Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1907-09-05
A STUDY IN POLITICS.

bSOg ~ - NeoN w oSS WAos " kAN'N NHeaS
has taken place.. Especially is this true
with reference to the controlling in
fiuences of the Republican party. II,
when Bryan was beaten in 1896, or 1900,
person had predicted that the party
then triumphant would in so short a
time have gone so far in the direction OF
radicalism, he would have been set down
as unworthy of attention.
The campaign of 1896 was remarkable
no more for the clear-cut issues il then
drew than for the tendencies ii foreshad-
owed. The Democratic party, throwing
its old Bourbonism to the winds, set sail
on an untried sea, with new politics and
new leaders. So startling was the trans
formation and so striking its program
that the party itself suffered disruption,
and the country drew back alarmed.
Free coinage Of silver, though the chief,
was by no means the only, issue OF mo-
ment. The Democratic platform and its
candidates bore on their face what was
interpreted as an assault on prosperity
and an attack on property itself. The
same condition was repeated in 1900,
with the same result. The country chose
the safe and sane conservatism OF the Re
publican party, rather than the danger
Gus policies subscribed to by its oppo-
nents.
So passed history up to the time OF Nc
Kinley's death. Roosevelt succeeded
him, and for time observed the program
laid down, which was largely of let
alone, stand-pat order, basking in the
light of the prosperity that had come
along. But Roosevelt could not long en-
dure supineness, and was soon busy in
advocating such changes and reforms SIS
came to his notice, promising better
ment of conditions. Nor was it long be-
fore he led the way out of the old beaten
path onto new ground, not even stopping
when he discovered that by following out
his ideas he sometimes camped by the en-
bers of his political adversary. The un-
paralleled prosperity had brought in its
wake abuses and corruption that he
deemed it his duty to blot out. Some
times the remedies resembled those for
merly advocated by Bryan no matter, if
they were good he did not reject them on
that account. And Roosevelt has drawn
his party-once the sheet anchor of con-
servatism-after him until it now finds
itself committed to policies from which it
would ten years ago have drawn back in
alarm. II the next national convention
endorses his administration and promises
a continuance of its work-as it surely
will do, whoever are named as candidates
it will stand for a program almost as
radical as Bryan stood for in 1900. II
must favor an early revision of the tar
iff, government control of railways and
corporations, the strict enforcement of
the most stringent laws to prevent cor
porate abuses, and much else that for
merly the party was content either to op-
pose or to make some merely academic
declaration upon. Indeed, the Demo
cratic party, declaring that Roosevelt has
stolen its thunder, will be quite hard
pressed to adopt more vigorous policy
than its opponent, without going to an
extreme that would mean defeat and
ruin.
Now while to the president should be
given the credit-if credit it is-of taking
the lead in this great change, be has by
no means done it all, alone. He has
simply taken the course which a man OF
courage, patriotism and good judgment
should have taken in the midst of cond;.
lions that have existed. During the past
five years much has become known that
was hitherto unknown. The revelation.
concerning the great life insurance com
panies, concerning the Standard Oil com
pany, concerning the great railway man
agements, and concerning high finance
generally, with the depth of infamy ant
extortion unfolded, have opened the pub
lie mind to vista quite new. He would
be dolt who, at the head of the nation
the leader OF great party, would remain
silent or inactive in the face of what ha,
come to the front. Action of the mos
vigorous kind has been demanded, anc
Roosevelt is not the man to shirk. Gree
and rottenness, in high places as well a
low, require checking. The people ar
alive to it, and will give their votes an,
support to the party and candidates tina
promise relief and protection. Had th
Republican party remained tied to it's oil
moorings and not been led to battle il
: the current by a Roosevelt, what an op
|, portunity would have here opened for tn
/ Democracy! As it is, there seems none