The Richfield recorder. (Richfield, Idaho) 1909-1931, 1912-09-19


Every citizen of Idaho should read Senator Borah's Mer-
idian address, setting forth his views of national politics.
1t is a masterpiece. To some little-souled men, it is not
regular to some alarmists on either side, it is not explicit
enough for their present political party name. But to the
great mass of sober, independent voters, who want a A
and not a dancing puppet worked by a string, it IS one ofthe
strongest, most satisfactory. most helpfully revolutionary pol
itcal documents since Lincoln wrote the Emancipation Pro
clamation.
Pretty strong praise?
Yes, but true. For 40 years, both the great political par
ties have been largely what a few powerful leaders declared
them to be. TO follow their lead, was regulars; to declare
ones own rights after the leaders had spoken, was treason.
There is not on record anywhere else, the inevitable protest
of any really great man against this intellectual slavery with
in ones party. No man, though he steal a thousand dele
gates and make it unanimous. has a right to say that He is
the party. The Recorder has vehemently challenged the
snobbish belief that in the will or the favor of a few power
full political leaders,, lies the real wish of the republican--or
the emocratic--party both of them made up of sovereign
American citizens, without king or serf among them. But
the Recorder wasn't a L. S. senator, going before the people
on a partisan election. There have been many who revolt,
by gong to other parties; none who go directly to the PEG
pie for approval. There have been broken-hearted cutters;
there have been solemn, ~sepuchral oysters who said nothing,
whatever they may have thought. But there have been no
Martin Luthers, defying the sellers of papal indulgences tho
revering the Church; no political John Weseys, standing out
alone against a form-ridden ritual hateful to the individual
first war cry against privilege masquerading as patriotism.
against personal arrogance that steals the people rule.
What would you have---an intellectual slave? The SEN
ate has been cursed with the Clarks and the Guggenheins
and the Standard Oil Baileys and the Burtons and an unut-
terable list OF regulars $50 regular that a perfect rect
angle would look wabbly and zigzag in comparison; men to
whom a theft or a betrayal was a virtue, did it but bear the
party name put lnefe by one powerful DOSS. would you
have a moral leper, Haunting the shameful badge of a man
whom he in his heart knew was wearing stolen honors? Or
a mental derelict, doubling the evidence of his own eyes and
saying that what he thought a crime was after all a credit,
and shifting the matter of conscience over on to 'the party,
as Plate shifted his responsibility on to the Jew bosses? Or
do the other side expect him to leave the party of his youth.
of his splendid manhood, as a play-vilan would force a mai
den to desert home or lover>to save life or honor? He does
not wish to leave the republican party where he has done all
his great work-would you have him forswear himself to an
other party? Would you have a senator who would sit up
like a trained bear with a brass collar around his neck. and
beg for an office at the hands ola few political peanut vendors?
NO! The people of Idaho want a Man, not a slave, not
a parrot, not a c rlmlnaE not a hypocrite, to represent them.
"A man to whom theft IS repugnant, whether it be stealing
the Idaho farmers market through reciprocity, or the Idaho
homesteader's life through harsh laws, or the Idaho state
lands through il-appied conservation, or a presidential nom
nation by the benefciaries of a thousand thefts. Senator
Borah has a right to his opinion on the presidency; when he
says that the Chicago convention was stolen for Taft, he can
never again be an honest man and support the theft. 1.-THE
who steals for you, will steal from you and no honest
friend could wish him to prove SO mean a thief as to beg for
office at the price of honor. I
The Recorder does not know. or care, who Borah sup
ports for president. 1t is enough to know that he is a nat E
figure for his senatorial ability, integrity, and sanity;
ne got his power from the people, and that he is the
strongest peoples advocate the West has ever sent; that he Il
neither steal, nor lie, nor beg nor turn traitor for office;
be has the courage to refuse to wear any mans badge;
that, dlsbeheving in a score of the principal acts and in the q
honesty of the nomination. of the president, he is able to see A
that to endorse the man IS to dishonorably endorse his acts: T
hat he has made more good legislation than any man ever
from the west; and that the people KNOWit The eff
ort to make him wear a servile livery will fail; for he will
Welcome defeat rather than degradation. 81
1t is for Idaho to honor herself by again choosing a real IL
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