The Idaho recorder. [volume] (Salmon City, Idaho) 1886-1927, 1907-05-30
Republican Statesmen Now Ad-
visin9 Democrats WHAT Kind
Of Platform to Adopt.

IL is interesting TO read the advice
which republicans are now giving 10 !
the democrats. 1t recalls the early I
months OF 1904. The democratic
party was at that time the recipient
of great deal of unsolicited advice
from republicans, aud 1t was all along
the same line. The democrats were
assured that their defeats were at
tributable To radicalism and that
they could strengthen their party by
return TO conservative doctrines.
They were not promised victory, OF
course not. but the republican editors
were 80 anxious to have a strong,
virile organization to light that we
were assured that the republican
party was becoming careless because
IL had no effective opposition ard
that II would really be good for the
country to have the democratic party |
almost, but not quite, strong enough |
To win a victory. II would keep the |
republican party on It's good behay-
ior, make IL careful about its con-
duet, etc. This kind OF advice was
given in unstinted measure, and 1t
| was followed. We had an eminently
respectable candidate; be had the
confidence OF the business interests,
aud his campaign was conducted up
on thoroughly conservative lines, and
then the republicans sat back and
laughed at the success OF their
scheme rs they counted up Il major
ity almost too large for figures.
Now the same game Is being uied
again. The republican editors are
again pleading Tor the democratic
party; they are weeping over It's sup
pusSS decreptitude. Well, IL Is bad
enough for the republican editors TO
advise us. There Is possibly some
excuse for them. The president Is
not taking their advice IN the man
agemcnt OF the republican party, and
} they feel that they are entitled TO ad-
wise some organization, but IL Is add
ing Insult 10 injury to have advice
! from General Charles II, Grosvenor
!, "the sage Of Athens rs the Cincin'
natl Enquirer calls him. The En-
luirer found him at the Sinton hotel,
lie picked out a democratic candi
} date gave him boast. Here is
sample OF his advice
There is no way under heaven and
, among men whereby this countr,
win trust the democratic party agaii
With power Ia all the branches OF th'
government, until there Is radica
reformation In the principles Of th'
party and the personnel OF Its leaders
What good would come OF carrying
the southern states for a democrati'
candidate In 1908 with such accidental
!, victories In other states as Nigh
possibly occurY The great body o
the electorate Is dead against th'
democratic party as IL stanfs today
a and IL must have guarantee o
principle and not guarantee OF op
. poftnnity.
a GLOW In better result to b
). brought aboutY A republican OF un
!. falterIna faith In bis party, and
!. lack OF faith In the democratic party
ought not, perhaps, 10 give any ad
vice, and surely bis advice will no
n be counted as OF any value by ou
democratic friends. Nevertheless, !
would he the part OF Wisdom for tli
democratic party 10 turn It's back w
y on the past, with a single statemen
TO the people OF the country as fol
/. lows: We have tried number G
experiments and they have failed
n We will now retreat from the disoi
y der OF the sklrmish line, which ha
been so fatal TO us on so many occa
y sious, and fall back to the interlo
oi line Of democratic ideas, principle
and history. We will demand tia
er the politics OF the ancient democracy
ID so far m they are applicable toda'
stall Ire adopted ss the cardinal prir
/. ciplcs of latter day democracy.
is shall have those fundamental ides
reiterated, the abandonment I
Id which has led US 50 far into the wl
ir derness OF defeat and demoralikatioi
We will enact a platform enbody Ia
ID democratic principles We will adoi
4. democratic ideas upon every lisir
En topic Of today's politics and We vi
ask the people Of this country 20 r
y. trace their steps from the condition
Elk OF the present and cast anchor aga
a. In the deep water upon the safe al
chorage OF democratic ideas
~ let the democratic party do ia
BE aud then let them name a democra
cb a man whose record Is not all none
he comled ~ith the taint Of mode
radicalism, aud let them rally Il
~
"a C~A-A &s-