The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-10-13
THE ISSII. JOINED.

THE ISSUE JOINED.
The speech of Democratic candidate Dix, in
accepting the nomination as Governor Of New
York indicates that the campaign Is to be waged
in accordance with ITS real instead of its sup
Positions issues. The issue is Roosevelt he ex-
President is the real candidate at interest. St1m-
sou is no more than sign and a figure / ne
actual captain Is the contributing editor OF the
Outlook the batle-cry is the New Natlonailsm
The lines are drawn by circumstance. Candidate
Dix could, practically, not avoid the line OF eleay
age. He has not tried t. do lie has met the
conditions squarely He has openly and above
board placed Rooseveltsm i'll the position be de-
serves in New York as the important ques-
ton for popular decision.
Declaring that amy American who, occupying
position Of authority having the public ear,
assais and attacks courts is to be regarded as
a public enemy and should be SO branded by
every reasonable man Mr.. Dix boards the lion
killer in his own den. He puts his own safety
squarelv to the test He meets the issue in the
good American way, standing up, and face 10
face
We take il that this il gratifying turn 10 a
situation in a State, which is pregnant with
national possibilities The fight of the New
York Democracy is thus made typical of tho
struggle of the Democracy of the country. 1t
means that there is to be fought an important
preliminary engagement between the insidlous
spirit OF auocracy and the old principle of popn-
lar government Il places before the people for
decision the doctrine Of personal opposed to
Democratic rule. In New York State. the Is
sues are in effect indcntical with those that are
shaping themselves more and more clearly in the
country. New York Democracy stands for home
rule for cities: national Democracy stands for
resistance against the Capitalization Of power III
Washington to the hurt and injury of the States.
Rooseveltism. al Albany through Stinson and
at Washington through the executive. stands for
the final grip Of power inone fist. Democracy in
New York and in the nation bows to the laws as
construed bv the courts: Rooseveltism seeks to
erect in one man the powers hitherto divided be-
tween the White House, and Congress, and the
Supreme Court. Democracy believes in the pre-
servation of the government nearly as possible
as il was originally conceived; Roosevelt believe.
in the creation of government which shall be
responsive alike 10 the ideals and the impulses of
President aiming at dictatorship. These are
the issues from which it is Impossible 10 get way.
Their character gives to Now York the rank this
Fall Of field whercon is TO be fought out what
may well prove be decisive battle.
In accepting the guagc Of battle, Mr. Dix well
said:
"Ovcrshadowing all these questions,
and Of mos vital choice TO the people.
is the menace offered to the various
institutions OF the country by the New
Nationalisln fathered and advocated by
new apostle of discord and dissen-
sion. We have already had, to our cost.
ample proof of his ability to disturb
business. DESTROY values and create
condition of panic countrywide in its
evil effects.
This country is too big All undertaking 10 be
administered by ego, however potent, how
ever powerful, however fascinating Theodore
Rooeevelt-the 'bg boss" upon the piled bodies
Of the little bosses'-does not Think So He has
the courage of an almost immortal selfconf-
dence. Such man is necessarily menace what
ever his motives and however pure his Intentions
The remedy, which all the signs indicate is being
prepared in New York, is the impersonal treat
ment of threatened injury at the hands of an
over-zealous and overconceited individual 1t
is to be hoped that New York will act; if not.
the country must grid itself for struggle for
what would be scarcely less than actual self pre-
lsevation.
- s. II