The Detroit times., 1912-12-11

Under a system OF government like
that OF the United States. no matter
how sweeping party's victory at the
polls may be or how well It's conduct
and policies may seem TO suffice tho
needs OF the time, there will always
be an active party OF opposition; and.
for the good OF the country, there al
ways should be. This will be as true
after March the fourth next as II was
a year or a decade ago. II is incon-
ceivable that the incoming Demo.
cratic administration will 20 its way
without criticism or challenge. And
Il Is fortunate for Democracy, as well
as for the people. that such will be
the case: for thus the party will be
kept continually on It's mettle and will
be stimulated to render its best pos
sible service; II Will be warned
against abuses OF power and held to
the straight path OF patriotic duty.
From what quarter. then, may the
Democrats look for this inevitable op-
position? There are some who be-
lieve that II will find its center and
craftsmanship In the so-called PRO
gressive,' or Roosevelt, party. The
historic Republican party, they tell
us, is dead and done for and will
never again furnish an effective rally
ing point of opposition to Democracy.
This view, we believe, Is altogether
erroneous. II is not with the pellmel
principles OF Mr.. Roosevelt, but with
the sobersided old adherents OF the
Republican faith that Democrats must
reckon In future politics. There Is no
denying the fact that there would
have been no third party In the last
national campaign without the per-
sonal factor OF Mr.. Roosevelt him
self
But let us suppose that the third
party Is Independent OF this personal
element: let US Judge its future sole
ly by its professed principles. II has
been truly said that "a distinct party
has 70 have something distinctive" In
order to persist, It must represent ma
tional policies for which neither OF
the other parties stand; II must bid
fair to accomplish results which Meth
er OF the others can bring about Is
this true Of the so-called Progress
sive' party? Certainly II Is not.
Many of the things advocated In it's
program are matters for state, not for
federal action. Most OF its principles
which are practical or praiseworthy
are already embodied in one, II not In
both, of the other parties. Its one
distinctive feature In the campaign
was the fact that 1t was Mr.. Roose-
yelt's vehicle for a third-term quest.
X advocated continuance OF the pro
tective tariff along lines already
marked out; but so did the Republican
party. II clamored for the overthrow
OF political bosses. but the Democrats
had already wrought that doctrine
into definite results at The Baltimore
convention. II urged the conserva
ton OF natural resources and SO did
the Democratic and the Republican
platforms. The truth is, when the so
called Progressive" program 10 sifted
of its generalities and reduced TO its
specific terms, there remains nothing
on which to define, much less to main.
tain, q separate party.
II Is to be noted furthermore. that
this spasmodic movement has no ap-
preciable strength In either house OF
congress, nor. with few exceptions,
In the state legislatures. II 10 az un-
organized as II Is indefinite. It lacks
the means, the machinery with which
to accomplish practical results.
or such fiimsy and scattered ma
terial, no opposition party worthy the
name can be made. II is not from
the Roosevelt quarter. therefore. that