The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1904-10-29
THE ISSUE

of party policy have been almost
entirely eliminated. The para
mount issue Is Theodore Roosevelt.
In general way, Imperialism, tar
if and fiscal affairs are alluded to,
:" but there is NO serious controversy
on any subject except the person
atty of Theodore Roosevelt. And
there is another remarkable situa-
4 ton. The Democratic National
platform has been practically abro-
gated. First, by Judge Parkers's
gold telegram and subsequently by
his address to the notification COM
mittee and his letter of acceptance,
which did not accept. And yet an
other singular situation: The two
- foremost living Democrats, Bryan
and Cleveland, are supporting the
! Democratic National ticket for dia-
metrically opposite purposes. Mr..
Bryan's purpose is TO secure Dem
ocratic victory in order to annihi-
late Clevelandism, and Cleveland's
purpose is to wipe out Organism.
On the great questions of money
Panama and irrigation, Cleveland
g is pledged to Republican policies,
- and SO is Bryan temporarily. But
Bryan makes it very clear that his
future purpose is to win Democracy
back to populistic principles. The
alliance between Bryan and Cleve-
land is based on opposition to
Roosevelt. That is the only COM
mon ground upon which they can
stand; and the moment they sue
coed IN defeating Roosevelt they
will turn upon each other. The
. ultimate purpose of the Democratic
campaign is not the election of
Judge Parker and the establish
ment Of Democratic policies, lin
deed, there is no such thing as a
Democratic policy, but the pur-
pose is to get Roosevelt out of the
way in order that Bryan and Cleve-
land may fight their fight to a fin-
1sh and determine which is the best
man. Judge Parker was given to
understand just how the matter
stood, and before he was nominated,
he was pledged not to run for Sec
ond term, in order that the way
might be clear for Bryan or Cleve-
land, whichever got control of the
Democratic party. So Judge Par
ker, if elected, would merely be ex-
ercisiug a sort of receivership-
holding the Office of President, not
as a trust, but in trust for the COM
ing champion. He would have no
policies to notwithstanding what
-, ever to do but drift along and
draw his salary. Meantime the
scrap between Bryan and Cleve-
land would occupy the middle OF
abe political stage, and the country
would be in state of suspense, or
lettering up and down with the
varying fortunes of war. And it is
this kind Of thing that Democracy
offers in lieu of Theodore Roosevelt
; and clean cut, well defined Repub-
1ican administration. We are ask
,, ed to take a receiver instead of a
President. Well, possibly, the
American people are ready to &C.
sept that sort of thing, but, we
cont think so. Things are NOV
ing along just about right with
that wise, honest, courageous and
progressive leader, Theodore Roose-
velt, at the helm, and a Republican
congress for crew. The ship of
state is gliding on smoothly and
prosperously. The issue is Theo-
dore Roosevelt, and it is one of the
4 equarest, truest, noblest issues the
~ American people ever had present
- ed. Theodore Roosevelt is the en-
hodiment of Republicanism - the
- man and the platform-and with
him the party will go on to greater
achievement and more lasting glory.