New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-11-25
"ONLY WAITING"

Substantial agreement on one subject be-
tween The New-York World" and THE Spring
field Republican" is revealed in their editorial
columns They coincide in the opinion that this
Is not the time for Democrats 10 determine what
they are going TO do and how they are going to
do 1t four years hence. "The Republican" nd
monishes 1.-THE people who are disposed to rush
"offhand and settle and align the political con-
"test Of 1909 that they ARE to have their
labor for their palms, since they are reckon
ing without the great factor of time and the
changes which It will bring mot TO one pOlit-
ical party alone. but 10 both" The conclusion
of our Massachusetts contemporary, therefore,
is that the opposition should content itself with
looking on for a while. that being the phio-
sophie as well a recuperative attitude. SINH
larly. The World taking Mr.. Bryan's post
election manifestoes as text declares that
"all talk Of reorganzing or reconstructfng the
Democratic party at this time is absurdly pre-
"vious'" THE World" continues:
What is there to do? Nobody knows what
history the Roosevelt administration will make
or unmalIe. If the President succeeds in forcing
q reasonable revision of the tariff; If he adopts
vigorous measures for the enforcement or the
Antitrust and Interstate Commerce laws II
he promotes the cause of ultimate independence
for the Filipinos. and does not try to spend
more money than the government can collect,
what will be Mr.. Bryans paramount issueT
Will he return 10 tie 1886 demand for free sill
a failure? The obvious wisdom for the Demo
Gratis is 10 emulate Br'cr Rabbit and lay low"
until they see what the administration and
Congress purpose TO do or not 10 do.
Probably neither of our esteemed contempora-
ries. in giving such advice to Democrats, would
contend that an historic party which is merely
waiting for something to turn up presents a
majestic spectacle. Yet it by no means fol-
lows that their prescription is unsuited to the
desperate case which they are treating. The
Democrats are never in position to follow the
example of their adversares. When. occasion
ally, the Republican party has been put out
of power owing to a temporary popular misap-
prehenson, it has not doubted what 1t ought to
do or been reduced TO the necessity of retiring
from the lighting line. 1t has kept right on
asserting its principles and the course Of events
has quickly caused il 10 he called back TO ap-
ply them again But party having no set
tied principles. except those which it has Dor
rowed after deTidng them as long as it dared
must pursue a different course The World
seems to foresee that nothing fit to stand on
will he left in 1908 of the Democratic platform
of 1904. If the administration does in the main
what it is reasonably expected to do, will Mr.
BRYAN. IT asks. return to the 1896 demand for
free silver or to the 1864 declaration that the
war is a failure?'
We are under no CompuiSion to answer that
sarcastic inquiry. but may say without dis
courtesy that it is deserving of prayerful con-
sheraton by our friends the enemy, and that
in the mean time it really seems TO he their
wzest policy 10 follow the ingloriOus counsels
of opportuniSm.