Semi-weekly herald. [volume] (Durango, Colo.) 1907-1917, 1910-11-14

publican party has established Itself
in former elections aud upon which IL
grew to be the acknowledged repre-
sentative OF the ideas and aspirations
OF the American people, have been re
pudated by voters.
1t is rather that the cardinal princi
pies OF Republicanism have so thor
oughly established In the body of the
American thought and feeling, that
| they are regarded as settled facts
| There is no more chance that the pro
tective tariff. the gold standard, and
other Republican principles and insti-
rntions OF recent times shall be over
thrown than there is that slavery
| shall be restored in this country.
And because public sentiment is
so united upon matters that have
formed the issues of former cam
paier ). there is a need for new issues
/ New questions OF public policy have
arisen. res alignments OF parties arr
being made, and the country has re
turned once more TO an era of confus
| ion. or REIMBURSEMENT, out of which
| there shall be developed n new and
important step OF further progress.
Primarily and mainly the Democrat
ic landslide of 1910 is voice OF pro
tesS an expression OF discomfort.
The failure of the genuine tariff
revision according to the promises Of
the campaign of 1908. the increased
cost OF living. Cannonism in the hous
and Aldrichism in the senate, the ris
ing tide of what is known as in
surgency." the manifold local disturb
ances and dissensions that customal
lily come to head in an off year. all
contributed to bring the results.
The most exact and expressive word
to describe the occurrence is kick.
The voters felt all over the country
that no great harm could be donc
by electing Democrats to office. and
they felt thai it might do some good
Not that they believed or expected
that the Democratic party woulc
prove itself to be any more competen
that it has been in the past, but they
did believe that as result OF the vic
tory of the Democratic party. the Re
publican party would be compelled to
take its stand upon the basis OF live
issues rather than dead issues and
would bring itself into conformit,
with the enlightened and progressive
spirit OF Americanism
With this result. however, it may be
obtained. The Cbieftain is in thorough
accord and sympathy We would pre-
fer to have seen it reached by another
method. for we believe that victory
for progressive Republicanism this
year would have accomplished far
more and would have accomplished
It much more quickly and at much less
cost, than victory for obstructive
Democracy.
However, the verdict of the people
aas been otherwise, and as result
instead OF two years devoted to thu
,urther Development of the progress
i've policies OF President Taft and
he sixty-first congress. there will be
wo years of political stagnation.
| The Democratic majority in th'
house of representatives will be
cund to be utterly incompetent to
deal with progressive and construct
yeIy with matters of national import
nee, and with the senate and presi
lent Republican it would be impossi
Die for the Democratic house to die
ate the course OF national legislation
The next two years will be an ex
,emely interesting period in nationa
politics. 1t will be a period of read
ton.
1t is not impossible that in this pc
Rod the Democratic party, now the
party OF opposition and obstruction
may transform itself into the party o.
progress and may show such fitness
Tor constructive craftsmanship that /,
will be commissioned by the people
to proceed with full authority to put
It's policies into effect.
1t is not impossible that the Repub-
lican party. failing to take warning
from the results OF this years election
may find itself punished by more
general and more severe rebuke in
1912. and may remain as the minority
party for n term OF years.
But neither of these things is at all
likely.
What is most probable is that the
Democracy viii once more demon
strate its incapacity and its incoher-
ence, and that the Republican party
will take advantage of its opportuni.
ty TO put itself in line with the ex.
pressed wishes OF the masses OF the
people. and that it will continue to be
F., the progressive, constructive, majority
| TOO MUCH AVAILABLE LAND.