Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1912-11-29
WHAT OF THE FUTURE?


The election is over and we turn
from the discussion of principles, poll
cies and candidates to consideration
of the results. The past is gone,
never to return; what of the future?
o The three men who occupied the
center of. the stage have changed po-
sitions. The president retires from
the office with a few electoral votes
SO few that they only emphasize
his defeat The only consolation that
Mr.. Taft can draw from the result is
that, by sacrificing himself, he saved
the country from a third term-at
least he made certain the defeat of
Colonel Roosevelt.
History will deal with him more
kindly than the orators of the third
party have. Even the criticism of the
Democrats will be sOftened by an ap-
plication of his personal qualities and
Of the great service that he has rem
dered the country by dividing the Re
o publican party. 1t was not his inten-
ton, of course. to divide his party,
but it was the natural result of his
administration and the nation is the
Beneficiary.
He did some good things, but they
a were overshadowed by his sins Of
commission and omission. Circum'
stances were against him and he was
out of joint with the times. He was
recommended four years ago as an
impossible character-a progressive il
the west, and a "standpatter" in the
east.
He could not have fulfilled all the
expectations that were excited, an(
BY attempting for while to follow
= middle course, he alienated botl
sides so that when he finally cast il
bis lot with the "standpatters HI
aroused no enthusiasm even among
his followers.
Then, too, his popular vote, ant
hence his electoral vote, was lessene
by the fact that many who woul,
have voted for him had he had an,
chance, voted for Wilson in order t
Insure the defeat of Roosevelt. Nj
=. DOoley hit off the situation early il
the campaign by saying that Mr.. Tai
had great many friends who woul
vote for him if they did not have t
voteofor the Democratic candidate.
The Republican party is so weaker
ed by its overwhelming defeat tina
: II will find it difficult to recover. tt
chancesoare that the progressives wi
return and take charge of the part
and adopt in the next campaign
.. platform which will be compromis
between the two extremes, but so ia
Cas can be seen now Mr.. Taft ha
rounded out his political career. A
an ex-president, and as a man {
" character, he will carry to his retir'
ment the esteem and good will of tn
people and will be useful in interni
tional politics-a growing field of he
or and dignity.
Colonel Roosevelt has suffered
Febuke that will be keenly felt
him and his friends. The differenC
between his vote eight years ago an
now will be noted in history and III
less the situation is changed by f
Q ture events, the descent from h
great popularity to his present pos
ton will remain melancholy one.
The careful student, however, wi
be compelled to credit him with ha
ing performed an extraordinary feat
organizing so large a force in so sho
q time. There is an inertia IN ever
party that tends to hold the member
In line, no matter what the party 10,
do. To have taken more than half
the voting strength away from the Q
organization is an unparallele
achievement in the formation of
new party, and it is the more remar,
able when it is remembered that Il
third party candidate was handica
ped by the objections to third teri
and still further embarrassed
some of his leading supporters.
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