The Detroit times., 1911-01-06

policy. and IL In sometimes easy for
MIN TO believe that he must be wrong
ana public claIhor right, and thus yield
his convictions In a measure at least.
This always brings up anew the old
question. viz; Shall the representative
neonI republic listen en- to the voice OF the
light
Many things arise in officiai life up.
been crystallized IL IL the duty OF the
representative In such cases TO act &C
cording TO his Judgment OF what Is
proper sentiment. But the closest ad-
herence TO properly formed public SEN
tlment Will leave ample range for the
exercise or Independence. and the clos
pie the more truly will he become n
leader, Tor confidence In him will cause
them TO follow him more willingly.
ne who enters the senate today has
thrust upon him great and mighty re-
sponslbllities. The country Is at Its
biggest, Its position In the Orient and
IN the racine subjects IL to possible in
ternauonal complications new and mo-
mentous Our territorial dominion, our
national honor. our very life and des-
tiny depend upon our ability as a ma
lion TO maintain our rights l am
nrmly convinced that community OF
interests VIII compel "A binding con-
tract between the world powers TO SUBJ
init all great International questions TO
mitted TO the arbitrament OF war The
united states, which the greatest and
most progressive OF nations, must take
the lead In this great movement Self
respect and, therefore, self preserva-
ton, require that We shall resent In =
suit and wrong, but they also demand
mat We shall not wantonly or reck-
iessly offend. We must at all times
be prepared reasonably to protect our
selves, but We must always teach by
example the divine doctrine OF Peace
on Earth. Good VIII to Men" We must
be neither braggart nor moHycoddle.
bur always sufficient. both In strength
and justice. n
Measured by general prosperity and
material development. no peopfe-were
ever 80 far advanced as ours are to-
day Business Is almost ruinous In its
stagnation. From stagnation and de :
preston In 1895 TO the prosperity of
today, the ascent has been stupendous.
and yet during the past year we have
witnessed an unrest and dissatisfaction
which expressed itself generally
throughout the country in opposition
control of national Affairs during the
whole period OF that material ad
vancement What has been the cause
Of this mighty change? No one thing
brought IL about. Combinations OF con-
ditions and circumstances accomplish
ed It,
The Republican party had been in
control for a dozen years. The avarice
minds or many for even greater things.
IL has been period OF consolidation
OF wealth and the very existence OF
wealth or such magnitude in the con-
troll of few gave birth TO Jealousy
and hatred in the breasts OF many not
In the combination, and with clenched
ilsts they struck at existing conditions
But greater and more powerful than
these was the spirit called progress
Material prosperity gave time to think
Of other things. Many did think and
expressed the thought that in the mad
rush for wealth the politician had
played fast and loose with the funda :
mentals OF American graDdeus and Re-
publican perpetuity Twas discovered
powerful men and institutions were a
law unto themselves, and inasmuch Es
an attack upon them would necessarily
effect many innocent people injurious
ly they thought they were immune
from attack, and so they OVERRIDE sta
tutes and braZenly scoffed at legal au-
thority Fate placed in the presidents
chair a man who declared with tho
power the doctrine that material pros
perity and business decency were not
Incompatible. That doctrine was ac-
copied and adopted by every honest
unselfish man in the country. and a
crusade against favoritism and law
lessness was begun. In this cause
there enlisted not alone the real re-
former, who recognized that existing
conditions must be met, and that COM
mon sanity would dictate that rational
reforms only must be Instituted, nut
there also fiocked to the standard OF
reform the men who recognized an OPP
portunity to exalt littleness, and not
the general, but their special political
good controlled their every action.
Then there was the arrant demagogue
who voiced any doctrine to create pas
sion Some OF the unworthy recruits
became captains and led their com
panies away from the real field Of bat
tie into swamps and thickets, where
they fought guerilla warfare.
The Democratic party carried the
banners OF the opposition, but success
due TO Republicans who either went
over to the enemy or else sulked In
their tents. False issues were every
whre raised. For instance. the high
cost OF living was shouted from every
skirmish line and on every battle field
But no thoughtful man was deceived.
No Intelligent voter believed that the
Payne tariff law had Increased the cost
OF living. No Republican believed that
low prices and prosperity ever did or
ever could go together. No sensible
man believed that he could sell his
product for big price and the pur-
chaser OF that product pay small
price. No one believed that the Demo .
cratic party was more honest or more
competent than It's Republican oppo-
nent. No one believed that the Demo
cratic party would. as party improve
conditions, but some did believe that
patriotism has no party label and that
a
that this Is a peoples government OF
law and order and that no wrong,
however entrenched in wealth and
power, or In poverty and passion, shall
be immune from attack by statutes.
courts and executives
For myself, / have no hesitation in
stating that passion and prejudice were
quite as potent In bring about a ma
tional Democratic house as reason and
justice, but IL out OF confusion and de-
preston. sane and progressive reform
shall come. as / believe II ultimately
Will. every true American, regardless
OF party label. will rejoice in that hui
man rights will be more universal and
secure - --..-.ss.,-t-r-,-r SO
The Rep dell.nS.party has been chas-
tened In the homeS<-ss friends bug II
contains the men with the genius. the
intelligence and the patriotism for
rid IL Of some leaders who have dem
onstrated their inefhciency. some camp
followers who have already gone over
to the enemy, for theirs is to shout and
feed with the victorious. r
IL. on the 18th OF this month, you
shall hand me the peoples commission
10 serve them for six years, | shall en-
ter the service as n Republican In poll
tics. believing In the fundamental
principles OF my party, and ready to
tight for them against political en-
envy who would destroy them, or
against a traitor within my party who
would debase and disgrace them.
shall feel IL my duty to support what
is right regardless OF Its political o.
igin. and to oppose what is wrong. no
matter who its friends may be. / shall
begin my duties Win somewhat OF fear
and trepidation Not that j lack cour-
age. but because I lack wisdom. Not
that l am apprehensive OF my political
future, but because l love my country
and would like TO contribute somewhat
10 It's greatness and glory.