Arizona republican., 1912-03-17
The Party's Opportunity

We are all familiar with the habits and practices uf those intense parti- asns who. in each recurring political campaign. fill the air with predic- tions Of calamity which is to come tG pass in the event of the success of the other fellow" There are men Of this kind in both political orSaniz- atiODs. There are republicans and you have heard their prophecies in each recurring presidential contest who dcclaim SOnorously that the country is going to the demnition bow vows in the event of democratic success: and there are democrats who can see nothing but woe and disaster as the inevitable sequence of re- publican victory. And then, afte inc election. every body. incuding these partisans, settles down anI things 80 along much as they did before
 The Republican, has never taken any stock in this sort of political sensationalism. This paper believes there is no danger 10 our funda- mental institutions from democratic control of the government It does believe the country will set along a great deal better when the govern ment is administered according to republican policies-in fact, the truth of that assertion seems to have been pretty well established. The demo- cratic party serves an extremely use must be admitted that it has been unfortunate as a constructive organ ization. largely because of its mis- taken policy as a free trade party. But it is cheerfully conceded that the historic democratic party is as sin cere in it's feaIty to the basic prin- ciplcs of representative government as is the republican party itself.
 But there is an element in the democratic party. just as there is an elemcnt-a smaller element. it is be- lieved-in the republican party, the essence of whose belief strikes at the very root of self government This is the party of LaFollette. Bryan, and the other insurgent lead CTS. IL is the socialistic branch of the two great political parties.
 It has come about that these in- surgents. democratic and republican alike. have rallied round certain so-called principle" as their central creed. This creed is the recall of judicial decisions
 This creed demands that whenever 2 court declares @ law unconstitu tional, the question shall be submit ted to popular vote. And if ma iority of the people decide the law is constitutional it shall be deemed con- stitutional. the judgment of the court to the contrary notwithstanding.
 The strength of insurgency lies in just one thing-its continual dcma gogic asseveration that il is willing 10 trust the people" The truth of the matter is that conservatism goes much farther in trusting the people than does insurgency. It credits the people with the power Of self re- straint. which insurgency does not. The self restraint here referred to is that restraint embodied i'll the con- stitution and eXemplified by it.
 Now. what is the constitution? It is series Of restraints which the people, voluntarily and after due de- liberation. have imposed upon them selves. 1t was written by the best thought of this country: and was rati- fled and adopted by every state in the union When we adopted the constitution we drew a line and we solemnly pledged ourselves not to Iegislate beyond that line The con