New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-08-01

I'm his sneecb of acceptance President Roose-
welt has nut with admirable precision the real
! issue of the campaign. At bottom the choice
! offered the voter is one between the trled anu
/ the 1Intried between the known ana the I'M
/ known The appear for power made py the
| Democratic party rests neither on us recOFu
nor on its platform. To forget the one anu
minimize the other is the chief concern Oh tno
managers of the Parker canvass. These man
ayers gravely ask the country to waive Inc
Democratic partys record of omission and com
mission and TO ignore the surrenders anu ST.
lenees az its latest confession of faith. Ihey
,lcad with the voter 10 take leap in the dark;
for any promises they make now are 10 De
iudgad and valued in the light of their avOwed
determination 10 treat past promises as nun
and void In the last analysis, therefore, Judse
Parker's candidacy rests on the appeal II makes
10 the mere political restlessness, 10 the Dinu
and shallow worship of change for the sake oi
change
But as President Roosevelt convincingly
argues. what single public purpose is TO be
suDserved 10y change for the mere sake OF
change? "AssuredIy." he says, ''it is unwise TO
change the policies which have worked so well
and which are now working so WELL In what
respect is national efficiency 10 be advanced or
national prosperity 10 be heightened by shift
ing of power 10 Democratic shoulders! Judge
Parker has promised, if elected, 10 maintain the
gold standard and TO prevent the dehasement OF
our currency system. In that he would be SIM
ply honorins Republican policy by honest. If be-
lated. imitation. Could a Democratic admins
tration hope 10 put our revenue and tariff sys-
TENS on a safer and more advantageous basis?
There is no more unity of opinion among Demo
Gratis on the tariff issue than there is on ques-
tions Of coinage and currency; but whatever in
fuence Judge Parker could have as President
with his party in Congress would naturally be
thrown 10 the accomplishment Of some such
scheme Of tariff revision as the Wilson-GOrman
act OF 1891. Is the country prepared for an
other venture in 'perfdy and dishonor," for an
other tariff of illOgicalities and deficits?
Could Judge Parkerls election be taken as an
earnest of a more vigorous exercise Of the fed
eraI governments power 10 restrain Illegal com
binations and trusts? No one who noticed the
singular recrudescence OF State rights doctrines
in the Albany platform can feel assured that
the Democratic candidate for President could
bring himself to violate his Jeffersunian theories
and lay rude hands on a State-chartered trust
Would not Judge Parker, like Mr.. Cleveland he
inclined 10 let the offending corporation go I'M
disciplined and then thank Heaven that he had
rid himself OF an embarrassing prosecution?
Could the Democratic nominee hope to alter TO
IA tional advantage our programme in the
Philippines, in Panama or in China? Could he
on any single question, foreign or domestic, de-
wise or enforce change OF policy likely in the
long run 70 Justify itself to the wisdom of the
American people?
There is 10 evidence that he would or could
Grounds there may he for wishing change of
administration. The SOuth's hatred Of q policy
which still treats the negro as a citizen is
But, beyond that, what rational sufficient ar
gument-what argument touching our broader
national nterests-can be put forward for Il
Shift in power: Unrest, curiosity, change for
the sake of change-these are the true forces
behind the Parker canvass But the choice
they suggest is not one which will move the
judgment of the earnest and the thoughtful OF
those who. without prejudice or narrowness,
seek to measure the Of the present and
TO discharge those duties 7ith a spirit single 20
the nations good.