Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-02-25
ARRA|GNS THE REPUBLICANS
MIR. GARRETT SAYS THEY
MUST GET NEW ARGUMENT.
Declares That the Old Cries With
Which They Appealed to the
People Will Not Do.

general arraignment Of the republican
party was made in tho House of Repre-
sentatives today by Mr.. Garrett of Ten
nessee. He charged that during its en-
tire career that party had just three
fundamental arguments with which to ap-
peal to voters" He asserted that the
party came into power by an affiliation
with the anti-slavery sentiment Of the
country. while in the second stage the re-
publicans obtained power "by appealing
to the heroic memories and the intense
but inevitable prejudices engendered In
the war in which slavery was abolished.
For two decades. he declared, the "bloody
shirt" was the party banner. "and be-
marched to victory after victory" The
bird stage. he said. was "the argument
Eith which we Of this generation are so
familiar" and that was that republican
success means prosperity and democratic
success disaster"
Battle Hymn Of the Patty.
This last contention had become the
battle hymn Of the party. and never
French soldier was more stirred by the
Marseillaise; never a gray-clad lad Of the
southland thrilled more to Dixie as he
went down to death and despair: never a
brave. blue trooper rode with higher
beating heart to victory through smoke
and flame and battle shout where Yankee
Doodle rang out than the republican
party as its leadership sang forth the
measured chant: Depression-that is de-
mocracy; prosperity-ths is republican,
ISM
The argument, said Mr.. Garrett. was
effective. and from the day the Dngley
tariff was enacted into law that argu
ment has been that partys shield and
buckler: It's cloud by day and its pillar
Of fire by night" Not In fifteen years.
he charged, had the republican party as
such faced an issue squarely "out in
the open sunlight of judgment and rea-
SON.
Coming to the RECEIPT financial depres-
sion, Mr.. Garrett declared that every
panic since 1850 has had it's beginnings
with the republican party in power and
with republican legislation on the statute
books
A New Era Reached.
"Oh. Mr.. Chairman" he continued. 1.-The
republican party has reached new era.
1t stands face to face with cold. dispas-
sionate industrial facts which belle its
words of fifteen years. You must come
out into the sunlight now and meet this
tariff issue on it's merits and it's dement's.
This dilemma confronts you: Either
you must d~ny the teachings OF fifteen
years as to responsibility Of an adninis-
ITdLlOn lot al INDUSTRIAL uePIcSSlou WiiiCu
occurs while it is in power. or you must
assume responsibility for the present con-
dtiOns.
"If your covenant to preserve prosperity
was sincere it was silly; il it was insin-
cere 1T was criminal. But you made your
bed-lie in it, or lie to keep from lying In
it."
In any event. he declared. there would
be heard some new ideas. You have got
to learn another speech. The third era
has passed. In the first stage Of your
party life the argument was prayer; in the
second, praise and prejudice: in the third.
prosperity. In the fourth what are we to
have? 1t must be new. The panic OF
'93' will be no more a vicarious atone
ment for your party sins. and the charity
souphouse will be for you no more
means of saving grace. We await, gen
tlemen, with interesting anticipation the
birth of the new thought"