Los Angeles herald., 1908-06-28
THE ISSUES

IF THE Republican campaign Is to
be conducted on lines indicated
- in Republican editorials and in
special dispatches from Lincoln, where
Republican reporters are stationed for
tons, it will be feeble substitute for
square fight and the Republican can
didate won't have 1.-THE ghost OF a
show" This is to be a campaign of
principles. The interests of Ameri-
car1ism are at stake. The country has
been allowed to drift away from its
original intention. It was established
in order to promote the happiness and
prosperity OF human beings, and the
greatest good for the greatest num-
Der was its declared aim.
The Republican platform indicates
not the slightest intention on the part
of the party to undo the wrongs OF a
decade OF property administration and
replace it by a flesh and blood adj
ministration. There Is nothing In the
Republican platform to indicate that
relief Is In sight, or even that a reform
Of the abuses OF American liberty,
which have increased pauperism and
produced illiteracy in the United
States, is contemplated. The point of
view taken by some of our contempo-
raries that the governmental welfare
of the United States depends solely on
the personality OF the chief executive
lie all Nh
must be a man OF character and abil-
ity. but there are upward of ninety
million American citizens, and we do
not believe any one of them has ever
seriously suggested that a dictatorship
should take the place of the present
form OF government. Mr.. Bryan, IL
elected president, will most undoubt-
eddy carry out a program indicated by
the Democratic platform. Mr.. Taft,
IL elected, will feel In honor bound to
carry out the program and intentions
of the Republican platform. Therefore
to say he will continue to put Roose-
welt policies into effect is incorrect.
He might do SO IL dictatorship were
It is not conceivable, however, that
the Republicans will allow him to
carry out Roosevelt's reform policies.
Indeed, IL the greater Republican in
terests for one minute thought he
would really take up Roosevelt's work
and disregard their platform they
would help defeat him. But If it is
rather inane to talk about what Taft
will do when we recall passages in
that reactionary and repellent docu-
ment, the Republican platform, it is
equally foolish to assail Mr.. Bryan's
personality and talk as If HE were
to run for the office of dictator of
the United States, without regard to
platform or principle. From a patri-
otic point of view the Democratic pro
gram is much better than the Republi-
can. Democracy will be pledged to a
restoration OF Americanism. The Re-
publican party is pledged to a perpet-
uation of interests. Four years more
of Republicanism will be a direct in
vitation and appeal to Socialism, an
experiment which. whatever. be its
final result, would temporarily turn
the country upside down and cause
(although without bloodshed) a cata-
clysm which would have all the effect
of a revolution. Are we prepared for
that? Is our country great enough
and strong enough to withstand the
force OF such a cataclysm?
To say, as Republican contempt
rary has said. that Bryan is a pre-
tender, is, in our belief, a form of
folly which, If persisted in, must have
serious consequences for it's victims.
A man who has nailed his flag to the
Flagstaff and is gathering about him
an ever-increasing army Is a general
and a leader; but his generalship and
leadership would not count for much
were it not for the fact that behind
him and them are the two greatest
safeguards ever devised-the one to
guard the rights of man, the other to
inspire him to higher life and deeds:
THE CONSTITUTION OF THE
UNITED STATES AND AMERICAN
ISM!