New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-08-02
STATING THE ISSUES.

IN his speech of acceptance yester-
day President Taft skilfully empha-
sized the two great issues on which his
campaign for reelection is 10 he made.
The larger question to he decided by
the voters is whether they want TO
intrust the administration Of the gov
ernment for four years more 70 party
pledged TO orderly and rational pollu-
al progress or 80 turn II over 10 one
Of two rival parties both committed 10
rash and revolutionary experimental
ton. The President has demonstrated
HAT he stands for cOnstitutionaliSm IL
all that the term implies. He believes
hat no movement toward social JUS
lice" can succeed which does not
recognize the Importance OF the limlta-
tons which the founders Of the govern
ment put upon popular action.
Mr.. Taft's denomination at Chicago
vas a notable victory for those who
hold that the rules of self-restrant
which the American people have so
far gladly lived up to are still binding
nd Salutary. In protecting individual
and property rights and assuring the
Independence Of the judiciary as bar
against the aggreSsions of temporary
najoritieS the trainers Of the COnStitu-
don felt that they were doing some
thing absolutely essential to the pres
ervation Of liberty and justice. But
new prophets have arisen who are SOW
ing dissatisfaction with the constitu-
tional guarantees which impede the alb
solute sway Of a majority and who are
promising 10 weaken or overthrow the
barriers which separate representative
government from pure democracy. II
Mr.. Taft's view Colonel Roosevelt and
Governor Wilson are equally the pre-
cursors Of system Of state socialism,
and though he acquits them Of "con-
sciously embracing socialism" it is
plain that he sees in their sweeping
appeals TO the spirit Of unrest and
their vague suggestions Of legislative
panaceas for al possible causes Of dis
satisfaction definite assault on the
essentials Of the present political order.
His own candidacy becomes. therefore,
the natural refuge of all those who
want TO see The present individualistic
order maintained against the encroach-
ments of socialism paraded under the
auise Of social Justice
rhe second issue Of the campaign.
which Is to some extent included in
the first Is that Of maintaining ma
tional prosperity against the attacks OF
those who want TO bring On an eco
Doraic as well as social and political
revolution. The reckless tariff revision
threatened 10y the Democratic party
would undoubtedly carry in its train
business disaster and pinching restric-
ton Of employment The Democratic
party. If successful In 1912, would play
the same havoc with American indus
try which it played in 1892. when 1t
was last successful. These two issues
are felicitously Joined in the para
graph near the close Of the Presidents
speech in which he says:
I cannot think that the American
people. after the scrutiny and educa-
iTion OF a three months campaign, dur
Ing which they viii be able TO see
through the fog Of Misrepresentation
and demagogery, will fail to recognize
that the two great issues which are
here presented TO them are, first,
whether we shall retain on q sound
and permanent basis, our popular con-
stitutional representative form Of gov
.rument, with the independence Of the
Iudiciary as q necessary key TO the pres
,rvation OF those liberties that are the
Inheritance Of one thousand years, and,
second. whether we shall welcome pros
perity which Is just ct our door by
maintaining our present economic busi-
ness basis and by the encouragement
OF business expansion and progress
through legitimate Use Of capital.
On that presentation Of his case Mr..
Taft IS entitled to the support OF
Americans Of whatever party who be-
Iieve that representative republican
ism is better system than state so
cialism and that business prosperity
is more desirable than amateur OK
perimentation with free trade. He
may confidently look for non-Dartisan
rallying TO his standard comparable
to the steady sweep OF public senti'
ment which carried President McKin-
ley 10 victory In 1899.
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