The Washington times., 1904-06-23
Republican Platform.

Republican Platform.
Even as Governor Cummius. with
unconscious humor, remarked, the
Republican platform is one on which
all the Republicans Of The country
can stand comfortably. In other
words. it is a monument TO the genius
OF Henry Cabot Lodge as a Trainer Of
phrases which sound inspiringly
trenchant, but which, when analysed.
show a surprising amount of the non
committal and indeterminate.
Remarks on the history Of the
party, the greatness Of it's present.
and the shamefulness and incom-
potency of the past OF its chief poIiu-
cal opponent may be passed over
without comment That is mere fus-
tan, put in partly because some folks
may believe it, largely because it is
traditional and politicians, like ac-
tors, have a wonderful respect for
that which always has been.
At the present moment the people
Of this country are plagued by two
great worries-the cost of living and
the uncertainty OF their jobs For
the first plague, they believe, rightly
or wrongly that too much tariff on
household commodities is at least
partially to blame, for the second
plague, they regard the strained rela-
tons between capital and labor as
partially responsible. The people as
whole, therefore, viii look for what
the Republican platform has to say
about the tariff and the trusts, and
upon those declarations they win base
their estimate of the platform.
Regarding the tariT the platform
says: Protection is a cardinal princi-
pie OF the party. Rates OF duty should
be readjUsted only when conditions
have so changed that the public inter
est demands their alteration Reel
procity may be a good thing some
times.
IL VIII be agreed that absolutely
no fault can be found with that. On
the other hand, it viii also be agreed
that no special communication can be
given it. The entire United States
believes In protection. and the entire
country believes IN revision when re-
vision is for the public interest Bu
the real point is: VIII the ReDubli-
can party make such revision as viii
ensure q lower cost of living 10 IN,
public as d whole even though TIM
profits OF moneyed interests are re
duced by the process2 The Repub
lican party ingenuously begs tina
phase of the question.
Combinations OF capital and O
labor says the platform, ARE th
results Of the economic movement O
the age. bul neither must be permit
ted 10 infringe upon the rights an,
interests OF the people. Such comb
nations. when lawfully formed TO
lawful purposes, are alike entitled Il
the protection of the laws, but boil
are subject 10 the laws, anS neithe
can be permitted TO break them"
Here, again, is an eminently SAT-
statement. a self-evident proposition
clothed I'm beautiful words, but bear
ingi neither inspiration nor light T.
the seeker after ways and means o
keeping combinations from Infringing
upon the rights Of the people.
Senator SpOoner OF Wisconsin, witt
Characteristic poiutedncss, summe
up the situation exactly:
"Wen. if fl pleases everybody, it E
mighty good platform"
What the Republican platform &C
tually does is to withdraw the quez
ton Of Republican policy from Oh
field and leave the issue before ia
American people simply this. DO Ia
Americans believe fla Theodor
Roosevelt and do they want him 70
their PRESIDENT We believe that o.
this issue Theodore Roosevelt will d
elected.