Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1905-02-09
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 1905.
ENDORSING GENERALIZATION.

DaS heretofore D6en Tdlseu ny Tic OcHiO-
cratic to the Republican party is what the
former has termed the strong centralizing
disposition of the latter The Democrats
harped upon the rights of the States,
claiming that every progressive step taken
by the Republicans in the interests of the
entire country trenched upon States rights
aud placed too much authority in the gen.
eral government. We are glad to see that
there is a great change taking place in The
attitude of the Democracy, especially at
the South, and that there is strong sup
port now being given by the Democratic
press and leaders to the bold but just po-
sitions taken by PRECEDENT Roosevelt on
the trusts and other questions. This spirit
has been shown more conspicuously in
Democratic support of the President
policy regarding railroad rate legislation
than in any other matter. Even Mr.. Bryan
has rushed forward to give his hearty en-
dorsement to the President, and John
Sharp Williams, the Democratic leader in
Congress, has been equally as prompt in
according support. There are some DEM
ocrats, however, who doubt whether their
party is practicing good politics. MIR.
Baker, of New York, on the End inst, in
the House of Representatives declared
that the Republican party was now show
ing the shrewdest politics it ever
showed, and that the Republicans were
"giving rope TO Southern Democrats and
they are hanging themselves"
If the Southern Democrats want to do
what is right there is no sound sense in
the Republicans Encouraging them. We
may be amused but we ought TO be grail
fed to see a departure from the non pro-
gressive spirit that has heretofore inau-
enced Southern politics and politicians.
Speaking of the strange attitude now held
by the Southern Democracy toward Presi-
dent Roosevelt, our esteemed contem-
porary the Richmond News Leader
says
"At a first glance it is apparently a
queer mix-up. But as a matter of fact
the determination of the minority is good
politics, sound sense and thoroughly IN
accord with the cardinal, underlying, fun
damental Democratic doctrine of the
greatest good to the greatest number.
The truth of the business is that the most
conspicuous weakness of the Democratic
party in late years, especially as exempli-
fed in the course of its representatives in
Congress, has been in opposition for oppc-
sition sake, regardless of the merits of any
given proposition. Thst is small potato poll
tics as differentiated from craftsmanship
and play to the groundlings. No sacrifice
of principle is comprehended in combina-
tons With divisions of the other side to ef-
feet Legislation in the interest Of the
masses, and no risk of impairing the in
tegrlty of the party is run. The opposite
is the truth"
Our contemporary might have remarked
that heretofore the Democrats in Congress
have only made combinations with mi
nority of Republicans to try to obstruct
and defeat the efforts of majority of the
Republicans to effect legislation in the in
terest of the masses and of the entire coun-
try. Are the Democrats now to unite with
the Republicans only at such times as there
are divisions among the latter? If this be
truethere will be no use of such combination
In the House of Representatives, as the
Republican membership there is about
thoroughly united in support of the Presi-
dents views on the important questions
now agtating the public mind. 1t may
prove otherwise in the Senate, and We
may witness some more small potato poll
tics there that will be called statesman
ship. Something, for instance, like the
course pursued by certain Southern Sena-
tors toward the ratification of the Panama
treaty.
Our Democratic friends begin to realize
that even the Southern people are getting
tired of senseless opposition to measures
of great public utility upon the theory
that they are Of centralizing tendency.
Hence we find them advocating the pres
ent policy of the President on the railroad
rating measure and other measures that
while ago would have been INSTRUCTED
and opposed upon the claim that they
contravened the ultra States right doc
trine of the Democracy. This leads US to
inquire: (Which is the greater incentive
to virtue, the fear of punishment or the
hope of reward?"
If peace is not made between Russia