The Norfolk weekly news-journal., 1912-03-29

other as far as the nation is concern
ed, are purely academic. At his be.
hest the people of this country are
hearing a debate, in which he is a
lively participant, on matter that
is not at issue before the nation as
a whole.
II is strange and not particularly
edifying spectacle. 1t is great thing
to talk about the rule Of the peo-
pie" but on the question of the need
of larger conception of the rights,
responsibilities, privileges and oppor.
tunities Of the average man, there
is no division of opinion among the
many millions who cherish this land
as their home and who believe in
a democracy. Temperament may lead
some men to use superlatives in talk
ing about them and may induce 9th
ers to omit them. But when it comes
to real patriotism and love of coun-
try and humanity the one class of
peace or war, doing what he can to
maintain the integrity of the repub-
lie and the welfare of the many, just
as ardently and devotedly as the
other.
Along these lines Theodore Roose-
welt does today, as he always has,
some excellent preachments for civic
righteousness and higher national
standards of action. But he makes a
woeful and pitiful spectacle of him
self when he arrogates to his own
superior knowledge or keener moral
perception either the discovery of the
ten commandments or the new and
only correct idea of true democracy.
William Howard Taft and thousands
of the rest of his fellow countrymen,
who are rot so noisy about it, have
visions of the ideal American, as lofty
and as just in practice as anything
that has whirled out into space from
the brain Of the lion hunter and ex.
president.
What the country wants to know,
however, in these weeks that are 60
ing by so rapidly and are fraught
with such tremendous consequences
affecting the veal or woe of the ma
tons destiny, is the position of each
of the contestants in the presidential
| race, on the problems of statecraft
that will have to do with national
| legislation and administration during
the four years that loom up just ahead
of us.
| On these questions the differences
between the views of President Taft
and Col. Roosevelt are surprisingly
alike. 1t would be we'll if the siren
uosity displayed in magnifying differ
ences was being displayed in calling
attention 70 their significance, as 6
rule.
The Roosevelt policies in regard tc
the great unrestrained combinations
of big business" are the Taft poll
cies. The splendid work of restrain
and exposure and breaking up of the
trusts which the one so courageously
begun is being carried forward in the
same spirit with increased vigor b!
his successor.
On the tariff President Taft is no
at variance with Col. Roosevelt Boil
believe in a protective policy. Boil
believe in gradual reduction baseC
upon a scientific knowledge of tariff
commission. The only marked differ
ence is greatly to the credit of Presi
dent Taft. During the seven year!
that Roosevelt was president tn,
work done for reduction of the tar
if was conspiciously little. In thu
little over three years, Mr.. Taft ha
been president, there has been ;
steady persistent working toward ;
reduction in certain tariff schedules
and the president Is avowedly in ia
vor of such reductions as have beef
recommended by an able and con
scientious tariff commission.
On the arbitration treaties there i
wide divergence of opinion between
the two men and at any time Co
Roosevelt Is anxious to test the jude
ment of the country, as to whethe
the peace of the world can be ad
vanced by a wise system of arbitra
ton of international difficulties tina
may arise, such as President Taft s.
ardently advocates and which he s.
strenuously opposes, the friends o
the president will gladly accept tn
challenge and complacently await tn
verdict.
On other matters, such as labo
legislation, conservation, or the pres
Dental preference primary there i
no issue.
The referendum and recall of judge
, and decisions are matters for eacl
state to settle. Neither the presiden
nor congress has anything to do wit
datarmipino tbeSe oueStiOnS which al