Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1912-09-11
THE GROWTH or PROTESTS.

No one can tell what a public pro-
test will look like after it has at
tanned it's full growth. Protests oft
en- change as they develop, and Lead
to unexpected results.
That was true in reference to the
protest Of the Colonists against
taxation without representation.
When they first revolted they
did not contemplate separ-
alton from the mother country.
All that they then desired was re
lief from unjust taxation; buta the
armed conflicts which followed call
ed for sacrifices, and those sacrific-
es kindled the fires Of patriotism
and lead to the Declaration of indie
pendence.
Other historical precedents, of
similar nature, could be cited. They
all show that protests Of full growth
may not resemble the young plant in
any respect. They all show thai
the change Of purpose, on the part
OF the protesting delegates to the
Taft convention at Chicago, is not
at all surprising.
When several hundred delegates at
that convention refused to vote for
presidential candidate, it is safe
q to say that not to exceed a score OF
them contemplated a separation from
the old party and the establishment
&os an entirely new political organiza-
ton. But their protest broadened,
{ and sacrifices followed, and today a
new political party is crossing the
Ithreshold Of our national history.
The line OF demarkation between
the standpat republican party and
4 the new progressive organization could
not be much broader: 1t is as wide
as the dividing line between the po-
litical parties OF European countries,
and much broader than the line be
B tween the new party and the old his
toric democratic party Of Jefferson
and Jackson and Wilson. 81
In fact, there are but few poll!tl-
cal differences between the followers
OF Bryan and Wilson, and those OF
Roosevelt and La Toilette, They all
want to change many existing con-
ditions. They differ only as to
methods Of procedure to secure the
same results. S: ..s
"A government by the people is OF
necessity a government by political
/ parties, because individuals can not
4 accomplish results by each acting
separately. And people naturally di.
vide into two parties, namely: into
those who are satisfied with existing
conditions and those who desire
x changes. h.
In several countries those who are
opposed to changes are called con
.servatives, q and those who desire
u changes are called liberals. It wa:
not a MISSIONER to, cali the domi
q nant factor OF the republi lean par
ty standpat, because that is 1T
chief characteristic feature. The sim
& liar party in England is called tn
Tory or Conservative party. And TO-
like reasons 1t was quite proper t
call the dominant, or controlling Sec
\ ton OF the democratic party, pro
i gressive. because its members desir
progression, and there can be no pro
4 gression without change, The part,
Z Of corresponding desires in Canad
and Great Britain is called the lib
eral party.
The men who call themselves demo
Gratis, yet do not desire many change
in governmental affairs, are onl
j democrats dn name; they are stand
patters in fact. And the republican
who is not a ST andpatter in fact, ha
no rightful place in the republica
party as now organized and admin
stored. Now this is our guess: Tn
silent protests Of the 300 or more dele.
gates in the Taft convention will u
timately result in a REIMBURSEMENT o
party lines in this country. Progress
sive democracy will win this year
L and be so administered as to win tn
support of progressive republican
and forfeit the support Of standpa
democrats.