The Washington herald., 1908-08-24
POLITICAL COMMENT.

papers find grace TO praise Mr.. Bryan
for his Des Moines speech. The New
York Sun, which has been rather bitter
in its opposition TO AIr. Bryan. says
in his tariff speech at Des Moines
yesterday Mr. Bryan pointed out and dis
cussed that astonishing declaration Of
the Republican platform 20 which the
Sun early called the attention of anna
teurs Of political absurdity.
In al tariff legislation the true principle Of pro
lection IS lest maintained by the imposition q such
duties viz equal the difference b~twcen the cost
Of production al home and abroad together with
reasonable Iroht % American Industries
Here for the first time in history. if
memory serves US. is distinctly announced
the doctrine that one ot the functions of
the general taxing power of the Federal
government is 20 collect from the tax
payers money with which 10 guarantee
[ a reasonable profit to the manufacturer
/ Mr. Bryan asks with fine affect&tion
[ OF innocent thirst for knowledge. what
constitutes a 'reasunab BILE profit. and why
{ II it is due from the government 20 these
particular citizens Il is rot due likewise
70 citizens engaged in other occupations.
! 1t would be unfair not 10 recognize
| the moderation Of language. the apparent
candor Of tone. the dir-ctness and suavity
Of statement and the clearuess Of argu-
ment which distinguish this and other
| recent addresses OF Mr. Bryan from the
often frenzied rhetoric Of his earlier
productions"
The New York Tribune points out what
might happen If Bryan was elected It
says.
THE argument IS often heard in New
York that Mr.. Bryan as President. with
a Republican Senate would have his
l hands tied and would be pJwerless 10
follow his radical incIiEatfons. Doubt
l less such a situation might prevent the
enactment into law of his more danger
ous policies. The creation Of q special
injunction exempt labor class might be
blocked. The paternalistic government
/ guarantee Of bank deposits might also
fail HIS plan for the E-i-Tal licensing
Of the trusts could perhaps not Poe car
ried out And a sort Of inpassa might
exist preventing the development OF pro-
gressive legislation. All this, Of course
provided that the radical Republican Sen
ators who are now increasing i'm number
did not before the end Of his term hold
the balance OF power and WELD e. In sup
port Of Mr. Bryan. and provided also
that the election Of the Democratic can
tdi3ate was not Interpreted as 50 strong
ls public demand for some Of his policies
a. TO break down Republican opposition
20 them"
The St Louis Post-Dispatch makes Nj
ShermaU's acceptance speech tHe text for
an editorial in which it says
The overshadowinz issue OF the cam
, paign.' says Mr- sherman. really IS.
Shall the administration Of President
Roosevelt De approved2'
since Il has been G5sapproved more or
less violently by EIessrs. AIdrl1l. Cannon
| Foraker, Hartman, and other great and
% little lights Of RepublCauisn. it IS not
apparent why the Republican candidate
3 for the Wee Presidency tlrusts e. for
ward with so much uuction es the bore
Of contention with the Democrats
3 II the election of 1Tr. Taft resiIy
{ means four years more OF RooseveltisIu
. how much viii M Hartman and h.s
b. patriotic friends contribute t0 the slusi
. fund.- II the bull i1 the china shop IS not
90 be turned out they won't care q
guarantee the safety II the china"
To- The ST Louis Republic points @ Il,
10 Republican use Of money ia quarters be
- lieved 10 De doubtful. and It thinks tha
s il New York things are not going 20 turI
p ogt weu for AIr Taft. II says
r. Predictions as O. results have Iittu
y value. November Is nearly three month.
o away. and a hundred things may bsppcI
81 10 change matters before election day ar
- / rives- Nevertheless the Republican pres
u IS having a joyful time in rolling th
p prophecies Of such papers as the Gin
p CInnati Enquirer under its tongue. Tr
7. Enquirer predicts thar things iu tie Wes
p viii not turn out well for Bryan
Tt Is much more sensible 90 say rhe
= things VIII not turn out well for Taf
y In New York At the last election Nay
z York was Democratic. Hughes was th
one ~RepubICau elected Tauuluy Wa
never better organized than now. TIL
Democrats were never more militant an
confident Where there is Democrat ti
3 harmony in the state there is RepubIica
II disseustoD.
N -'R0osevelts hatred of Hughes Ia
u turned the organization against the gov
b. ercor- He has been ignored and i1
suited. Il the machine has its way.
: Will not be renominated- He is too &c
q cent and honest FOR the New York RI
10 publicans. They hate him because b
Y has impaired thej- Eraft. put the gam
>, blers 20 rout and insisted on honesty. nc
q, as a moral pTesChment that soUude
: we'll but as a rule Of practical conduct
= II Hughes IS nominated and the Demo
!, Gratis choose a good candidate. VI
= BTyau's prospects viii be far from hopa
!. less in New York
How confident the Republicans are p
the West Is indicated by the manner ID
=, which the campaign fund IS being pouie,
= into Missouri. and probably into the 0tle
States Why should Republican uue.
be sent into Missouri unless the pu-os
IS TO corrupt the votersg--
The Philadelphia Press points out tha
pr the Des Moines speech Is marred hy n
p extravagances or weaknesses. Il s2ys.
IS Mr. Bryan's tariff speech yes-erda
= vas in his best manner. The lucid. ten
ls perate. expositOry treatment OF tie oil
n subject recalls his first success on III
II national stage. when he and Others Wsr
e reading Henry Gorge and disclosing III
10 tariff in the House Of Representative
n In the Des 8Ioinss speech yesterday q
ab was even more moderate Of eNIressic
O. than he was in the winter OF 1892
g As a controversiaIist he Is entitled {
es the privilege Of bringing 20 the witnes
stand men who are opposing him for th
Presidency: for instance Nr. Mills. q
the National Association o. NanUfaJ
tUrers It IS not philosophy, sat it is IA
politics.
: Admirers who look for rovelties. eP
grams. and phrases Will nCt include rh
Is Des Moines speech amorg the grea
a Bryan Efforts but enemies VINO hunt Il
D / extravaEances and weakr eSses will Z
ch equally disappointed. Tie speech is acui
or but diEnified. II Is calm f0rcible fair an
N. effective. The tariff is not the first lssu
is in this campaign. sine the Republican
50 promise 20 do about zIl for revision ths
ty the Democrats could do If It were Il
central Issue. Mr. Brvau's treatmeI
could be commended SO highly by prote'
~ar.---r1-g I'd