The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1904-11-10
WHAT THE ELECTION MEANS.


The result of the presidential election leaves itt
nom for doubt that Mr.. Roosevelt s administration
Of the affairs of our government has given satisfae
ton Even the most enthusiastic of his friends die
not expect such sweeping victory, and the result
i really astonishing. Judge Parker Is conserva
tive man. and he made his canvass upon conserva
tive platform He opposed trusts, which are de
pounced by the republican party, and favored the
maintenance of the gold standard, which the repub
leans likewise favor Hewas opposed to the policy
Of imperialism and advocated revision of the tariff
Tariff revision is undenably necessary, repuoi'
cans of prominence eoneeding this soysot the toif
great issues involved, Judge Parker and MI hoose'
selt differed on but one-our policy In the Phillp-
mines Radical democrats bolted Judge Parker be-
eause they could see no difference between him and
MIR. Roosevelt.
With situation of this sort confronting the
people of the nation, Mr. Roosevelt is elected by an
unprecedented majority in the electoral college sHs
victory. then. must be regarded personal tribute
and as indicating the peoples full confidence In him.
Mr.. Roosevelt became president by chance; he IS
continued as president by the emphatic approval OF
the people.
The interesting feature of the occasion concerns
the probable future of the democracy The reorgan-
izers were permitted to have their own way at the
81. Louis convention, where they built the platform
and selected the candidate. Although Mr. Bryan
stumped the country for Judge Parker and urged
democrats. through his Commoner to support hlm,
the men who supported the ticket in 1896 and l9oo
declined to rally to the support of the 1904 candl
date. Their displeasure reasonably be regarded
as retaliatory
II is evident, then, that the reorganizers have
failed utterly to reorganize on successful basis
They congratulated the party on once again beng
soIidifed. but this congratulation was premature
Apparently the party is worse off than in 1896 and
1900. when gold democrats deserted Mr.. Bryan and
openly supported Mckinley, in 1896 electng him
The gold democratic disaffection was triting then
as compared with the radical disaffection this year
The two elements of the party are hopeessy at log
gerheads, and the last three campaigns have demon
strated the futiity Of intelligent action in the di
Fection Of reconciliation.
In view of these considerations, it is not surpris-
ing to learn that the organization of party III
contemplation This will be the greatest step ever
undertaken politically for to be successful the new
party must have the support of more than
100000 voters 1t will be radical party, advocat-
ing those principles 50 vigorously espoused by Will
lam Randolph Hearst, Thomas Watson and Mr.
Bryan. If it forsakes the name democrat, as will
doubtless be necessary to secure the assistance OF
Mr.. Watson and the populist party, conservative
democrats will desert it, and in any event it is not
to be presumed perhaps, that Mr.. Cleveland, Judge
Parker, Mr. 0lney, David B. Hill, Mr.. Murphy and
others of their kind will affiliate themselves with
Messrs. Bryan, Hearst, Watson and others The
conservatives will retire or else become republicans
and the radicals will have full swing.
The election has left the great democratic party
IN bad shape but for the calamity Mr.. Cleveland is
responsible. He split his party in twain, and the
breach cannot be healed