Daily Arizona silver belt., 1908-09-11
THE COUNTRY WILL BE SAFE

THE COUNTRY WILL BE SAFE
 Senator Daniel of Virginia is quoted
 in the Philadelphia Press as saying that
 he is "one of ':hose men who believe
 that. no matter which candidate is elect.
 cd, the United States will continue in it's growth and influence among all na-
 tions' The Virginia senator is going
 to take the stamp for Bryan, yet he is
 broad-minded enough to recognize that
 the republican nominee has ample qual.
 ifcations for the presidency, and that
 the country will be safe under either
 Taft or Bryan.
 That is a sensible view to take of the political situation. Possibly the preva-
 lence of 1t accounts in some measure for
 the apathetic character of the campaign
 thus far. If so, the country is to be congratulated. We have had enough of dire predictions concerning our national fate in the event of the election of the other fellow. The country has been
 going to the dogs ever since Washing toms first administration, yet it has
 been true all along that we have con- tinued to grow and flourish no matter which candidate was elected. Few na- tional elections have really changed the course of events, and it is easy to see that one is not epochal. Partisans who attempt to demonstrate that with Taft at the helm the counry would accelerate its careering course toward an empire, or that in the event of Bryan's election the wheels of industry would stop and the business of supplying material wants cease, will have harder time than usual, We think, in making their argu. ments convincing. Nor are they likely to be more successful in compelling voters to believe that Bryan would bo reckless and unsafe, or that Taft would sell out to the trusts. The sober judg- ment of the people will tell them that the elevation to the presidency of an honest and sincere man, no matter what his political persuasion, does not neces. sarily spell disaster, public or private.
 That is not to say that it is of no what a candidate believes in or what doctrines his party professes. In this campaign, however, the differ cnces between the opposing parties, though real and significant, are not sui ficiently broad and vital to arouse strong animosities or to stir deeply the hearts and consciences of men. They do not go to the roots of our national existence. Thus statesman like Senator Daniel may be found supporting MT. Bryan, of whose political creed he does not alto gether approve, yet feeling certain that no harm will come to the country by MT. Bryan's election, while he is equal. | ly sure that no calamity will befaI should MT. Taft succeed t othe presi- | dency. Besides the want of sharply definite dividing line between parties, It should be remembered that the presi- l dency is not, in spite of all this talk 1 about executive usurpation, an al-pow srful office.
 A capital error of those who are fear Sul of the success of the opposing can hdate is the tacit assumption that the president is sort of dictator, so that he nay do about what he chooses. He is, 'f course, nothing of the sort. His pow ITS are tremendous, but they are hedged bout with effective checks. A bad president might be able to do great ieal of mischief, but he could not ruin he country. He might blunder, but he ould not infict irreparable damage on he body polite. But we have never lad a wicked president, and we are not n any likelihood of acquiring one this all The ordinary citizen may with onfdence feel that there is no ground whatever for apprehension as to the out ome Of the presidential election. Who yer wins, the nation will continue on Is triumphant way.
 When young Theodore Roosevelt Rev.