The citizen., 1913-04-04
THE AMALGAMATION OF TIE
( TWO REPUBLICAN PARTIES.

THE AMALGAM ALTON OF TIE
TWO REPUBLICAN PARTIES. 1
The efforts now heinz attempted anj
the discussion -oing on looking to the
union Of the regular Republicans and the
progressive Republicans are Of especial
public interest.
Besides the interest in the question Of
itself it involves the public welfare. 1t
is true that the personal ambition Of one
man and his oycrweanina egotism had
much to DO if not most to do. with the
organization of the Progressive party rs
a distinct party, and if their was moth
ing more than that involved in the pro
gressive movement by the Republicans,
there would he little difficulty between
the two wings Of the Republican party,
and there would be little difficulty in
uniting under the old banner as under a
new name and new flag
As it looks now it would be an impos-
sible task to bring about union of the
two parties, SO bitter are they against
each other and so utterly discordant are
their views and policies.
If they held the same views as to
great principles and differed only on men
and details there would be no difficulty
in any two parties amalgamating but
when the division is on principles,
union between any two parties would
seem impossible
The old line, or regular Republicans,
believe in protection per Sc, in the sys-
TEN Of trusts and combination Of capital
as a necessity to bic business, and in big
business as a necessity to the people Of
the United States.
In other words they believe that COM
petition is an impossible theory and is
buried in the dead past and can never be
restored in the active business system of
the country
In word, the old line or regular Re
publieans believe that the biz business
combinations AMI banks should have the
right to exploit all the rest Of the people,
and has granted to this class the special
privilege to take from the people all they
can get under the form of law. without
G regard to justice or the rights of the
n people.
j Aud this system of plunder ha, been
il the policy Of the Republican parity for
fifty years and in which time a few men
:, have accumulated nine tenths of the
wealth of the country. This startling
y condition gave rise to the division of the
= Republican party at Chicago last year.
c While Mr.. Roosevelt and his personal
Z ambition anG eeotism had most to do
h, with the organization of the Progres
" sive party, antecedent conditions and the
: position assumed by band Of patriotic
,e Republicans in the House of Represen-
Ii, tatives and in the United States Senate
p had laid the foundation for a progressive
ST party 50 called. There is, perhaps,
inothing significant in the name progress
re- slve, and it hardly amounts to an organ
III ism, but the party organized under that
tic name evidently embraces large majority
nIof the best men that previously consti
$ tured the regular Republican party The
platform Of the Progressive party is not
<None that can live in the light Of reason,
because much of it is not sound politics
and much of it so impossible Of realiza-
oltion as to be no more than an irridescent
i, ,lream But taken all in all the progress
,neive movement among the Republicans
litSas and is a deep-rooted protest for deep
e e. looted causes, against the tenents and
Mt policies of the old Republican party.
ri And it is an impossible hope that the
great body of the so-called progressives
IAN ever reunite with the old organiza-
r ion. The original band Of progressiyes
re able, honest and patriotic men with
xed principles, and they will never re-
)nmnt their convictions They are bitterly
10 ostile to the tariff robbery, the trust
.Jiobbery, the big business robbery, and
,atre in favor of the strict enforcement of
the antitrust laws and the rights Of the
, eople.
Fl And for still greater reason these men J
cknow full well that their constituents at
Id