New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-08-02
WHAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN.

Our excellent neighbor The New-York
Times" remembering that "of all sad words Of
tongue or pen the saddest are these 1t might
have been" in an article entitled What Might
Have Been" laments the failure Of President
| Roosevelt 20 help it and the Democratic party
out in imposing on the public the view of Judge
Parker and the issues OF the campaign which
they have been so unsuccessfully seeking TO
cultivate. The Times" says:
Suppose that on Saturday. July Q. or even on
sunday-the better the day the better the deed
it had occurred 10 Mr.. Roosevelt TO send 70
Judge Parker telegram 10 the following ef-
feet
Permit me 10 congratulate you on the courage
and wisdom Of your declaration Of your personal
conviction that the gold standard is firmly and
placed.
Such a message from the Republican candi-
date to the Democratic candidate would have
been manly magnanimous. patriotic. One effect
would have followed which, suppose every
intelligent and patriotic American, familiar with
the trials and perils through which his country
has passed in the last thirty years. must most
earnestly desire. II would have taken the gold
standard out of the present campaign.
Sad indeed for our friends is it TO think
what might have been! BY telling the Demo
Gratis that they were Just as good gold stand
ard party as the Republicans the President
would have taken the gold standard out Of the
is IN the campaign. and great is the sorrow Of
the gold Democrats. We have no doubt that Il
seems awfully mean to them for Republicans
not TO agree for their comfort to ignore all
questions which they do not like to discuss 1t
would be nice OF the Republicans also TO agree
that the Democratic tariff policy was all right
and so remove that question from the cam
paign; and II there is anything else that the
Democrats have been wrong about and now
want 10 be thought right about it would he
highly magnanimOus for the President to give
them character 10 the voters. Apparently
''The Times feels the need of such 'charac-
ter" Without a Republican Endorsement the
people do not seem inclined 10 trust the Demo.
Gratis as fully recovered from their recent in
sanity. Hence these tears and the Complaint
that owing TO the Presidents failure to bring
what might have been 10 pass the gold stand
ard Is an issue In the campaign and a stumbling
/ block TO Democrats. Nevertheless IL the Pres-
dent had sent such n message we can imagine
the Democratic Indignation over what would
! have been characterized as insoent patronage OF
Judge Parker and an attempt 10 prejudice him
In the eyes Of the silver wing Of the Democracy.
1t is little odd at the beginning OF q cam.
palgn 10 find the organs OF a party with ono &C.
cord complaining that Il Is mean and unpatriotic
Of their opponents not TO concede their case.
Tho Democratic editors call on Judge Parker
10 send telegram as the only alternative 20
disgraccful defeat. and then. when he obeys.
are Indignant with Republicans for sticking 20
she record and not Joining IN chorus in honor
or Judge ParkeI's heroic self-sa crihce~ The
/ trouble with our friends is that they are not
satisfied with what is and so blame the Repub-
! Beers for the absence OF what might have been.
We doht blame them. But we should not think
iAey would want 10 confess TO the difficulty of
,heT situation by complaining that the opuos-
ing candidate whom they are belaboring night
anu dqy does not come to their rescue ana de-
priVe MS party OF an issue concerning which
/ hey are IN principle with it. II Democrats
were SO sue Of their ground they would nor
.nus De Claiming help. liz they really accented
tAels own heroic pictures OF 1.-The man who
Weaia rather be right than be President" they
wou.a not get so angry over the 'nleanness' OF
! the Republicans WIN rocali hos. tj,nt, so1a al,
mar, tlst nc must do this right Ming III order ia
! AND ny the way. talking abont supposlng