The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1912-08-22
THURSDAY, AUG. %, 1912.

With cheering. songs and prayer the
Bull Moose party's national campaign
was opened at Providence, r. /. Fri
day night. Theodore Roosevelt and
his followers appear very enthusiastic
and hopeful as to the final outcome OF
this venture. 1t is well perhaps that
their dreams and aircastes be spared
as long as possible. But whether soon
or late their overthrow is inevitable.
They have failed to see that which
men of less political experience, but
cooler head and keener visions have
seen. Enraptured with the mirages of
the future, they disdain to look back
ward on the past. Consequently, eX-
amples by which they might have
profted have been ignored. They
have failed to learn the first axiom in
the volume of political lore which lays
down the principles, evolved from ex-
periences and mistakes of the years
gone by, that no organization, having
as its fundamental basis the personal
ity of single individual; no party
permeated and sustained by platitudes,
hysteria and fanatacism no party
which is but the excretion from the
pores of another political body can
expect anything other than speedy
death and oblivion.
Well might the Democratic party
have cause for apprehension, were
this new party the result of cry from
all over this country-a demand for
just those principles which were put
forth and indorsed at the recent con-
vention in Chicago. 1t is quite evil
dent TO every unbiased person that
Roosevelt is, not only the ruling and
dominating spirit but that there would
be no such organization Of this kind at
all were it not for him.
The delegates to the convention We'd
with each other in expressing their
devotion to the the Progressive"
party The thought seems never to
have once entered their agitated minds
that prior to Teddys defeat at the Re
publican convention they had never
even dreamed of third party; that for
years La Toilette, Bristow, Cummins
and Borah had heen preaching better
progressive politics than those to
which they were then swearing al
legiance; that those men had scarcely
caused ripple; and that the move
ment only began to assume substantial
proportions after Teddy and his hat
had been kicked out of the Republican
ring.
The paths of history are strewn
with the wrecks of idols among which
are mingled the bones of those who
worshipped them. The chronicler of
events has more than once set down
for the warning Of mankind the sad
and ignominious ends of organizations.
both civil and military, that blindly
followed because popular hero led
and not because OF an abiding faith in
the principles involved in the fight.
Demosthenes, the Greek orator, rose
to an exalted position of influence and
power in his native land. He dominat-
ed the assemblies of the Thebans and
Athenlans. Perhaps he INDUCED oc-
casionally in flights OF rhetoric con-
corning the square deal.
Not content in engaging Philip in a
war OF words he sought to CRAFTY his
ambition by meeting him in physical
combat. He gathered about him.
not the men who, with the love of
country burning in their breasts,
fought and died at Marathon and Their.
mopylae, but host Of mercenaries and
hero worshippers who cared nothing
Tor nor knew the real questions invoIv-
ed in the controversy, and Disregard
ing the dismal prophecies of the
Pythian priestes, met Philip at Their
mondon. At the first onslaught of the
Macedonian phalanX, Demosthenes
forgot his arrogant boasts OF victory
and terror stricken by the hail of
lavelins, threw away his spear and
shield, taking 10 the "tall and uncut"
as iast as his legs would carry him
1t is recorded that "the enemy ex-
hausted themselves in the pursuit and
slaughter of the Athenian..n
Everyone is familiar with the story
OF David and Goliath, OF how the Phil
istines lay idly in their camp while
their gigantic leader strutted up and
down spreading CONSERVATION among
the Israelites, Of how the shepherd
boy, armed only with smooth pebble,
a sling and conviction of righteous.
ness vanquished and slew him. And OF
this it is recorded "And when the
Philistines saw that their champion
was dead they hed.p
Coming down TO our own times, We
find many instances Of the sudden dis.
appearance OF parties founded upon
unstable and untenable policies The