Smyrna times., 1904-10-26

Mr.. Thomas S. Start of New York,
former Smyrna boy, sends us some
encouraging political news regarding
the situation in New York City. 1t
was a letter which we intended pub.
fishing in full on our second page, but
as it was crowded out in the rush of
other matter, we can only refer to it
briefly. Mr.. Start speaks of this as
one of the quietest campaigns ever ex.
perienced in New York City despite
the fact that great meetings are held
and that all the enthusiasm stirred up
by Tammany ''dies with the fire.
E works" One of the most poignant
facts and one which seems to throw
shadow of despair over Tammany is
expressed in an editorial of the New
York Herald, a Democratic news
paper. 1t says in part: I'm two
weeks the people will have to decide
who will be their choice, Mr.. Roose-
f0Il VI uuge 1afkef.
TO speak quite frankly, there does
not appear to be room for much un-
certainty as to their probable decision.
1t seems almost a foregone conclusion
that Mr.. Roosevelt will be elected,
not, perhaps, because the people have
confidence in him and in his concep-
tion of the Presidential functions, but
because the country is prosperous and
thus the necessity for a change is not
very pressing.
''Mr. Roosevelt fortunately has not
yet involved the United States in
disastrous adventure, and this NAV
3endnce the people to give him another
opportunity. Satisfaction with actual
conditions, in fact, and confidence
that such conditions can be main
tanned fight upon Mr.. Roosevelt's side
the electoral contest His chances
are increased by the peoples misgiv-
ings as to the reality of the "change
of heart" that the Democratic leaders
profess to have experienced. Mr.
Bryan's grip upon his party has been
ostensibly shaken off, but have all
traces of disorganizing reign been
eradicated? Have the leaders of the
Democratic party definitely foresworn
pOpulism, silverism and other utop-
1ansims which the American people
as a whole will never sanction? The
uncertainty as to whether the Democ-
racy has shaken off Organism perma-
nently or only temporarily may in
duce many to cast a vote for Mr..
Roosevelt who under other circum
stances might prefer Judge Parker
Moreover, as election day draws
nearer it becomes manifest that Dem
Ocrats can oppose Republican disci-
pline and union with nothing more
efficacious than disunion and inde-
cision. Evidently the Democratic
leaders, like the Irish philosophers,
d have agreed to differ upon every point.
Instead of fighting fire with fire
that is, instead of meeting Republi.
can organization with Democratic or
ganization, Republican unanimitv
with Democratic unanimity - each
leader is riding his own particular
hobby without due consideration for
the interests of the party as a whole
and without regard for common nAense
Judge Parker, for example, must
surely realize that he cannot arouse
the American people over the Philip
pines or the FilipinOs. For good or
for evil and with the sacrifice of Amer
lean blood the islands have been ac-
qUired, and the United States can
abandon the annexed provinces of AL
sace and Lorraine.
"Such questions do not concern
practical politics; they are of interest
only to debating societies, and the
question of home rule for the Fill
pInos has only a theoretical impor.
tance. Political considerations have
compelled Germany to maintain
distinction between Alsace- Lorraine
and the remainder of the empire. Yet
the people of those provinces have as
high conception of their civic duties
as other inhabitants of Germany. One
cannot say the same of the Flliplnos
as compared with the American
people. Even Judge Parker would
not argue that the general levels of
intelligence or education or the stand
ards OF industry and enterprise are as
hlgh In the Philippine Islands as thew
are IN the United States. 1t would be
more practical, therefore, and more