New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-11-04
FINAL CONSIDERATIONS
A Republicans Analysis Of the Po-
litical Situation.
~ the Edltor of The TrIbune.

Sir: We are on the eve Of an election
the most momentous. perhaps, since
1860. The tumult has died away. The
last gallery play has been made. II Is
now for the obscure men. upswayed by
selfish interests or the picturesqueness OF
candidate, or glItterlng generalities, to
face the situation calmly and vote only
with regard TO the Republics welfare, as
10 which the most humble may express
views.
disappearing as his disciples, the Pro
gressive leaders In nation and state are
invoking Lncoln's great name in support
Of propositions that 10 him were abhor'
rent. lie never stopped to demagogy! OF
appealed TO envy, malice and unchar'
itableness, or preached that popular judy
ments. rendered in mass meeting, are al
ways infallible and more 10 be desired
than the calm and reasoned opinions OF
courts. lie never. under spell Of exasger-
oted ego, dreamed, much less declared
that he was the only man able to bring
salvation to the people, and that with
him wisdom should die. On the contrary
he knew, and said distinctly. that all the
people can be fooled some OF the time and
some OF them all of the time His hope
lay In the belief that all OF them cannot
be fooled all OF the time and he disdained
any attempt to fool them at any time by
wornout fallacies. offers OF new lamps for
old and promises that roasted larks should
fall into the mouths OF those voting for
him He foresaw and warned against
that exaggerated egotist, possible in every
republic, and who has appeared in all,
foolns the people TO the top OF their bent,
exciting their passions, captivating them
with promises incapable OF performance,
weeping like Cesar when they have cried.
filching their liberties persuading them 10
destroy tho constitutional safeguards
erected by their sober selves against their
frenzIed selves and TO place him in the
seat OF power-under what title. First
Consul. President, Emperor or King, mat
lers MOTTO dispense the social justice not
OF the courts but OF the cadi. Knowing
that God has never made an indispensable
man, Lincoln's clear eloquence was I'M
married by the ever recurrent first per-
sOnal prOnoun, the elimination Of which
leaves them I'm appearance like targets az
ter battle practice. He relied upon princi-
pies, not upon his own personality and
Messiahship. He appealed 10 patriotism
and TO reason and 10 experience as shown
I'm history He promised neither bread
nor circus tickets nor even silk stockings.
as did our millionaire gubernatorial candi-
date latterly; remembering which here
after he will blush TO have so far forgot
ten himself.
No thoughtful, patriotic man will vote
to establish the principles Of third term
or the substitution OF personal government
for representative government or pater-
nalism for independence. Conceivably, q
Republican may vote for Mr.. Wilson. de-
spite that statesmans sudden realization
In the political Damascus that his teach
ings OF twenty years upon the Initiative
and referendum were bosh But how can
he vote for the deserters from his own
family, who not only hold 10 those here
sizes, but, trampling upon the party 10
which they owe all that they are political
ly. cry exultantly In this last day OF the
campaign that the "boss-controlled Re-
publican organization" is thing OF the
past. He will remember that at Chicago
a few weeks ago the great Progressive
leader was striving and clamoring for the
nomination by this same party: that at
the last gubernatorial convention he. be-
Ing supreme boss, praised the Payne-Al-
urich tariff bill and the administration OF
Mr.. Taft He will not believe that those
L., haII ha, de
of this leader-the Choates. the Roots,
Spooners, Lodges. Cranes, Tafts and all
the host OF them-have changed In tho
twinkling Of an eye while he alone has
remained steadfast In the faith. He can
not accept as statesmen of a new and bet
ter order Perkins and Finn and Munsey
and Mccormick and the Pinchot twins.
He will remember that Thomas Plat was
persona grata to the new leader and Cam
non a delight.
lie will realize that never before has an
asplrant for the high office Of President
l!kened his successor and former friend
to n thief, a crook, pickpocket, re-
celver Of stolen goods. He will fail to
understand that subtle principle by which
the negro OF the North Is fitted to be a
delegate at a political convention from
which the black delegate of the South Is
excluded. He will not follow the light
ming change from Endorsement and en-
couragement Of Mr.. Taft's policy on reel
procity to opposition to that policy. when
1t appeared unpopular in some quarters,
or accepted as a sufficient reason for the
changes that this leader of thought did
not understand IT, lie will mlstrust the
judgment OF men, which, after passing the
half century mark of life. finds that all
friends Of better years. then lauded In
unmeasured terms, have suddenly become
base and supporters of false doctrines
lie will wonder whether the President