St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1912-12-04
The Republican Party

1t is announced InaI pAOhAASA1
republicans throughout the country
are planning a meeting in New York
or Washington about the middle of
December for the purpose of reor-
ganizing the republican party. We
would ask why this haste? To our
mind activity on the part Of the
republicans, beyond finishing their
work at the short session of congress-
is not demanded. 1t would seem
that a period OF waiting will be OF
greater political advantage than IN
due activity at present.
The republican party has been the
sponsor for certain principles that
promise to be attacked by the party
which won in the last election.
While these principles have been rel
egated 70 the rear for the time they
have in them enough virtue to en-
courage the belief the people will
turn to them again. If we are
right the republicans can well afford
to wait and see how the attempt to
destroy them will be received by the
people. We believe that the prin-
ciples of a reasonable attitude to-
ward capital and labor that will pre-
vent each from harming the other,
a continued championship of the
protection of American industry and
labor in the tariff policy, an unswerv-
ing support of constitutional gov
eminent and a foreign policy that
will enlarge American influence and
commerce are strong assets of the
party that will bring it back into pub
lie favor. To stand firmly for these
is the best politics for the party and
the best service that can be rendered
the country for the present.
Pres. Taft in his campaign for
reelection stood for nothing the
party needs to repudiate. His
whole program was intended to pro-
mote the general welfare of the
country and none of his principles
were dangerous. A majority of the
American people if they had the OPP
portunlty to vote on them free from
any personal influences would GER
tainly declare for them. In fact no
majority of the people has declared
against them. This is shown by the
popular vote, nearly complete re-
turns of which have been received. |
These returns snow that Mr.. Wilson
received 6,156,74S votes this year
while Mar. Byran received 6,409, 104
in 1908. So as a matter of fact
there were 252,356 less people in
the country in favor of the demo-
cratic policies in 1912 than there
were four years ago. The vote for
Taft and Roosevelt combined was T.
3O4,582. This shows that the peo-
pie in America who voted in oppo-
sition to democratic principles ex-
ceeded those who voted for them by
1 1877, 1914. The only reason they did
not win at the polls was they were
divided and the democrats were
united So the republicans need
have no anxiety about their princip- ;
les simply because a minority hap
pened to win through the division
In their own ranks.
The republican defeat was de-
feat of party leaders rather than
party principles and it is
90 early to pick leaders
who can unite the party again.
srs who can unite the party again.
are still too bitter and
he strongest men are not yet in
evidence. These reasons lead us
o think that the republican party
will do better to stand by it's prin-
.iples which have not been defeated
md study its possibilities Of strong
until It can make a more
Intelligent choice than at present.