The independent. [volume] (Lincoln, Neb.) 1902-1907, 1904-05-05

and practices needing conservation be-
fore all else were threatened with
multiplying dangers. Four years. of
administration Of party democratic
in name, but little less subservient to
the money-changers than the repu0-
iiCan party only proved the necessity
Of change in national policies II the
springs Of democratic government
were not to be finally corrupted at
their source. The danger was acute,
and it demanded a remedy corre-
spondingly radical 1t was no time
for sanity" of the Cleveland type, no
time for half-measures for platitules,
for milk-and-water announcements.
for party declarations SO like those OF
the republican party as almost to re-
quire label to distinguish them, no
time for time-serving leader. 1t
was time, il ever there was time,
for that sanity which rises to the Oc-
'casion and proposes remedies adequate
TO the conservation of all that Is basic
in nation alhealth. The platform and
the man appeared. And when, four
years later, tho corruption at home
had spread abroad, the platform and
the man again appeared. That the
Chicago and Kansas City platforms.
with Mr.. Bryan, were not Endorsed at
the polls, was no fault Of theirs, but
because the blighting curse of COM
mercialism had already obtained too
firm grip on the American people.
If it be insanity to be true to prln-
ciple, to respect experience, to cry
aloud and cease not when 1t Is pro-
posed to ignore the lessons Of history.
to warn in thunder tones against poll
cies which have dug the grave OF ev-
cry nation pursuing them, to poiiit
the way to the only thorough AM
permanent reformation of economic
and political ills--then the Cleveland
diagnosis is correct.
If it be sane to stand pat while
abuses increase by leaps and bounds
and social dangers multiply, If 1t -
sane to make a full dinner pair the
ideal Of national prosperity; II 1t be
sane to lend the Observation-Disclosures Of
government to the enrichment Of tho
few at the expense OF the many; II II
be sane to foster policy which
through the concentration OF untold
wealth in the Lands of an infiniteSi-
NAL minority widens the gulf between
the rich and the poor--then the Sage
of Princeton gives good advice.
II it be conservatism to abandon
the principles whose practice has
made possible an hundred years Of
glorious history; to sacrifice the
school house to the battleship, to In
augurate a foreign policy whose ex-
peniitures exceed its receipts an hum
dred-fold, to acquire possessions in All
parts of the world which invite at
tack, constitute points of necessary
weakness, and Inevitably tend to en-
tanglements In Old World politics, II
1t be conservatism to attempt the gov
eminent of eight millions OF hostile
people, Of different race, of a diff
ferent language, OF different customs,
Of a lower development, in tor1sd
climate, ten thousand miles away
then Is the republican party the con-
sentative party OF American politics.
Loyalty to true AMI tried principles
with readiness to maintain them at
any cost-this Is sanity. To recall the
ship of state from the rapids that have
wrecked many a vessel freighted with
the fortunes Of q great people--this IS
conservatism. To stand pat" to let
things drift, to allow disease to eat
away the yitaIs Of the body politicr
| if this be not insanity and radicalism
run mad. what is 1t? Modern repuO-
lican spells recklessnesss Sanity and
conservatism find their surest support
in the new democratic party.
JOHN SAMPSON.