Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1906-04-19
TIE COMMENTATOR.

IHE COMMENTATOR.
Under our form of government. in wiach |
parties play so conspicuous q part, there |
is as great reliance upon the minority as |
upon the majority. In theory the party /
which Is out stands an excellent chance (
of being in If IL will maintain proper !
principles and give evidences of sincere /
purpose to carry them out The history
OF republican institutions teaches that
continued and unchallenged power by
any party or faction breeds arrogance and
insolence, and the presumption is that
the people having their remedy will exer-
else It,
But most situations in lie are complex
There Is no doubt chat the leaders oil the
national Republican party are drunk with
power and have come to regard sug-
gestions as to reform in policy as im-
pertinenoe. Yet the people can hardly
ind their remedy in that party which
was but is not; which is split into factions
and which seems to have no conception
OF any line of sane conduct If the ques-
tion of moderate tariff reform were sub
mtted TO the Republican voters there is
hardly a question that "A majority would
bc found favorable TO the reform. Yet
those IN Congress who are in sympathy
with the industries which demand an
enormous and indecent profit, are safe
in refusing tariff legislation, because they
feel that the voters have no remedy. Were
the minority party harmonious, unitcdly
standing for "A definite tariff policy, the
Republican leaders would act with more
circumspection.
There was never more brutal and in
sulting doctrine preached than that which
WIS given to the world by Mark Hanna
stand pat" In the FIRST place, il is
a gambler S term, and may mean that the
cards have been stacked or that bluff is
expected to win. Ii is not the term that
reason delights in, and il expresses no
consideration for those who dissent. Yet
the doctrine contained in that phrase has
obtained in the Republican party since
Mr.. Hanna s death In an earlier day
the party boasted of it's progressive spirit
and claimed that Democracy dwelt In the
graveyards but q stand pat policy, too
suggests graveyards
Nobody pretends that the conditions
which obtained when the Dingley schedules
were framed remain unchanged. Many
industries are selling their products abroad
far cheaper than at home. II pays Ainer-
can dealers to buy American goods in
foreign markets, TO ship them back across
the ocean; for even then they can under
sell those who buy direct from the manu-
iacturors. One doesn't have Go be a Re
publican or a Democrat to realize that
there is something radically wrong, and
unless he is an imbecile he will place the
responsibility on tariff schedules in which
tariff protection has run mad.
True, party men will hold up their
hands in horror at the criticism of the
party especially from one who is pre-
sumod TO be affiliated with IL. and this
impresses anew that the people of this
country have transferred the doctrine
of the "divine right" from kings to po-
litical parties. The very ground on which
the foundations of this republic we're laid
are denied so far as they apply to the
right and duty of an individual 10 vote
as his judgment and his conscience die
tate. There is the assumption that the
party owns the individual and can
| command his allegiance for any policy,
In the last few years, despite this arro-
CANT and narrow view, q spirit of inde-
dependence has developed and has swept
machines in many States away. But the
movement did not touch Delaware. We
had the need but it did not grow into a
demand We watched the rottenness OF
| Pennsylvania, New York, Missouri and
Ohio uncovered and conditions purified
and we applauded; but we shuddered a
| little lest the sentiment of reform should
| spread among us and ieopardize our own
sacred rottenness. And possibly we shall
now have our illustration of the virtue
that lies in persistent and undismayec
rascality. Somebody has started a cry
| against the use of the "muck rake" We
/ are told with fine show of indignation
| that the general and indiscriminate eX-
| posure of corrupt methods and corrupt
/ persons is getting unpleasant and that
| the public is entitled to a respite. Besides
/ who knows but that some very good per
sons are being traduced.
This line of argument is not the cry o.
| grafters. but is exceedingly comforting
| to them There was never a movement
Z for the betterment of conditions thai
didn't meet with either the indifference
or the antagonism OF persons who deslrl
peace moro than they do decency They
are good citizens in way; and this make
their influence formidable, but they Away
| manage to give comfort to intrencheC
rascallty We have an example Of thi
in the non-partisan anti-bribery move
ment. Ii was surprising how many nice
respectable gentlemen took occasion L
tell the public their reasons for not join
ing such a movement. They outnum
bered those who found reasons for thu
movement.
In all progressive movements th
stumbling block is not altogethe
ignorance; Il is not oriminality; il j
mental or moral dishonesty and a dis
position to regard as hypocrites all VIII
want to pull the old wagon out O
the rut; il is combination of cynicisn
and jealousy that acts as a wet blanke
ON an honest enthusiasm. We shall hea
"a great deal of the muck rake. and ever.
time rascal is exposed, or bank loote
and reported "A swindle in insurance circles
we shall hear muck rakeW and that wi
be regarded as equivalent to a complet
defence.
The President has given us a lecture o.
the muck rake. We must not charg
him with desire 20 discourage attack
on corruption and corruptors yet we AT
inclined 60 think that persons will &c
comfort out of il who arc entitled to n
comfort. and that every time justice get
too hot on the scent of a political scam
he will turn and snar out muck rake,