The Washington herald., 1910-05-01

class or occupatlon-and while the critic
has his place, ne does little TO make the
wheels go round.
He may get into the clouds and
spread a mist OF hazy talk about pro-
gressive Ideas or down in the mire
throwing mud al everybody, hut we need
men who will keep on the level and deal
with realities. 10 work out definite plans.
The administration of Grant was op-
posed by the most remarkable coalition
that was ever known in American politics.
II failed.
Such coalitions have failed ever and
should fail always. There is no political
purgatory. no halfway house. between
political integrity and benevolent pre-
tense. ANY attempt Of that kind IS set
down as demaEogy.
The men who formed the combination
rcckoned without the great body OF the
people; they were not representing the
people. but their own selfish ambitions.
These who made up the rank and file of
the Republican party did not attempt 70
compromise with the enemies OF the pol,
icies OF their party. but turning their
faces TO the foe. proclaimed anew their
devotion 10 the economic principles OF the
Republican party.
THE American people did their own
thinking at that time. and Will continue
% do their own thinking in the future.
Curious Trait of MIXTURE.
After nearly forty years have passed
fl is curious reading TO turn back TO the
platform of that coalition and see such
terms as 'usurpation and 'treachery'
hurled at the President.
But when we turn to the election re-
turns and see how that coalition was re-
pudiated by the voters at the polls we
are reminded Of LincOln's remark that:
You can fool some Of the people all
the time: all the people some OF the time.
but you can't fool all the people all the
time
The tariff act Of 1909 is not perfect
any more than were the numerous tariff
acts that preceded IL, and probably no
better adapted 90 the conditions to-day
than they were 70 the conditions which
they We're designed TO meet
But the worth Of the new law is TO
be measured by the conditions of IN
dustry and business since its enactment
We had unemployed men. we had idle
freight cars, we had much uncertainty in
many lines Of business. and we had A
large deficit in the Federal Treasury.
Within eight months after the enact
ment OF the Payne law this had all
changed.
a good many people complain of the
nigh cost of living, and l will not say
ihat it is exactly described by James j.
Hin in his epigram Of the cost Of high
living. but there has been a tendency
throughout the century TO live better,
and each generation IN this country mas
lived better than the one that preceded
it, and that is the enc great ideal for
which we have labored through the
years. 1 hope II win continue
When anybody tells me that our labor
is now no better off than the labor Of
Europe. look TO Castle Garden and find
the answer in the thousands of imm,-
grants who come here every year and
find employment.
But we have other testimony from
our American consular service. from the
agents Of the Department OF Commerce
and Labor. and from My. Samuel Com
pers, president Of the American Fedora
ton Of Labor to the effect tina: wages
In America are double the wages in
Europe, and that the cost Of living is no
higher here than there