The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1912-02-19

| lie VINO nights Tor Just cause must
! take hard knocks as we'll as give
them The mora effective tha-hlomS
dealt by him at intrenched evils the
heavier the assault visited upon him
In return. That is all In the day
work OF one engaged In militant pub
lie service.
This newspaper, which hits It's
hardest when We Judge that hard hit
ting is the OCCASIONS need. never asks
quarter from any men or forces whom
our duty compels us 10 assail. And
we should no more think OF asking for
mercy for a brotherin-arms than for
ourselves. Probably OF all those With
whom we have fought side by side.
the last man for whom We should
dream OF asking tender consideration
from the opposing forces would be
Robert LaFollette. OF Wisconsin.
Throughout the 80 years that he has
been fighting for the restoration OF
| by striking at the head OF special
privilege at every possible turn ne
never has needed nor desired leni-
ency. lie is a strong and indepen'
dent character. thoroughly imbued
with the highest civic and political
ideals and illimitable faith in the III
| innate wisdom and honesty OF the
mass OF the people, The Republican
party came into power as the adyo-
cate of popular rights and the OPP
ponent of privileged class. Recent
| ~ it's organization has been seized by
the political representatives of pri
| vate financial and industrial powers
! and through it various public agen
| cies have been used for private az
| grandizement rather than for the gen
eral welfare.
] Senator LaFollette has been most
4 aggressive. persistent and statesman
| like in attacking this peryersion o
the party and OF the government As
lawyer. prosecuting attorney, con
| gresham, governor and senator. h'
has been the consistent and powerfu
champion OF the people.
He has prosecuted and exposed
crime in high places: has labored q
subject railroads and corporate com
bnations TO a just measure or taxa
ton, 10 establish reasonable and I'M
form rates of transportation and Y
abolish discrimination therein. ti
has opposed that worst form or al
, forms of ranny-unrestrained pr
vate monopoly OF the necessities OF life
The result is that from the day n
fought a powerful state machine and
! without n dollar In his schoolbo
pockets. made himself district attol
, ney. 10 the day when he stood fort
the controlling figure or the senat
{, that once derided insulted and ostra
; csed him, he has continually arouse
bitter hostility among the powerli
Tory forces that thrive upon speela
! privilege, financial wrongs and pc
iitical corruption.
But Senator IaFollette Is, above a
things, a fighter. And all the pei
sistent. malevolent misrepresentation
and denunciation of him by his enc
mics never moved him.
He thrived on conflict and ros
stronger from each defeat, becaus
) his faith In America and Americans
/, so deep rooted that he never coul
see any final outcome to the struggl
save a complete acceptance or th
. pure and patriotic principles to whic
\ his life is devoted. He asked odds c
no man. He sought no compromis'
! Re never whimpered at any attack al
q on him. He merely fought the harae
foe the right
Even now the protest we make
further than he would go-furthe
perhaps. than he would approve. ~
II is alien TO our intent to belittle hiI
even by suggesting that mercy IS az
served or desired. Our protest Is SIN
ply that decency demands that ther
should be a cessation or virulent
tacks upon him until Senator l4aFo
lette has regained his health an
strength.
All that we ask is for adherence I
E the conditions OF civilized warfar
! Brave enemies succor and salute the
wounded foes We protest that !
havonet the wounded would be ilttI
# any more shocking inhumanity tina
m insult and denounce a political Of
ponent. OF unimpeachable lie an
character. while he is struggling
regain his health.
Yet. with deep regret, we see n
way TO avoid the conclusion thal sue
was the deplorable thing done la
Monday by the president OF u
United States in his Llncoln-day az
dress in New York. We nave pee
forced TO abandon admiration lot VI
Taft-forced by his acts and utte
ances. at times, into severe crluclslhl
But not The North American nor "
think. Mr.. Taft's far bitterer enenlle
would have aught 10 say put WORDS
sincere regret and sympathy were u
: ealth 10 give way tomorrow und'
tho heavy burden of his official dutie
And despite his known weakness
land errors, It still seems almost !
credible that President Tart couI
lining that taunt, 'neurotics, at a sic
man-and that at time when a
Americans are supposed to be und'
the spell of the memory OF mercii'
Lincoln, whose great heart marlboro
mo hate, save FOR wTong' OILY respe'
for an armed foe, only sorrow an
sympathy for stricken one.
If President Taft did not inten
zx,,oI ufhat m annlV tho sic