Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1910-09-22
Views Afoot
ANEwsPAPER.s A FAITH

The political faith of a newspaper
may mean little to its readers-or it
may mean much. 1t depends upon its
sincerity of purpose, and whether its
motives are born of true honor and
fearless conscience or of greed for po-
litical plunder and preferment.
1t has been to keep itself free from the
SUSPICION of unworthy motives that
the Journal has remained non-partisan
throughout its career, and welded its
battle mace as it chose while the fight
was raging. However, it seems that
the time has come when it may de.
clare it's allegiance to definite politi-
cal faith. 1t is willing unreservedly to
endorse Mr.. Roosevelt's republicanism,
and it hereby declares it's adherence
and whole-hearted support of the
"New Nationalism," which he has
lately been promulgating among the
people of the Middle West.
Two, in particular, of the tenets of
his faith appeal SO strongly to the sense
fjustice of every rational man, who
is informed concerning political and
social conditions in America, that the
Journal deems them worthy of the
thoughtful consideration of all it's
readers. They represent solutions of
vexing problems, upon which all ho-
most men can agree whether democrats
or republicans, and upon which we are
destined finally to be brought together.
The first demands that the Special
Interests AS SUCH be driven forever out
of our political and public life. Mr..
Roosevelt, himself states his view as
follows
"What this country needs is what
every free country must set before it
as the great goal toward which it
works-an equal opportunity for life,
liberty and the pursuit of happiness fer
every one of its citizens. To achieve
this end we must put a stop to thei
proper economic dominion, fthe great
special interests. This country, its ma
tural resources, its natural advantages,
its opportunities, and its institutions,
belong to all its citizens. They cannot
be enjoyed fully and freely under any
government in which the special in
terests as such have voice.
The supreme political task of our
day, the indispensable condition of ma
tional efficiency and national welfare,
is to drive the special interests out of
our public life"
Topeople, who think, this has long
appeared, we believe, as the only just
solution of the perplexing problem of
the Special Interests in politics. They
must not be bargained with, and they
should haven concessions or favors.
They must be driven out of politics in
stead.
And Mr.. Roosevelt's statement of the
tariff question is just as clear, as CO.
gent, and as manitestly Just. He
states it thus:
believe that when protection be-
comes not a principle but a privilege
and preference-or rather tumble of
privileges and preferences-then the
American people disapprove of it. x Ks
| believe in such measure of protec-
ton as will equalize the cost of pro-
duction here and abroad. That is,
that will equalize the cost. 1 believe
in such supervision of the law as will
make certain that the protected indus
try gives that difference TO THE MEN
WE ARE MOST ANXIOUS TO PROTECT
the workingmen-and if find it is
not giving it, 1 would take off the tar.
iff duty from that particular thing.