The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1910-08-31
Republican Scapegoats.

This seems to be the open season
for Republican scapegoats, and ev-
cry Republican patriot is cunning
for one or more. In olden times,
scapegoats were driven into the vii
derness and the weight Of the sins
they bore presumably caused them
to perish. In these modern times out
political scapegoats are driven into
the. political wilderness as a mani
festation to the people Of the virtue
and integrity Of the drivers, or as
an example to others to keep in with
the powers that be.
The open season for cunning for
Republican scapegoats is always Just
before election; their hides have
more political value at that time,
especially if the portents of the cleo
ton indicate that it will be close
and doubtful. The summer capital
at Beverly seems to be the head
quarters for the scapegoat hunters
and such eminent statesmen as Can
non, Aldrich and Ballinger, and
goodness knows who besides the dire
exigencies and sins of the party may
require, have been selected as the
living sacrifice.
An evidently inspired dispatch
from Beverly sent out by the Asso-
ciated Press on August 18th tells the
tale of woe and .he probable fate of
the scape goats. There is a strik-
ing similarity III the plans of the Ad-
ministration to the Jewish Ceremon-
ial described in Leviticus. The
scapegoat therein described bears
all the sins of the people, and is sent
by the hand of a safe man" into
the wilderness where there are no
people. Senator Crane seems to be
the safe man" in the ceremonial
now under way, but there must be
grave doubt whether those selected
can bear a modicum Of the sins of
the Republican party. It will be
necessary to hear from the Colonel
and Pinchot and Garfield before de-
Gliding on the efficacy Of the vicari-
Gus sacrifice.
Perhaps when it come to the pinch
neither Cannon nor Aldrich nor Bal
linger will want to be the goats.
They may suggest that other Repub-
licans could play the part better.
All of those selected as goats show
signs of insubordination. Uncle Joe
says he is "fit as fiddle, and ex-
poets the Republicans OF his district
to reelect him; and the Republican
caucus and not the Administration
will decide whether he shall be re-
elected as Speaker. Senator Aldrich,
at the request Of the "safe man"
has made statement that brought
en- more controversy with Senator
Bristow, which indicates that this
goat business may be carried too far
and that he is still an alive political
entity. Ballinger, here may be found
the real and only scapegoat, will
gladly leave the Cabinet after the
majority of the committee Of inves-
tigation has given him a coat of
whitewash. The "safeman" will es-
cort him to the wilderness in his
whitened garb, a4sr first parading
him through the Western States as
the real goat Of the Administration.
These are the plans of the Admin
istration, but perhaps the popular ap-
petite for goats will not be appeased
by the Taft banquet and will demand
more scapegoats before election day.
1t is quite within the realm Of prob
abilities that in casting out these
goats to the ravening wolves, that
are politically termed insurgents, "
the demand for the play to be repeat
ed will be so insistent that only
President Taft and the "safe man
will be left to tell the tale.