The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1913-03-06
THE PRESENT HOUR.

Not since Abraham Lincoln enter
ed the White house in 1857 has a
new president taken office at so crltl-
cal time as the present. All demo-
Gratis may profitably, in an hour big
with destiny pause to take stock or
difficulties. 1t tends both to courage
and to clear sight to face the ordeal
that confronts US.
In the internal affairs of the Unit
ed States, two questions OF the trSt
magnitude press for immediate solu-
ton The republicans in 1908 made
definite promises of tariff reform,
only to break them deliberately in
1909. Four precious years have
been lost. Tariff revision has now
to coincide with war in Europe,
a revolution in Mexico and popular
absorption in the second great re-
form confronting us-that of the
currency.
Both in time aud in Importance,
the tariff question comes first. All
other abuses, broadly speaking, are
grounded in the tariff abuse. But
the Investigations of the Pujo Com
mittee and the testimony OF Morgan.
Baker and others have thrown a
lurid light upon the dangers arising
out of centralized financial power.
The tariff comes up for revision
with the people thinking more about
the Money trust than about the tar
if.
Now in constructive legislation,
the rule that takes precedence OF all
others is lone thing at a time Ours
is government by public opinion.
Public opinion is always most effec-
tive when concentrated. A demo-
cratic congress is called upon to re-
wise the tariff with the public atten-
ton divided. The situation is much
more difficult than that which the
republicans confronted in 1909.
The way to tariff revision is. new
ertheless, plain and clear. In the
final analysis the tariff question is
simply one of fairness and honesty
IN the use of the powers of govern
ment. We have a body of expert
democratic lawmakers in congress.
The party knows what it promised.
1t needs but to revise downward the
iniquitous metal, WOODEN, cotton and
lumber schedules, with incidental at
tention to such stronghOlds of privi-
fege as the rates on manufactured
rubber, to command the approval Of
the country.
But with regard to the currency
the nation labors under the disad-
vantage of vivid perception of the
evils it would see corrected, associat-
ed with no well-developed conception
of the necessary remedies. The cur
rency question is in the first stage
Of discussion we are just finding
no. &c ha with
the early summer, The Republic, edi-
torially, made certain allegations re-
specting the concentration OF bank
ing powers in the United ! States.
This was then new ground. Those
allegations have been most strikingly
confirmed by the Pujo committee
testimony.
The nation is in the position of
one to whom an imminent danger
has been suddenly revealed. Now,
jus. in proportion as the need for
remedial legislation is acute, the i'm
portance of applying nothing but
the right remedy increases.
The best thing the democracy can
do Just now toward the solution of
the currency question is to give the
country a careful and statesmanlike
revision of the tariff. The party will
stand or fall in the opinion of the
nation by the way it performs It's
initial task The country is thor
oughly informed upon the tariff ques-
ton. If, with the prestige of tar
if revision which combines wisdom
with thoroughness, the democracy
approaches the currency question, it
will be upborne and strengthened by
the public confidence. 1t will be
able to command advice and COOP
Grafton such as are only placed at
the disposal Of the deserving.
The Mexican revolution is the third
factor in the present uneasiness.
Thus far the situation has been wise
" handled But there is much in
fammable material. No man can
say at what moment some sudden
frenzy of a mob in Mexico, some act
of a European power greedy OF ad-
vantage in the moment of MexicO's
need or an error of judgment on the
part OF one of our soldiers or sailors
may bring on that clash of arms in
the face of which laws are silent and
questions OF internal policy cease to
interest the popular mind.
1t is moment heavy with respon-
sibility to all democrats; to the presi-
dent-elect. choosing his cabinet with
out the possibility of foreseeing what
may be the supreme questions which
the coming days shall ask; to the
leaders in congress, facing tasks
rightfully imposed upon them and
tasks also which are the result OF
the cowardice and bad faith Of q
former congressman; to the demo
cratic press, to which the public
looks to express the spirit and tenn
per of the coming administrations;
and to the rank and file of the party,
who, after all, constitute the real
reservoir of its strength.
Such crisis should sink all fac
tional differences The democracy
is about to be tried as no party in
this republic has been tried for half
hundred years. The petty jockey
ing of mere political tacticians counts
for little in such an hour. We are
to stand or fall on our actual devo-
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