The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1912-04-11

WIN pfetnOTh OF Inall coming W
us-periodicals daily, weekly, monthly
and quarterly, Tho Citizen is first
to be opened on the day when 1t
comes. II contains some items Of
news which no one thinks to men
ton In personal letters.
Not least OF The Citizens merits
is its sound position upon live ques-
tons. as shown in the editorial col
umn. That column IL broad in thought
as well as In typographical arrange
mcnt. ] can almost agree with what
u recent issue said as to pensions,
although an old soldier may be ex-
pected to think the country and the
whole world belongs TO the survivors
OF the Union army. think that the
three dimensions of the soldiers des-
erts are as follows: his motives I'm
Joining the army, the length and hard
ship of service, and his degree Of
patriotism since. Whatever the length
and breadth, as shown by the first
two, II tho patriotism OF our later
years is not deep, | feel that our
claim is pretty thin.
The Citizens articles upon the mat
ter OF the National Presidency are
enlightening. Among the questions
asked me in letters received is one as
to my view of the presidential situa-
ton. This is a good time for one not
to be too violent in his party declara-
tions. The old issues belong to his
tory. IL hardly is worth while to dis
cuss the question upon which Adams
and jefferson divided or the ones
which convulscd the country at the
time OF the Civil war. The old party
names probably will be continued;
but the rc-allignment Of individual
voters doubtless will be more extern
sive this year than at any time In
nearly half century. II is as well
to admit that personally the Demo-
cratic aspirants, Wilson, Clark, Har-
mon. Underwood. Bryan don't omit
Bryan are respectable, patriotic men
probably as much so as the Republic
cans.-Taft. Roosevelt. and LaFoll-
cite. God is not going to let the
country go tc destruction. this year,
on account of the person elected TO
the preside ncy.
1t is no purpose Of this letter TO
compare the merits of the several
Democratic candidates. They are as
widely separated in their views and
impulses upon the live questions Of
the day as II there never had been a
prctense of their belonging to the
same party. On the other hand. leav-
ing out LaFollette as being only an
entertaining side-show, so far as the
campaign of 1912 is concerned, the
difference of view upon most Ques-
tons is less marked. Both are prog
rcssive, and as Chief Magistrates have
originated an unusual number OF Mea-
sures promising well for the country.
A fair distinction might be made, by
calling Roosevelt a radical Progressive
and Taft a conservative Progressive.
In the inevitable re-alignment OF vot-
ers, either OF these statesmen, from
having been tried in the presiden-
tial chair, would be chosen In prefer
ence to any Of the untried, champions
OF the opposite party, by many thou
sands OF voters who in state con-
tests thought 1t would be wholesome
to give tho Republicans a rebuke.
That tho long-headed and practiced
politicians regard the election OF the
Republican nominee as exceedingly
probable. in spite OF the slump Of
1910. is proven by the unusually sharp
competition for the Republican
nomination. II is but fair to observe
that the sharpest fight is between
the Ins. who wish to retain their
offices, and the Outs. who are espe-
cially anxious to get in. But this
year, moro than usual, that large