Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-02-17
WHAT "STATqO PAT" MEANS.
1t Represents n Dire Extreme, N Par
ty Forced Against n Wall.

ty Forced Against n Wall.
Democracy's disposition toward exist
ing evils and injurious institutions
! which have fastened themselves in sub
| stantial growth is. and ought TO be.
sane There is no desire on the part
of Democracy TO wreak mischief. to
destroy without regard for the well
fare Of legitimate business. There is
no mind TO do violence where sound
method will achieve better end
Democracy will pursue no hysterical
purpose. but rather Il calm and scien-
titic course of eradication consistent
with the least disruption.
But. on the other hand. it will by no
means content itself with the kind of
conservatism expressed in Mr.. RoOse
velt's famous backdOwn message on
the tariff and trusts, in which he de
clared that the evils in these inStitu-
tons We're Overmatched 10y the good
and that TO disturb the evils would be
dangerous. In fact. the operation of
attacking them at all seemed to him
to he so very delicate that lie declined
To advise it, He announced the doc
trine of liberation of ills and suJnis-
sion to injury.
Democracy will not consent to view
as necessary evils such matters as
federal corruption. mulcting tariff pro-
lection and the palpable disorders of
the trusts.
Speaking upon the tariff. Representa-
tive Williams in his recent and widely
read address exhibited the sound ana
discriminative views which character
iZe the Democratic attitude. saying
that his party had no desire to de
molish the tariff at n single blow. TO
explode it with dynamite or to pull
down its pillars and throw down the
structure with crash. 1t would re-
quire Il considerable time TO recon
struct Il tariff on Democratic princi-
pies. In his opinion, though. the par
tvs final intent was clear. TO DemoC-
racy a tariff virtually represents a tax
upon consumers. A Democratic tariff,
therefore, should as nearly as might
be provide for equal taxation of con
sumers. for an equaliZed charge upon
consumption or the thing consumed.
Mr.. Williams thus correctly interpret
ed Democratic conservatism. Repub-
lican conservatism is 4 missioner I'M
less the English language has suffered
Il distinct loss of meaning. The Repub-
lican party stands pat on its federal
scandals. on the trusts, on the tariff
and especially on it's machine organiZa-
ton now in the flower of development.
The Republican party is loath 10 fore
go the more abundant fruitfulness
which eight years perfection of a ma
chine holds forth. 1t is obliged To seek
vindicatfon upon its past record. its
past politics. 1t is rigidly held by cir
cumstanceS to the defense of its ca
reer. it's purposes. its attachments.
Change of attitude is utterly denied il.
Its forced position. from which the
times admit of no escape. is expressed
in the unfortunate phrase stand pat"
Signifying extreme negation, excluding
the idea of determination to act. TO i'm
prove, To move at all; denying inten-
tioR and suggesting impotence of will.
stand pat" is the position OF dire
extreme. party forced against wall.
Can there he conservatism in such an
ultra attitude?
The country is thoroughly tired of
stand pat which denies not only the
possibility Of remedy. but the existence
OF essential wrongs. Democracy will
move along a middle course carefully,
guarding against unnecessary damage.
seeking gradually To effect desirable
changes.-St. Louis Republic.