The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1907-07-20


cry decision. Judgments of courts are
necessarily highly tempered by the
character of the men who happen to
be judges and by the public feeling and
sentiment of the times. If these
thoughts are kept in mind the public
confidence in the, American judicature
WATTERsoN ON THE SITUATION.
A great deal is being said just now
about Henry Watterson's dark horse.
The veteran Democrat says that he
has in mind Democrat who can unite
the party and that he will divulge the
name of that Democrat to Mr.. Bryan
at any time the latter asks for the
information. Some of us have thought
that perhaps our own Governor is the
man whom Watterson has in view
When the great Kentucky editor
speaks seriously his statements are of
great Importance. Because of his rad
ical ideas and his forceful way of ex-
pressing them the attempt has long
been made to create laugh about
what he says and does. Perhaps this
tendency is due to the jealousy of edi-
tors who can neither think nor write
as well as the editor of the Courier
Journal
Mr. Watterson's views at this time
should have weight with the Demo-
cratic party. He is the last one Of
that group of great editors who dur
ing the time Immediately preceding
the war and the years that succeeded
moulded and directed public opinion
He has always been a Democrat, but
he never allowed his PARTISAN feeling
to interfere with his patriotism. AL
though he has often been mentioned
as candidate and there are many
who think he would now be an avail
able candidate. it is safe to say that
he entertains no such ambition He is
undoubtedly satisfied in conducting the
editorial page of the paper which has
so long been the leading mouthpiece Of
the South and in passing his spare
time in travel. His fighting days are
over and consequently his views to
those who must fight the battles of
the present and the future should be
of special Importance He was the
first Southerner who fought in the
Confederate ranks to take up the
work of peace making. He stood in
the reconstruction days almost alone
among Southerners against the green
back craze and in favor of the pro-
lection of the national credit. He had
more to do than any other one man
with making Samuel j. Tilden the
standard bearer Of the Democratic
party. He presided at the convention
that nominated Tiden and did more
than any other man to elect him and
if other leading Democrats had done
as much as Mr.. Watterson, Tilden
would have been president instead Of
Hayes. He was the father of the tariff
platform of the Democratic party, the
author of the tariff for-revenue-o only
writing of Democratic platforms from
1876 to 1892 than any other man. Dur
ing the last forty years he has been
the single great Southerner to whom
the North would listen.
Now that he still takes an active
interest in the Democratic party and
at his ripe age ana with his great ex-
perience offers serious advice, it should
be listened to with attention. He says
he wants to see one more Democratic
president before he dies. He says that
the tariff and trust question should be
the two chief issues Of the Democrats.
Back to the Constitution" is his
slogan. He does not think Mr.. Bryan
should be the candidate again. although
he comedies that no one can be elect
ed without the support of the Ne
braskan. He admires Mr.. Bryan and
would do all in his power to elect him
If again nominated, but for the good
of Mr. Bryan and the Democratic party.
he advises the nomination of another
man. The name of that man he re-
fuses to divulge except to Mr. Bryan
himself. His objection to Mr.. Bryan
is not so much on account Of the views
held by that gentleman as on account
of the obstacles in the way of elect
ing him.
Those in politics." he says, like
generals in the field, must win VIC
tories. not lose them. Neither politics
nor war may be what is called an ex-
act science. but neither is quite en-
piric. In the presence of the voters,
the party leader can quite as little