union with all its
strength In 1854 its National Conven-
ton declared THE WAR \ FAIL
URE." II opposed. with heart aud soul,
the freeing Of the slaves. The district
in which slavery flourished Is still Dem
ocratjc-a "Solid South" IL opposed the
protective tariff, and opposes it still Ii
adopted the wild craze for free silver
and has never repndiated or disowned
its doctrines OF 1896 and 1900. II held
back the Panama Canal and would have
defeated its beginning IL il had been
able TO do 50. Ii has discouraged a prac-
tical and humane administration OF af-
fairs In the Philippines. IL has. at all
times. everywhere and anywhere, been
wrong. With certainty which is mar
velons IL takes the wrong side OF every
public question.
And now, after the heat and burden OF
work borne by its opponent. this party
of ignorance. laziness, procrastination
and disaster asks to be given the reins OF
national power, Ii claims for itself con-
elderaDon on tDe ground OF perpetual
fault-fnding with things as they are
and as they ought &c be.
How can any sane man say that the
difference between the two great parties
10 not great? One means health. brains.
heart, work. the solving OF hard prob
lens, the assisting of the heavily bur-
dened. the holding OF a great strong
nation to its grand purpose in the bet
tering Of mankind. The other means
standing still. looking backward. and GO
ing backward. for man or nation standing
still is bound to retrograde.
There must be something in the air
which dulls perception when men can
say that they find little difference this
year between the two great political
parties. Fatness and prosperity have
caused some people TO lose quick percep-
ton and Judgment. There would be
rude awakening for them IL the Demo-
Gratis should win the November cleo
lions. The chances are much against
any such catastrophe for the sleepy
brethren who don't much care" 1t is
. curious phenomenon. however. the fact
Of their existence.