Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1910-09-24

no use for it when the people are
against them, will have little effect
upon the general result at the polls.
Nine. tenths of the rank and file
of the Republicans Of South Dakota
have always been in agreement both
upon the fundamental principles of
Republicanism and upon the impor-
tant new issues that make for pro-
gress and improvement in govern
ment, and in general social and in
dustrial conditions. Political lead
ers have magnitied the disagree
ments for political advantage. Fac
tions have developed around con-
tending political leaders, but the
people in each of the last two gen.
eral elections have rebuked faction
alism in the party by selecting some
from each faction to be the candi-
dates of the Republican party on the
state and national tickets.
There has been some right and
some wrong in each of the Republi-
can factions in South Dakota. The
only honorable basis for permanent
union of Republican forces in the
state is to recognize this fact, and to
treat all Republicans in a spirit of
| justice and fairness.
"Republicanism is stalwart. And
| when a man has conscientiously
classed himself as stalwart Repub-
lican, he has thought of the strong,
fundamental stalwart principles of
the party that have formed the bas>
is of it's career of SO years of good
government; sound money, protec-
tion of American industries, hon
est and efficient public servants, and
he has not been willing to see these
principles abandoned or successfully
assailed
"Republicanism is also progressive.
New conditions develop new issues
and new problems. Special interests
seek to enlarge their privileges and
to perpetuate them. Power is often
misused and must be rebuked. Graft
and corruption entrench themselves
in high places, and there in need of
J a general house-cleaning. Good gov
ernment cannot be perpetuated with
out insisting vigorously upon the
| highest moral and political stand
ards. The man who conscientiously
classes himself as a progressive Re-
publican has his eye upon these new
and serious public questions, and
emphasizes the necessity of improve
ment and progress. The Republican
| party has always been the party of
progress. 1t has always been blessed
viii progressive leaders. Only by
keeping fully abreast of the advanc-
| thought and demands of the peo-
pie can it hope to maintain it's po-
litical leadership.
"Republicanism is not standpat.
The 'Standpat slogan was evolved
by Mr.. Hanna in the second Mckin-
ley campaign. 1t was too early for
general revision of the tariff, the
country was prospering and the idea
was to let well enough alone That
| was simply the battle cry of single
campaign, fitting a temporary con-
| dition and has no part among the es-
sentials of Republicanism. To stand
pat is to stand still. Marking time
or milling in a circle is not Repub-
| canism. The man who dWells per-
| petually upon the standpat idea in
politicts becomes political fossil.
There are not three per cent OF
| 'Standpat' Republicans in South Da-
kota, and it is manifestly unfair to
! classify all stalwarts as standpat-
ters.
Neither is Republicanism insur-
gent in it's habitual processes. A
good citizen of whatever party is
against wrong and corruption wher-
ever found, and is ready to fight the
battle of determination. But the in
surgent habit sometimes becomes
chronic, and maybe carried too far
craftsmanship is constructive as well
as destructive. A fundamental diff
ference between Republicanism and
Democracy is that Democracy in the
United States for half a century has
had some capacity for destruction,
but has constructed nothing of value
for the public welfare. The republi-
can party has been party of con-
structive statemanship. When in
surgency is carried to the extent OF
insurging against the policies of the
National Administration and against
the president whom the people have
chosen, it is we'll to consider wheth-
er it has not passed the line of pub
lie usefulness.
1T is but fair to say that the in
surgents of the House of Represen-
tatives have been among the most
loyal supporters of the Roosevelt
and the Taft administrations.
Theodore Roosevelt has been the
most prominent originator of the
modern progressive movements in
politics. AS expounded and inter-
preted by Roosevelt, the movement
demands higher moral and political
standards in public life, universal
obedience of law, and an industrial
democracy in which all men shall
have a square deal and equal oppor-