The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1910-08-30
History Repeats Itself.

The Republican party, with
William Howard Taft in the
White House, encounters very
much the same conditions that
overlook and overwhelmed the
old historic Democratic party,
with James Buckhannon in the
White House. fifty years ago.
The role played by Stephen A.
Douglass then is filled by The
adore Roosevelt now. The In
stitution of African Slavery,
sW allowing all other issues, held
the center of the stage. The Is
sue of Predatory Wealth. circling
about the Protective Tariff Sys-
TEN, has come in the fullness of
time to occupy the center of the
stage. In many ways the outer
aspects and internal qualities of
the two are identical.
The former Sectional align
ment of the North and South has
veered around to face East and
West. The moral sentiment of
the North slowly but surely rose
against Slavery. The Democrat
ic party stood for the constitu-
tional rights of the STAKEHOLDER.
If the South had been wise it
would have marked the rising of
the tide against it and have mod
Grated its demands, it would
have listened to Douglass. 1t
did not and as a consequence,
the Democratic party was split
in twain, and the war of sec
tions followed.
The benefciaries of the Pro-
tective Tariff System have been
pursuing precisely the same blind
fatuous course pursued by the
Shareholders. Instead of lower
ing their demands, they have
gone on increasing them. Scan
dial after scandal has attended
each successive act in the drama
of rapacity. The Tariff is a syn
onym for ROBBERY under the forms
of law. High Finance is a by
word of shame and reproach.
Trustism, like slavery, has grown
to be odious to the better sense
of the country.
AS the Democratic party was
the custodian of the one is the
Republican party the custodian
of the other. The accretions of
slavery were extensively visible
at the south. The north protest
ed. The accumulations of Pro-
lection are offensibly visible in
the East. The West protests.
Douglass tried to save the Dem
ocratic party, as RooseAelt is try
ing to save the Republican par
ty.
Parties are the creatures of
interests and conditions. The
Democrats of the south would
not compound with the Demo-
Gratis of the north to put the in
stitution of African Slavery in
commission. Will the Republi-
cans of the East compound with
the Republicans Of the West to
put the Protective Tariff System
in commission ?
Taft, an able lawyer and a
well intentioned man, is caught,
as Buckhannon, an able lawyer
and well meaning man, was
caught, between the upper and
neither millstones.
II.
The likeness between Taft and
Roosevelt and BUckhannon and
Douglass runs into many Incl
dents as well as along parallel
lines, though Roosevelt is not as
patient a man as Douglass was,
while Taft is much more amible
than Buchanan.
Given the same conditions
parties made up of mortalinfrm-
tiles do not greatly differ in their
character and behaviour. They
become arrogant by long tenure.
They terminate corruption. All
the slick rascals get into the par
ty in power if it remains i'm DOW
er long enough. Party spirit
holds the loyal, party discipline
whips in the timid, the party
momentum and resources ride
down rough shod the resisting
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