New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-04-20
~ OPPOSITION.

We have an opposition is the exultaut CRY
OF our friends OF The New-York Evening Post +"
who maintain the air OF q certain friendliness
10 President Roosevelt, as they contemplate the
work Of Mr. HiIls convention. Lost sheep with.
out a shepherd IN the days Of Organism. they
rejoice, as they suggest Ike good Catholics
when the cry We have a Pope" goes through
the Conclave. Anything for an Opposition and
any kind Of an Opposition is their platform, and
they quote Foxs opinion that a Parliament
composed OF anybody who could be picked I'D
IN the street was better than no Parliament
Therefore they are ready 10 embrace a Hill
Opposition rather than not embrace any Op-
position at al, though for our part we cannot
see why, II Oppositons, like whiskeys, are
never bad, only some being better than others,
they should complain that for the last eight
years the Opposition has made itself impos-
sible
We, too believe IN an Opposition rs neces-
saTy element 81 government by means Of par
ties. But II our neighbOrs have ever shown
greater contempt for the character OF the Op-
position OF the last eight years than they have
shown Tor the character OF David =. Hill and
his peanut politics" which are now again in
the ascendant, We have not noticed It. Wherein
is the Opposition which is now heralded any
Improvement on that 10 which we have been
accustomed True. some Of its declarations At
u more ClDsely VIII lnt OIflnoUS o. or nelgn-
bors. But the character OF an Opposition de-
ponds Oh its convictions, not On mere vote catch
ing declarations.
The New-FOrk Democracy to-day puts forth
q platform which Is conservative aud Inviting
10 al who are looking FOR any kind OF an ex-
cuse for opposing the present administration
But this same Democracy AZ its last convention
declared for national control and operation OF
the coal mines, and no sane man for an instant
etspposes thai Il would not now repeat that at
tack 1,Don the sovereignty of Pennsylvania. in
stead OF declaring Tor 'the maintenance OF State
rights" II Il thought there was anything 90 be
gained in that way. Il is a trife amusing to
see the man who as Governor defed law and
stole a Senate the boss Of a purified Opposition
which makes its initial bow declaring that this
is n government Of laws. and denouncing usur-
nations and executive encr0achments upon the
legislative and judicial departments. And as for
the tariff. what a reminder OF old times is this
recrudescence Of the free trade propaganda!
We hone the platform makers and the Reform
Club VIII keep Il up. The party which. when
last taken at It's word by A deluded country and
intrusted with the revision Of the duties. pro-
ouced the tariff OF "perldy and dishonor' is IN
q happy position 10 command faith IN It's
PROMISES Oh, but this time the tariff viii
merely be revised 90 reduce schedules which
even Republicans admit have been outgrown.
and might well be revised. But what sort OF
revision VIII Senator German. who held MP"
Mr.. Wilson and Mr. Cleveland IN 1894 now per
nit the Senate 10 make?
This thrift talk. like every other issue OF the
Dealocfacs, i merely preeence to catch votes.