Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-01-18
TOO Sly POLITICS.

(IrOm the New 1OTK fOSt.D
Americana are Just now having "a stir
course in subtly ingenious theories Of
political goings on The plain. blunt
man. asking for light ana seeking real
tiles. may be pardonod for acting ms one
bewildcred. He is very early told that
he must not believe anything he sees.
and that is u fixed principle OF politi
cal interpretation that Things arc not
what they seom. His plight ia like that
Of Sir Wilf,id Lawson at the time wher.
as w. relates in Inns autobiographv, he
applied 10 r. ". Russell for information
about ireland 'Ccrt1luly," replied Rus
SELL out before sc begin, you must
remember that there are no facts in Ire
land" We might be FORGIVEN for con
cluding that there arc. at present. II,
facts in tho American political situa-
ton. There are no faces; there are only
masks. There are no candidates; there
are only stalking horses Every thing is
inys terious, everything indirect. All ap
pearances arc MISLEADING and the only
certain thing is that YOU cannot he Ger
tain Of anything philosophy Of uni
versai doub. has for the tim, being. set
tlci down upon American politics.
/ In Your simplicity. YOU fall into con
Nersation with one Of these mystic read
ors OF cryptic things In the world po-
litica!, and YOU inuocenOy lay befor"
him your unsophsticated view Of af-
fairs. He turns upon you ritying eye.
Are you so credulous as that" And
hen he proceeds to explain to your halt
ing understanding the inner meaning OF
every movement and the secret aim Of
every conspiracy. Little by little you
every mysterious truths. You learn
that the great effort is. not to elect Il
presideni this year but to nominate 3
candidate who will surely tie defeated.
Then you are Informed that 1912 is Of
the least possible importance anyhow.
md that 1915 is the year big with fate.
All the mnnOcuVring and Intriguing ana
campaigning in either party now are
really related ~ the election four years
away About tina, Of next November n
ruiz astute politician cares straw.
Like the dying gladiator. his thoughts
are far away Is 1t to he supposed tina
Roosevelt and his friends are busting
about simply FOR tnls year OF grace? All.
no; their hearts hcinG those Of youth.
are "fillei with lona. Ions thoughts.
Not now but -four years from now -
their great blow to be struck Similarly
with Bryan; 10 him. also. 1872 means
nothing. 1915 everything. And all the
other politicians are so devilish sly that
none of them means what he says or
shoots where he looks. II you can be-
liove the knowing fellows who explain
! it all TO your ignorance, it may be said
Of every public man In this country to-
day. as Tallyrand said of Chateaubri-
and: when he Is not intriguing he Ia
traffclsing'
No novel with a hidden plot. no drama
with subterranean vaccinations. could
eQual the righteousness of the rela-
lions OF l.aJFollette and Roosevelt, as
they are now daily set forth. The two
have a mutual understanding. and they
also distrus: and hate each other fierce
~. They are playing into each others
hands, and at the same time are shifting
each other under the fifth rib. The
! friends and agents of Roosevelt are
working night and day for IaFollette,
and likewise are betraying him shame
lessly. There is clearly some kind OF
combination between them. but what Ia
I it? Possibly what the late Lord James
of Hereford called. in the case Of SIR
( John Gorst and Randolph Churchill. "a
poacher's ombination--namely a point
CT TO find game and Il greyhound to run
/ 1t down" But that does not help US 10
decide, In the hunting together or La
I Toilette and Roosevelt which is the
pointer and which Is the greyhound
! We admit that i, e, barely possible
that these cocksurc decipherers of oar
political c.yptograWs are TOO clever ~
half 1t may he tlat they first invent
the deep intriGuts which they then cX-
plain. If ones ni.a falls away baffled
and weary from Al his parade Of pu2-
zeo ami explanaN.-. OF dark things by
still darker, a 80" n comfort may pc, =
ihaps he exirac rom dwelling upon
the plain and 'ious considerations
which. occur to who sometimes feel
with Sir Andrew .uccheek, that th.N
have mo more Wit ;han a Christian OF
AN ordinary man bI,." They can, after
all see a few fact, and broad rules r
political conduct Parties are not 80 DIFF
fcrent from tl.r rnen who compose them.
They like TO Win. ana they like to win
right away. Wnrn hoy 90 iuto fight.
they do not wish their leaders Ia hc as
ihis contest doesnt '''n' ana 'h't No"
'., !" "''' ''"" .. nv