New-York tribune., 1910-12-30
WILL 1T COMMIT SUICIDE?
Colonel Harvey Gives Advice to
Democratic Party.

Colonel George Harvey IN a long article
in the North American Review gives ad-
vice to the Democratic party and asks if it
will commit suicide. After reviewing the
political situation, he says:
Who, then. can prevent the election of d
swift and certain. Only the Democrats
themselves. They too, lack cohesion and
their leaders experience 1t Is not, perhaps,
their fault. How could they have been ex-
pected to develop recognized authority
among their men while virtually ostraCized
from public consideration? Doubtless as
much native talent lives in the heads of
one OF the halves of our citizens as in the
other, but II has either slept or sought ex-
preston and found stimulation in the pro-
fessions, in pedagogy IN business. IN
finance. A solitary demagogue has held
the partisan millions in the hollow of his
hand for nearly two decades and even now
threatens 10 palsy the prospects of success.
Happily his immeasurable folly in robbing
himself of his vaunted regularity his
only remaining claim to recognition-has
restricted his influence in communities
where il cannot affect results. but II is
still active, still baneful and still reckoned
by the tinorous as worthy Of concilIatory
regard.
Colonel Harvey speaks OF Harmon, Gay
nor, Dix, Baldwin, Foss and Wilson as
possible candidates for the Presidency. and
continues:
The issues Paramount stands the tar
iff-the bane Of tinid statesmen. the buga-
boo of politicians. The Republican policy
IS fixed and irreVOcabIe. PieCeneal revision
under the guidance of the commission
is the programme promulgated by Tart
and indorsed by Roosevelt. Though viewed
askanCe by the insurgents, IL will stand as
the proposal of the next Republican con-
vention. What. IN 2n, viii be the sitting
from a multitude of Democratic counsels:
What has beeno So far only fright. One
need but mention the subject at gath
ering of Democrats 10 change a feast into
funeral. But it cannot be igner d.; 1t
ha adpd- IN cannot
missed, as in 1894. when the passage OF the
uI-fated Wilson bill presaged certain dis
and courageously by the Sixty-second Con-
gress. and the Democrauc party must abide
by the result Of the action OF its author
iZed representatives.
Is the problem so very difficult after all,
The Democratic policy is traditional It
was established eighty years ago and has
varied since only in degree and In untn-
r,ortant phraSing. II never comprehended
free trade. II stands now. as then, for
tariff primarily for revenue ana incident
ally for protection
Saying so the tariff can and should be
revised by the sgd Congress- Colonel
Harvey proceeds to quote "the Democratic
creed. .nunciated by Jackson. amplified by
Polk and reiterated by Tilden and Cleve-
land" This, he says ais the policy. not
merely Of the party. but of the whole peo
pie" He closes as follows:
BE II clearly understood: The country
has love Tor the DelnOcIdIlC lis
c,Iperb services IN the initial period Of the
republic have been neuJralized by its va
garies of recent years. It has ceased 10
attract young men, who alone can sustain
the vitality OF an organization. Its chief
purpose has been and seems to be now
ra ther 10 win than to deserve authority.
Antiqudted methods, effective only in deal
ing with somnolent public are srill relied
upon to hold an awakened people Old
hands continue to finger purse strings and
cid feet TO wear shoes OF gum.
All this must change all is lost. The
call is for a New Democracy, enlightened,
progressive, upholding ideals. unafraid OF
the sunlight OF publicity. eager and ready
at all times to cross swords with the
enemy IN the forum of public iudgment-a
Democracy striving TO profit less from the
mistakes OF its antagonist and more from
its own affirmative deeds wrought In the
common interest for the common veal
Let the new Congress write into the
statutes the one great law demanded by
the people and let the new Governors in
vigorTtc the laws that will raise new state
ism high above new rationalism as an ef-
fective force and the reeenerated partv 0f
the past viii again become the handuaid
of tae republic. To look backward or 10
hesitate is only 20 invite the Almighty 10
transform a revivified corpse into pillar
OF salt
whirh gentlemen. shall il be-