Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1908-09-23
REPUBLICAN NOMINEES.
Forward or Backward?

Forward or Backward?
The real question involved in the
political campaign to-day is essen
italy whether the people desire party
in power which does things to enhance
the credit of the nation and develop
its economic resources. or whether 1t
desires party which only harps and
scavils at things done. An opposition
party has its uses, and in many cases
1t il fortunate that there should be
seesaw in the possession OF power.
The past twelve years, however,
have been years OF remarkable events
in this country. They have opened
the door to an expansion Of influence
and power abroad such as has not
come to the United States for several
generations. At home also they have
witnessed the creation and carrying
ont of great body of constructive
policies by President Roosevelt, which
Mr.. Taft is pledged to continue.
To dismiss the republican party at
tho present time from the seat Of au-
thority would be to turn the hand
backward upon the clock of national
progress. The election Of MIR. Bryan,
with the continuance Of a great repub.
lican majority in the Senate, would
mean q deadlock between the White
House and Congress, persistent play
ing of politics 1t Warrington, and .
complete arrest of all the broad re-
forms and progressive steps which
have been accomplished or inaugur-
Ated during the past twelve years.
Even President Cleveland, sturdy
democrat As he was, recognized that
fact that the acquisition of thu. Philip
pines was a fact accomplished and
that even in the Hawaiian Islands,
which were abandoned by his author
ity, the duty was now imposed upon
the United States of carrying out
with q firm hand the task which they
had undertaken.
The resolute policies which Mr.. Hay
and Mr.. Root inaugurated in the
state department-the maintenance
of the open door in the Orient and the
extension of our relations with Latin
America-would be put in hazard by a
change Of administration.
Only by curious chance did the
democratic national convention en-
dorse strong navy, which is an es-
sential factor of republican policy, but
is not natural part of the program
of Mr.. Bryan. Even in the regulation
of the railways and the assurance OF
equal justice to all shippers and all
citizens, the orderly and energetic
policy adopted by the present admin
istration and the interstate commerce
commission would be Jared and con-
fused if put in new hands, more zeal
4ons perhaps than competent.
A change in the national admins
tration might be matter of indiffer-
sence on some grounds but for two
important ssifs''. The first of these is
that the republican party during the
past twelve years had merely marked
time without accomplishing or in
augurating any important reforms;
but the work which President Roose
welt has done should be carried on by
men who are now in the harness and
who have been partners in framing
mis- policies.
The second if is the important one.
II Mr.. Bryan were "safe and sane',
but his efforts to establish such repu-
tation by promising to keep within the
limits Of his platform and to respect
existing law are hardly sufficient
guarantee against his kicking over the
traces and doing something reckless
and injurious to the country before its
effects could be fully realized.
The trouble about Mr.. Bryan's as
.surance that he viii be bound BY re-
publican legislation a. he finds it il
that much Of this legislation 10 dis.
cretionary. No law can direct the
President or secretary Of the treasury
1t lust what moment they should in
tervene to avoid : panic or to save
the nation from some great financial
disaster.
No law can compel Mr.. Bryan to
issus circulation under the recent