Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1908-02-05
Patriotism md snoi,n.


The controversy amongst Republi-
cans for the presidential nomination
is not so much for individuals, or pol
icies. but for spells. There ia, of
course, the natural ambition Of indi-
viduals TO be considered; but under
meath that is the more important ques-
ton of the issues that the Republican
party will be bound for, and which fac
tion shall distribute the offices. The
question, therefore, of what individual
Will be nominated is not of 50 much
consequence as which faction he will
represent. If Secretary Taft, or Sena-
tor La Toilette is nominated he will
be supposed to carry out the Roosevelt
policies.s If Speaker Cannon. or Fair
banks, or Foraker, or Knox is nomin-
ated, the Roosevelt policies will be
placed in cold storage and the old Re
publican machine and methods MS rep
resented by the Mckinley administra-
ton will be on top again.
1t Will not make much difference to
the people, but 1t will make vast
difference to the Republican politicians
which faction wins out, for all the vast
patronage of the United States gov.
eminent Is at stake. The Congression-
al elections will have much more effect
upon measures than who is to exc
cute them. Any Republican Congress
will be bound to the policy of con-
tinued tariff protection, and even if
Roosevelt should be reelected, by any.
unlocked for turn of the political
wheel, his administration would be
again bound, as it has since he was
first ipaugurated, to protect the trusts
about as they now are protected by the
tariff, although show of tariff revls-
ion might be attempted.
The panic has so scared President
Roosevelt and his faction that no fur
ther addition to the rate regulation law
can be expected, and, of course, If the
other faction should succeed, the rail-
roads would soon be running things in
the old rut. The financial issue will
under either faction be settled in the
interest Of the national banks, and
ship-subsidy and eXtravagant appro-
priations would proceed as heretofore.
1t is not very inviting prospect to
the people, harried as they are by BUSH
ness depression, and Republican
panic, which the administration was
unable to prevent by I'LL the power of
the United States treasury. The gen
era! lack of confidence in the Republic
can party and its politicians will he
made more acute IL the business condi-
tions do not mend before election, and
there is every evidence that the coun-
try will require time before another
business boom can be attempted. Thus
outside Of the Republican politicians
who expect to profit by the public plum
der, the ordinary Republican citizen
will hardly enthuse over compaign
that promises nothing of advantage to
him whichever faction is successful.
With the Independent Republican voter
1t will rather be, a plague upon both
your houses. That the Democrats will
profit by the lack of interest that many
Republicans are certain to display is
matter that cannot be settled until the
conventions are held and the ,nspec-
tive champions selected have decla..
their purposes. The question Of mo-
ment is, can the Democrats unite on
candidate who will consolidate the
party, and thus take advantage OF the
divisions that harass their opponents?