Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-06-17
REPUBLICAN PARTY
HAS NEVER FAILED

CONTINUED from First PageD
principles which brought the party into
existence and to the spirit which has in
spired it from its birth. We faced seces-
sion rather than assent to the extension
OF slavery. Rather than submit to Sc
cesSion We took up the dread burden of
civil war. But a few years ago we per-
mitted thousands of republicans to leave
us. thereby imperiling our political power
rather than abandon the gold standard
and plunge the country into disaster and
diShOnor.
In these latest years. in the most
remote, we have been true to our tradi-
tons. In the process of development q
point was reached where the country was
confronted by a situation more perilous
than any it has ever faced. except in the
civil war. and we republicans were. there
fore. obliged to deal with problems OF the
most complex and difficult character.
ITO our honor, be it said. we have not
shrunk from the task. Much has been
done-much. no doubt. still remains to
debut the great underlying principles
have been established and upon them we
can build. as necessity arises, carefully
and deliberately.
Seriousness of Situation.
5 II have spoken of the seriousness Of the
situation with which the country was con-
estimated. 1t grew out Of conditions
and was the result of forces beyond the
control of men. Science and invention.
the two great factors in this situation.
have not only altered radically human en-
yironment and our relations to nature,
but. in their application, they have revolu-
tionized economic conditions. These
changed economic conditions have, in turn,
affected profoundly society and politics.
They have led. among other things. to
combinations of capital and labor on
scale and with a power never before wit
messed. They have opened the way to ac-
cumuations of wealth in masses beyond
the dreams of avarfce and never before
contemplated by men.
The social and political problems thus
created are wholly new. 1t Is fallacy to
suppose that because the elements are old
the problem itself must. therefore. differ
only in degree from those which have
gone before. The elements may be old.
but the problem presented by a change in
the proportion of the elements may be.
and in this case is, entirely new.
Individual Fortunes Old.
Great individual fortunes and rich men
Nearly 1000 years ago the tax farmers OF
Rome formed a trust for their own profit
and protection; the English people, three
centuries ago. revolted against the patents
and monopolies granted by Elizabeth and
James to their courtiers, and monopOlists
forestallers and spectators in the neces-
stiles OF life were curse I'm our rcvolu-
ton and bitterly denounced by Washing
ton. Yet. 1t Is none the less true that the
same things today present questions diff
ferent in kind as we'll as in degree from
their predecessors.
1T is the huge size of private fortunes.
the vast extent and power OF modern COM
binattons of capital. made possible by
present conditions, which have brought
portentous in their possibilities. and
threatening not only our social and pO-
litical welfare. but even our personal free
dom, II they are not boldly met and wisely
solved.
Have No Base Envy.
THE great body of the American people,
neither very rich nor very poor the hon.
est, the thrifty the hard-working the men
and women who earn and save. have no
base envy-ro fanatic hatred of wealth.
whether individual or corporate, if il has
been honestly gained and is wisely and
generously employed with sense of re-
sponsibility to the public. But this great
body OF our people, by habit and instinct
alike wisely conservative, these people,
who are the bone and sinew of our coun-
Try and upon whom its fortunes and tits
SAFETY rest, began TO observe. with deep
alarm. the recent manifestations of the
new economic conditions More and more
they came To believe that these vast for
tunes and these huge combinations of cap
ttal were formed and built up by tortuous
and dishonest means, and through Gym
ical disregard of the very laws which the
mass Of the people were compelled to
obey. They began 10 fear that political
power was being reft from their hands
and put into the possession of the money
holders: that their dearest rights were in
danger: that their hopes of success and
advancement were cut off by business sys-
TENS which they could not understand
by which the individual was sacrificed
and held down.
ITO those who looked beneath the sur-
face an ominous unrest was apparent
The violent counsels of violent men
who aimed at the destruction of property
and the overthrow of law began to be
heard and hardened to. The great order
loving. Industrious masses of the Ameri-
can people turned away from these advo-
Gates of violence. but. at the same time.
demanded that their government should
give them. in lawful and reasonable
ways. the protection to which they were
entitled. against the dangers they Justly
apprehended.
FulAlling Righteous Demands.
THE great duty of fulfilling these right
eous demands. like all the great public
services of the last half century. was i'm
posed upon the republican party, and they
have not finched from the burden. I'm
der the lead Of the President. the repub-
lican party has grappled with the new
problems. born of the new conditions II
has been no light task. Dangerous ex-
tremes threatened on either hand. On the
one side were the radicals of reaction,
who resisted any change at alton the
other side were the radicals of destruction
who wished to change everything. These