The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1910-10-19
A TRAGIC HISTORY.

No drama that has ever been writ
ten has been more filled with startling
denouements, tragic events and un-
expected turns of Fortunes wheel
than has the history OF Iowa politics
during the last fifteen years. Through
out that time Mr. Cummins has occu-
pied the center of the stage, Me-
phisto to some, an angel OF light to
others There was the hard-fought
fight in which Mr. Gear was elected
senator. The remarkable rise OF Gov.
Shaw and his spectacular defeat Of
such old-time politicians as Matt Par
rott and A. B. Funk. The defeat OF
Gear, the succession of Deliver. The
enemies gloating over the end OF
Shaw's governorship and the. election
of Cummins. The sudden turn Of
events when Gov. Shaw was called to
the cabinet of Roosevelt. The period
of Cummins domination. The strife
which rent the party asunder whel
Cummins measured swords with AL
lison and met defeat.
Then, just when Cumminss' oppon-
ents were voicing their satisfaction
over his political demise comes the &C
tual demise Of Allison. The death Of
Blythe. Then the Cummins-Lacey
campaign and Cummins victory. The
sudden turn given by Senator Dol
liver's alliance with Cummins, the
cooling that came as presidential aspi-
rations clashed and then the death OF
Dolliver, throwing confusion into the
ranks of all. It is interesting and ex-
citing history, it tells of the strong
ambitions of strong men. The way
is marked by sudden victories, by
shattered hopes, by broken hearts, by
tragic, unexpected death.
In the midst of this war of passion,
of personal ambitions and personal
hates and affections the republican
party of Iowa has been we'll nigh
killed. The proud majorities have
gone. Distrust and treachery have
taken the place of loyalty and enthus-
iasm. The party stands face to face
with the crisis of it's history. Death
has won. Inevitable, relentless, re-
morseless Death has won the victory.
Upsetting the plans of the living,
sitting ambitions, changing in an in
slant all the we'll laid outlines of am
bilious leaders.
If the republican party is not big
ger and better than personal strifes
and personal ambitions it ought to die
along with Gear and Allison and
Blythe and Dolliver. If it is some
thing greater than these things, the
republican masses, the voters who
have no interest in the Gruesome
game" of politics, ought to assert
themselves. The improbable war
should cease. Ambition should not be
made the paramount party issue. 1t
is not worth while. OF all the public
men we have known but very few
have remained ten years in politics
without heartaches, few who hold
their positions with satisfaction to
themself, few whose lives have not
been embittered, few whose souls
have not been calloused by the shock
of battle and bruised by the blows OF
treacherous friends.
The duty of republicans is plain. 1t
is time that the personal equation be
dropped. Time that differences should
cease to be magnified. Time that
points of agreement be dwelt upon
Time that all should join in the cleo,
ton of republican legislators who in
turn can join in sending from Iowa
to the United States senate a man
who will be truly republican and who
will represent, not his own ambitions
but the great governmental truths fol
which the republican party stands.