Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1906-11-21
UNITE THE PARTY.

controversy which has been going on
within the republican party, began to
make appeals to party men in behalf
of the integrity of the organization.
1t was pointed out that the republican
party as an organization meant great
deal at the present time, that it had
become the only coherent political,
body in the countryside sole instru-
mentality for the accomplishment of
positive things, says the Cedar Rapids
Republican.
There was ample justification for
such appeals. The republican party
is today the only political party in
America capable of carving out
positive policy. The democratic
party has gone to pieces. 1t is more
distracted today than it ever was
before. The national party is i'm
minently in danger of becoming the
mere creature of Hearst after the
manner of the democratic party in
the state of New York. 1t has been
demonstrated that even Mr.. Bryan can
not unite the discordant elements of
the democratic party.
1t has been said in these columns
and We repeat it now, that it is un-
fortunate for the country that such is
the case. The ideal political condi-
tion is to have at least two political
parties, each under competent leader.
ship, each standing for a definite set
Of principles and policies, neither of
which are revolutionary nor destruc-
tive. Under such conditions the vic.
tory OF neither party is menace to
good order or property. 1t is unfor-
tunate, we say, that the republican
party is today the only constructive
party in America, the only party
which can guarantee anything like
stability. How infinitely worse then
would be the condition of the country
should this, party, rent by internal
strife become so divided in its councils
as to be likewise incapable of con-
structive craftsmanship. The republi-
can party can easily be brought into
just such state, unless wise counsels
r'rryail. Here in Iowa we have Had
five years of strife and it has been
increasing in bitterness all the time.
The appeals for harmony and unity
of action to which reference is made
above were at least partially success
full. Not all that ought to have been
saved was saved, but there ought now
to. be general effort everywhere to
continue these appeals. The republic
can party in Iowa will be exactly like
the degenerate sons of worthy sire,
who upon coming into their in
teritance waste their patrimony, if
they continue to quarrel to the de-
struction of the organization. No
doubt there will be effort made to
continue the work of destruction.
There are for example certain news
papers calling themselves independent,
but which might better be called
guerillas, whose chief end is to create
discord. They are never so happy as,
when the forces of destruction are
busy. They thrive ON that sort of
thing and therefore they seek to pro-
mote it. But such newspapers have
no right to speak for the republican
party. They never stood by the or
ganlzation in crisis and they never
will. They are ready at all lines to
laugh at any calamity that may come
upon the organization. They would be
pleased beyond the power to express
themselves if they could bring about
a state of affairs where no organiza-
tion stood for anything definite.
They reason that the more things are
in the air the better it is for them.
But things never prosper when
everything is in the air. Nothing
that amounts to much can go on under
uncertain conditions. Business de.
mands stability, fixedness of purpose,
definiteness.
We have ample room in this state
for one republican party. There is
not room for two. Many letters have
been received at this office since the
campaign ended and all Of them ex-
press sentiments something like this,
81 never saw such campaign as
this has been and may we never see
another like it." Every republican
should say amen to this sentiment.
The newspaper or the individual
that persists in nagging now is not
true friend to the republican party.
Ahead of us lies 1908 and across the
pathway of the future falls the
shadow of the greatest and most
irresponsible distructionist America
has ever seen. His hope lies in the
distracted, divided republican party.
He has helped to destroy the dem
ocracy. III he can witness the destruc-
ton of the republican party his sue
cess will be assured.
Better subscribe for Public
Opinion now for 1907 and get it free
until Jan. lst.