The Irish standard., 1908-02-22
CONDITIONS REVERSED.

CONDITIONS REVERSED.
Secretary Taft says that there is no
harmony within the Democratic party
and that the various Democratic opin-
ions make up a crazy quilt of political
sentiment. He must have been think
ing Of the Republican party when he
used the simile. The principal diff
Guilty with the Democratic party Just
now is that it finds itself in a position
where it is bound to commend a Re-
publican President for something
Which he has done. This situation
arises from the fact that the Repub-
lican President has adopted Demo-
cratic policies. Democratic differences
have mostly disappeared. There are
some who still call themselves Demo-
Gratis for the purpose of placing them
selves in position of advantage
These individuals are carrying on the
old campaign of abuse against Mr.
Bryan. The papers and individuals en-
gagged in this work are not Democrats,
and have not supported Democratic
candidates or policies since 1892. AS a
force in the Democratic party they
amount to nothing. But the situation
in the Republican party at the present
time is very much like the situation
in the Democratic party ten years ago.
There is as much difference between
the Aldrch Cannon wing of the Re-
publican party and the Taft-Roosevelt
wing, as there is between the former
and the Democrats. There is more
difference between Republicans like
Cannon and Republicans like Governor
Cummins Of Iowa, than there is be-
tween Bryan and Cleveland.
Among the Republicans there are
all shades of opinion with respect to
the presidents last message. Within
the last few years we have heard Sec
retary Root supporting Theooore
Roosevelt in an effort to amend the
Constitution Of the United States by
executive orders, while we have heard
Senator Foraker of Ohio standing up
in the Senate and arguing for states
rights and the preservation of the
Constitution. There is no unity Of
doctrine in the Republican party now,
and the Chicago convention VIII show
that personal animositles and bitter
ness exists almost, il not quite, to
the breaking point.
Questions upon which Democrats
were divided in the past are dead is
sues. Democrats arc not divided on
the Constitution. They do not differ
as to what are functions of the fed
cral and what are functions of the state
for tariff reform, not for the future
but for the present
The experiences Of the past three
political campaigns promise to be re-
versed in the coming fight. The
chances are that the Democrats will
enter the next campaign nearly, if not
quite, united, while the Republican
party will, for the first time since it's
organization, find itself divided on inn
portant questions. The Republican
party has in the past had factional
quarrels. Powerful leaders have sulk-
cd. but never has there been the sharp
cleavage between two powerful follow
ings that exists today. 1t is not
question OF persons alone but ques-
tion of policies.
If the Democratic party has any Of
the old fighting force and vigor which
1t possessed in the twenty years from
1870 to 1890, there will be no doubt
about the result. There is absolutely
no doubt about the sorry plight in
which tho Republican party is placed.
What leaves the result of the next
campaign in doubt is the possibility
that tho Democratic party. because Of
past differences and disorganization
has lost its fighting power.