The Columbus journal., 1904-09-21
ONLY ONE ISSUE LEFT.

It L. the Offices, aud the Democrats
Will Never Abandon Il.
There is one issue the Democrats have
not and never will abandon-the Of.
fees. With a light heart and an easy
conscience they are willing to swallow
the gold standard, to enter noile prOsse
as to the tariff robbery" to con-
struet the Panama Canal and to post
pone independence for the Philippines
until the FilipinOs have donned clothes.
but the Offices-these they must have or
the last excuse for their party's exist
ence 10 gone.
page OF open letters in the New York
World. which prints them because
no owns it, to prove that Theodore
Roosevelt and he alone is the issue.
The paramount issue Of this campaign"
the editor writes. addressing himself di-
rect to the President. ''is not as you
would lIave it. free trade or free silver,
hut YOU YOURSELF - Theodore
Roosevelt. This issue inforced upon the
country by your unusual temperament
and talent-yOur own strong, able. am
bilious. resourceful, militant, passionate
personality. your versatile and surpris-
ing genius"
Ii this were not meant to be alarm
ing it would fittingly describe one side
OF the personality OF the Republican
standard bearer worthy Of being print
ed in flaming type aud posted at every
cross roads in the country. Add to it
the unQueStioned attributes Of honesty.
courage and patriotism. and you have
the true measure Of the head Of the
Republican ticket. Mr.. Pulitzer cannot
find that the possession Of any Of the
tributed to the President has led him
into hasty. arbitrary or ill-considered
acts. or into any policy inimical to the
public welfare or that has not been
fully justified by the event.
No higher tribute could be paid % the
President than the way in which he has
been singled out by Mr.. Pulitzer n the
one engrOssing, overshadowing issue Of
the campaign.
Now. why does Mr.. Pulitzer wish tn
set rid Of q President Of such known
and approved qualities to make way for
the Untested and inexperienced master
of Rosemount?
The answer is plain-THE OFFICES.
Mr.. Pulitzer is a Democrats trans
planted Missouri Democrat. He knows
that the national Democracy Is very
hungry and very thirsty and that it is
weary Of feeding upon the husks that
fall to the share Of the opposition party
at Washington.
So long As Mr.. Roosevelt is in tho
White House Mr.. Pulitzer knows tha:
every office. outside Of the classified
service. will so to a Republican. provid-
cd there is no Democrat 50 much better
qualified for it that to ignore his claims
would create a national scandal.
What Mr.. Pulitzer and the Democracy
want is that the only tOuchstone Of fit
ness for federal offices shall be the fray
ed maxim Of David p. Hill. Il am a
Democrat" Upon this issue he has no
m'sSivinss as to The firm and irrevoca-
BILE" convictions OF the Sphinx OF Esopus
In Judge Parker's eyes the author Of the
maxim TO the victOrs belong the spoi!s"
was the greatest statesman. not except.
ing Boss Tweed. New York has ever
produced. And Mr.. Pulitzer believes
that Democratic mummy OF the Marcy
school in the White House would not
permit any question Of fitness to inter
fere between the faithful and the fed
era! pay roll.
At present the sturdy. robust repub-
l;canism Of Theodore Roosevelt stands
between the Democracy and the offices.
How to remove this stumbling block in
the path Of the lean and hungry wan
derers OF 1896 and 1861 is the supreme,
the only issue left TO the Democracy.
II national election could he decid-
ed by the voters wanting a job, ire
spective Of their fitness for it. the De-
mocracy under the leadership OF Mr..
Pulitzer would be invincib!e.