The daily morning journal and courier., 1904-06-23
AboAinayts Bottled only at the Spring, Neuenahr, Germany, md only with its own Natural Gas.
 ZAe Lancst 1an. 90. Ioo4

respective of party in every sense, the
 big corporations would suffer- But af-
 ter that decision would certainly come
 the question of the manner of restric- tion; and it would be found that the
 intelligence of both parties would fa-
 vor avoiding radical and sweeping
 measures and pursuing some such
 course as that of President Roosevelt
 before the party leaders curbed him.
 The majority of Americans, without re-
 gard to party, are cool headed, and the
 hysterical leaders of the democratic
 party, by their sweeping propositions
 on this and other questions, endanger
 the very existence of that party, espec-
 ially as the lash is now more than ever
 disregarded among intelligent people.
 The same is true, in some degree, of
 the tariff. Though in itself a party question, it now involves so many oth-
 CT interests that it is impossible to fol- low strict lines. Each party, as such,
 would prepare radically different schedule from the other; but that can not be, and the real difference would
 now be so small that very little enthu- siasm can be raised upon the subject Then there are the increasingly persis tent industrial problems. Here there is
 still greater disregard of party lines. Indeed, among the educatedsand think ing classes, views are so varied that it
 would be impossible to class them in two opposing parties. Almost the only
 unanimity of feeling is found in the , I rc4ts al iVa tions; and it might be dangerous to their existence if their members were encouraged to do their own thinking and permitted to act accordingly. The very fact that they hang together, in the present state of the problems, is evidence that they do not do their own thinking.
 Yet here are some of the most vital questions of the country. Reference is
 not made merely to the questions be- tween capital and labor. Those are in cidentaI Many capitalists-at least many ernployers-would have things different would ease the burden of the employer, would even concede sched- ules and short hours, were it not for the yielding or certain principles which
 they deem vital and if there be also, in this refusalfto yield, a little of that human nature which refuses to be driv- en, it is no more than to be expected.
 And there are thousands of laboring
 men who, even while suffering under the injustice of some present conditions,
 would be very far from favoring any adjustment not along natural lines. There are extremists, on both sides, but, as in the other case. the distinctions are not those between the old parties The greatest disaster that could come to this country would be to array cap- lital and labor into two opposing par |ties; and the demagogues who attempts 1t, or to bring his existing party into power on such an issue may be put down as an enemy to his country. So- ciologists are not yet done with the question They may one day find its points so clearly defined and so involv- ing the old principles that it will be safe to bring it before the country as an issue; but not now.
 Then there are the matters of public education, industrial training, inmi-
 
 that are intensely practical and even matters of legislation. Concerning | them there are vital adjustments need l ing the attention of congress and state yet the country is not ready to make party matters of them While, even if 1t were possible, it is un- l safe to make them strict party ques- tions, the majority of the people cer- tainly want them worked out under peaceful conditions, and therefore un- der the administration of that party Ithat will most likely maintain these conditions The party that will intro iduce turmoil and uncertainty and un- rest into national affairs will prove a. lfoe to the adjustment of these vital matters.
 Which, then, of the two great parties l is likely to prove friend to this ad- ljustment? Manifestly the party of set l tied policy Even if sociologists and lreformers do not approve policy and believe another might be better, they know it is unsafe to try the untried at l this juncture. And where a party has not been able to show settled policy, or foreshow definite position in a def l mite issue for four decades, thinking men will be inclined to beware of it. Granting that a democratic candidate I of clear and settled purpose should be l fortunate enough to land in the presi- Idency, what could he do in the turmoil of cratic and uncertain counsel and | Legislation? A party of settled policy | is already in power. Saying nothing
 about the merits of that policy here the general policy is determined, sand this fact will give the republicans much support in this years fight. ht.-Providence l TolIri1al