Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1904-08-04
HE MAIN ISSUE.

parties as they related to the principa
issues that have absorbed attention
during recent campaigns, and showed
how this notable condition had been
brought about by the Democratic
abandonment of radical positions
taken heretofore by that party in favor
of positions more nearly resembling
those of the Republican party, which
has preserved an absolute consistency
through victory and defeat and whose
attitude, especially on the tariff,
finance and expansion has been so
strongly endorsed by the mass OF
voters and justified by events that
even its chief antagonist can no long
er hope for success by presenting con-
trary views for acceptance. We have
summed up the present situation by
the statement that there is in effect
but one main issue in this campaign
and that issue is the personality, the
record and the future promise OF
the Republican candidate, Theodore
Roosevelt. The Democratic party,
after its usual practice, has finally
struggled along up to the embers of
the Republican campfire, and now
opens its long-range artillery, not on
the fundamental principles of its
antagonist, but on the chosen leader
of the Republican hosts. With little
criticism OF the policies of that party.
and with faint promise that they
would be materially altered il the
Democrats secured control, the party
in opposition asks the country to pass
unfavorably on the official record OF
President Roosevelt, to condemn him
for what he has done, to express dis
trust OF him as pilot of the ship OF
state for the next four years and to
choose instead the candidate offered
by the Democracy, Alton B. Parker.
One may be pardoned for lifting the
blanket and discovering the real
status Of this speeious movement
Here is a party whose public record
has not been particularly savory,
whose principles, if it has any, have
been trimmed to catch the passing
breeze whenever it promised to wait
the rickety craft toward the goal of
official plumber, and have just as
speedily been shifted to catch return
current of equal promise; party
whose brief record in control OF the
was one OF utter and com
plete failure, bringing woe and disas-
ter in its wake; a party whose past
and present position has been one of
negation to everything progressive,
whenever il has not been OF still worse
destructive tendencies; here is this
party pulling on solemn face, trying |
to wave is own impertections behind
it, la Podsnap, that they may be
forgotten of the multitude, and grave
ly warning the country that in return
ing Roosevelt and the Republican
party to power the country is inviting
a danger that can best be avoided by
selecting their man and their party |
instead. Even persons with short
are able to recall without
difficulty what happened when Dem
ocrat last held the helm-and Cleve-
land was an eminently "saie" man.
which Roosevelt, according TO good |
Democratic authority, is not. Cleve-
land vouches now for Parker, but in
view OF his own III success his warrant
won't count Tor much. While as a
man Parker may be able, honest and
upright. as a Democratic president be
could not possibly rise above the polit-
cal level of his party. And there has
been little in that to commend it to
he sober thought of the country.
Roosevelt is denounced as an "un-
safe" man. A boyle is conjured up of
/ boastful, bullying swaggerer in the
chair. riding roughshod
over all opposition to his win, reach
NO out constantly for more power.
by coterie OF fawning
who do his bidding with
,ut question; an arbitrary despot who
Uses above all laws that DO not suit
his fancy, all precedents that annoy
lin; a busybody interfering without
in the common affairs of in
lustrial activity to their great de-
.angement and injury; person lack
nc the calm poise Of greatness, whose
is snap and taken before
he evidence is in; and lastly pug
lacious individual whose chief delight
[ would be to embroil this country in
var for the sake of the distinction
hat might come TO him.
II Is a bogie, 10 be sure. II is not