The Blackfoot optimist. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1907-1918, 1912-10-17

ard. 1t has been sponsor for every
forward movement in legislation for
the regulation and protection of Amer
can industries and lator, for the con-
servation of our natural resources an6
Cor the maintenance of the national
honor
In the face of such a record of great
deeds a group of fanatical theorists
and political pharisees are engaged in
an attempt to wreck the Republican
party and subvert the very founda-
tons of the Republic in order that
they may seize the reins Of govern
ment The promoters Of this SEGA led
crusade have sought to cloak their
selfish designs and delude the public
by the assumption of re,igiors fer ,or,
the singing of revival hymns and tie
blasphemous professions CT superb hit.
eousness interlarded with appea's to
the noble and generous emotions of
mankind.
Incredible as it may seem, the as
saults Of these political crusaders
against the Republican party are di-
rected by leader who for nearly tn. :
ty years has been the beneficiary Of
every honor within the party's and
the peoples gift They have seized on
the term "Progressiveism' to express
their flea-like energy of motion, and
under its comprehensive wings the
have gathered nearly all Of the "isms'
that pass for convictions in the minds
Of neophytes for the offices and spoils.
The people Of the United States are
asked to abandon government by party
and, in the name Of progress, adopt
government at the behest of one man,
who not only summons his own con-
ventions but selects who shall sit in
them, molds their convictions, dictates
their platforms and declares himself
their nominee.
It is here fitting to confess that the
writer has cherished an admiration
and affection for Theodore Roosevelt
for which he has no excuse to make.
Their friendship was nurtured in init
mate mutual association with Preside, {
Mckinley and cemented in common
grief over his untimely and wicked
assassination. Not until Mr.. Roose-
velt's better self was submerged in
his overmastering ambition, so as to
obliterate every sense Of gratitude to
his party and his friends, was it posi-
bic to conceive that anything could
occur toibreak their cordial relations
But in this matter the writer's expert
ence differs only I'M degree from that
of others Of his fellow citizens and
need not concern us farther.
The Inter Ocean believes in respons:
BILE party government as distinguished
from government by even the ablest
and most disinterested Of individuals.
or by the temporary passions Of null
titndes. Through party government
the British people have achieved the
most democratic Of monarchies, and
through party government the United
States Of America has attained its
pre-eminent position among the repub.
lies Of the world, ancient or modern.
It is sheer faulty to PROPOSE to sub.
stitute the undigested theories of ini-
tiaive. referendum and recall for the
attested advantages Of responsible rep
resentative govrnment. No crisis Ct
fronts the American people that ca
for them to abandon the staunch ship
of experience for the experimental COG.
ke-shells Of discomfort. They will
not sacrifice the substance. for the ir-
descent shadow.
And, finally.
The Inter Ocean pledges itself with
AL the power at its command to fight
those twin devils Of anarchy-the Re-
call Of Judges and the Recall Of Judi.
cial DecisiOns