The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1904-06-30

pie take so little interest in matters
which years ago would have stirred the
nation from ocean to ocean," said
Judge Sawyer after pause. Il.
thought the Philippine question would
arouse intense interest, but it did not.
No one seems to care very much about
the alleged Acknowledgement of the
negro in the south. There is more
genuine public interest in a city cleo
ton than in a national one. Why is
this?"
1T is because manufacturing, finan.
cial and commercial interests are in
complete and undisturbed control of
the situation" was the reply. More
than at any time in the history of the
world its inhabitants are engaged in
the pursuit OF wealth. We have all
the liberty we seem to need, so that
question does not worry us. A serious
quarrel with nation worthy of our
prowesS is impossible. With peace as
sured at home and abroad it is inevita-
BILE that everything becomes subortli-
mated to business. When our liberties
were menaced patriots and statesmen
were selected by the people to repre-
sent them. When sectional strife di-
vided the nation men of violent par
tisanship filed the seats in congress
and in our legislatures. An era is al
ways fittingly represented by those Sc
lected by the electorate. This is
business era, and our lawmakers repre-
sent finance and trade. Our national
senate safeguards the interests of
| business enterprises national in their
scope, while the lower house of con-
greSS attends to the commercial re-
quirements of the various districts"
SIS not that too severe an arraign-
ment Of our representatives." asked
Judge Sawyer.
81 do not intend to reflect in any way
upon the character of congress or of
the various legislative and municipal
| bodies" declared Colonel Monroe Il
am simply attempting to make plain
my belief that this is an era of bust
ness and trade and to point out the
fact that it is only natural that these
dominant interests should control leg
islation. Nothing more important than
! business occupies the public eye and
ear. OF course there are honest and
! dishonest business interests, but it is
| always safe to assume that any legis-
lative body is fairly representative Of
| the prevailing sentiment and the av-
erage honesty of its constituents. But
here is the point am driving at-busi-
ness problems do not make attractive
or spectacular campaign issues. The
| people as a mass take little interest in
the discussion of business problems
which have been injected into political
campaigns In the second place, the
divergence Of opinion between the
| business interests which control the
respective parties is so slight that |
can see no necessity for the expense
and turmoil Of an election"
"In other words" suggested Judge
Sawyer you hold that the business
interest is dominant in both parties
and has practically consolidated them
into trust This, you hold, accounts
for the lack of public interest in pc
litical affairs"
Exactly So" continued the colonel.
"And, in my opinion, this consolidation
ends the conflict between these two
great parties which under different
names have existed more than cen
fury All of the issues which called
them into existence have been settled
for all time. There is as little differ
bn ~ irla Of thn two
great parties as there is in the mean
ing of the words Republican and
Democrat There is no clearly mark
ed division of opinion on such great
questions as the construction of the
constitution, state rights, slavery and
other issues which once infamed the
public mind. You cannot draw party
lines on any of the minor new issues
which are being discussed. Both par
ties are pledged to conserve the inter
ests of honestly invested capital and
both are devoted in their love and ad-
miratiOn of the working classes
There remains only the personality Of
the candidates"
Il believe you are right in your anal
ySiS of the situation" said Judge Saw
yer, but it is one which, in my opin-
ion, is not to be desired. A republic
such as ours needs two aggressive and
evenly matched parties. When Il ma
ton is making real progress there is
no lack of great issues on which there
may be honest difference Of opinion"
Like all Gains, political ones are
followed by storms" observed the colo
mel Though the surface of the pO-
litical sea is unruffled, there are clouds
in the sky which predict rough wealth
er ahead. The perfection of machin-
cry, the concurrent organization of the
forces of capital and labor, the piling
up of enormous fortunes, the suppress
sion of competition by fair and unfair
methods, the corrupt use of money in
elections and in influencing legislation
these and other forces are at work.
New issues will give birth to new par
ties, and l am so confirmed an opti-
mist that | feel sure the coming con
tests will result in national good.
thoroughly agree with Mr.. Carnegie,
who holds that the American people
-.