The Paducah evening sun., 1910-02-14
THE ATTITUDE OF PARTIES.

which constantly changesy lhiS
question is important in the present
national situation.
Democratic leaders call the he'
lpublican party a party of opportuh-
SIN, because its leaders from time
o time have not hesitated to chahse
front on questions, and the attitude
lof the present administration and It's
predecessors. for instance, would
lbave been regarded as dangerous
lradicalism by party leaders dozen
wears ago. Republican leaders de-
clare the Democratic party is arch
aic. clinging to policies OF century
ago instead of the fundamental prin-
| ciples. which made those policies
| sxpedient then and inexpedient now
The answer depends much upoa
the way a person regards political
party. If he looks upon a party as
somthing apart from the people, and
composed of politicians, the people
Having only the choice between two
rulers, as it were. then the Democra-
tic theory is best; because one would
know at all times he could expect
from that party free trade, state
rights and strict, unchanging con-
struction of the federal constitution.
on the other hand. 10 he regards
political party simply as the plastic
fundamentally by which the Will OF
the people is to be recorded, the he-
publican party more nearly conforms
to his ideal: for even while 1t is In
power, a citizen can see IL slowly
moulded to the public sentiment;
and the process, we are watching
lust now is excruciating as Joe Can
non or some other hardened old
lump is squeezed through the fingers
of the times into oblivion; but the
final result will be faithful regis
tering of the popular will.
Unquestionably the present enor-
nous growth of industrialism, in so
far as it is attributable to anything
besides the natural result of compe-
tition, is due to Republican policies.
Under any other policy American
industries would have withered and
been incapable of their present de-
velopment Yet. il but expressed
the desire of the people for great
individual opportunity and wealth,
and that wealth Is the foundation
for something grander TO come. The
wealth we have produced will re-
! main. Now the sentiment of the
whole country is changed. Both
parties and all the people desire a
curb on industrial combinations,
Legislative reform that protects the
+ Interests of the individuals, the pre-
, servation of our natural resources for
n the benefit OF posterity. How are
!, both parties meeting the demand?
The Democratic party is assum-
ing that the people are tired of Re-
q publican rule and that they will
n naturally turn to Democracy. What
4 do they offer? Free trade, of course.
; But they oppose adding TO the auth
. ority of the federal government TO
q control interstate commerce corpor-
ations, trust organizations and water
power rights. They believe that II
: is infringement on state rights
: which must be preserved at all haz-
ards, lest the federal government
S secure too much power over the
I people.
, The truth is the Republican party
is swinging toward federalism. That
was a direful thing in the days OF
a Alexander Hamilton, when kings
e were always a possibility. There is
e no danger of kings today. The only
!. danger today is capitalistic imperi-
: alism, and the Republican leaders
S declare that the divided state gov
= ernments and that twilight zone
: between federal and state authority
are responsible for the Intellectual eff
forts thus far made to check the
rapacity of combinations in restraint
E of trade. They would give the fed
: eral government authority commen-
} surate with the needs of the stu
I alton to check and control these
[ combinations.
The Democratic party comes for
I ward offering it's policies to the
5 people in the hope of finding discon-
tent with Republican policies. Re-
= publican policies are slowly yielding
= to the pressure of popular demand.
D We do not believe the clay has be-
s come too hardened to work; but II
would have been, had not new ma
S terial been brought from the west
G and mixed with the Jumps of Can
4 nonism, Aldrichism and Depewism.
= They will be cast out eventually. and
e just so long as the Republican party
remains plastic in the hands of the
: maker of destinies, that long It will
continue the dominant party. though
/ nohing may remain to associate 1t