Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1909-11-08

II will not avail Mr.. Cannon and his
associates anything to declare that we
have joined hands with the Democrat
ic party, for every intelligent man
knows that this is simply an appeal
to blind passion and a senseless pref
udice. The insurgents believe that
the Republican party is the best IN
strumentality to secure and maintain
good government They are proud OF
its history; they love its traditions;
and 1 venture the prediction that in
the campaign of next year their
voices will be heard high above all
others defending its doctrines and sus-
tanning its candidates. Their struggle
will be within the lines, but they will
not hide the truth as they see it; for
they know that if the Republican party
Is to be permanently successful, It
must be faithful to its platforms. and
must meet courageously and Justly the
new age problems and questions. 1t
cannot any longer be progressive IN
.ts platform and standpat in its con
gress.
a rew months ago I said that was
willing to accept an arbiter as to the
Republication Of those who voted
against the tariff bin, and 1 hasten to
name the Judge. I appeal to the ma
ttonal Republican platform Of 1908;
and tested by the criterion Of that in
strument the Republican voters OF the
United States viii determine just as
rapidly as they have the opportunity
to do so, whether our votes were in
accordance with it's declarations and
plsdges.
AS reported In the Chicago news
papers, the speaker Of the house, in
his address at Elgin. asked this Ques-
ton: Are Aidrich and Payne with
their associates comprising the major
fly Of the Republicans tn congress, the
Republican party. or are the insur-
gents the Republican party7' The an
swer he made. either explicitly or i'm
pliedly, was that the majority Of the
Republicans in congress was the
Republican party; that the Insurgents
had refused to be bound by the viii
Of that majority, and therefore they
were no longer Republicans. freely
admit that the insurgents had no title
TO speak for the Republican party as a
whole, and It gratifss me to know that
that they have never asserted such au-
thority, am, however. astounded to
hear SO modest q man as the speaker
Of the house claim that the leaders
who constructed the tariff bill and
the majority which passed It. consti-
tute the Republican party. know
that they are strong, and do what they
please without rhyme or reason; but
am sure that this is the first time
they have become 50 intoxicated with
their power as to imagine that they
constitute the Republican party. There
IS a Republican party, and 1t is COM
posed of something like 100000 of
men. They came together by their
representatives in 1908 and they made
a platform. Insofar as It related to
the work Of congress, 1t became the
duty Of every Republican member Of
the senate and OF the house to execute
e; but 60 say that because a majority
of the Republican members OF con-
gress were In favor Of attaching GER
tain duties to certain comm odities,
and other members IN minority were
In favor OF attaching other duties to
the same commodities, that therefore
the minority had rebslIed against the
party, is nonsense of so sublime de-
gree that It pTovokes not dc ate, but
deTlsion:
Harmony is Desirable.
understand perfectly that Il would
have been helpful to party harmony
il we could have voted together; but
that is not the question, The platform
was for protection. All the Republic.
ans In congress were for protection;
but the view Of these high priests ap-
pears to be that IL they thought that
upon any given article protection re-
CURED 50 per cent and We thought the
article would be amply protected with
Is per cent, unless we voted for 80 we
were no longer Republicans. The
whole proposition IS SO absurd that
even the most rabid member of the
tr1urnvfrste will not repeat It often.
marvel at not emily the audacity
but the madness which inspires the at
tack which has been made upon the
insurgents, for IL Mr.. Cannon and his
allies shall be successful in putting ev-
cry man out OF the Republican party
who would not have voted for the tar
tff bill had ne been a member Of con-
gress, he viii have eliminated e ma
5ortty Of the Republicans In every
northern state from Ohio 20 the Rocky
mountains. There need be no concern
about the attitude OF the insurgents
and their friends. They will DO their
best to nominate eand1datee who be-
NeVe in a progressive Republican per
ty. When they succeed they viii re-
ioice because q step will have been
teken In the path Of reform When |
they fail they win be Republicans
stIll, for ff.thefe ever wassa time when
there was absolutely no reason for !
transferring any branch Of the gov.
ornment 60 Democratic hands, this is
che time. Individually have high re-
gard for the Integrity and patriotism
II many Of the Democratic senators
ana Representatives N congress, But
collectively they are more unfit to
manage the affairs Of a great country