The commercial. (Union City, Tenn.) 190?-193?, 1914-11-13
The Political Outlook.


lucky had, not to hotter till cut OF the
woods" and the Democrats may well
heed the warning. g.
III ,he elections OF 1912 the Democrat:
upon a minority vote swept the country
They passed in triumph through a lane
made by very nearly equal division o.
the Republicans. The new Congress:
came IN with Democratic majority
dangerously large. To the leadership
OF President very able and very resolute
the party owes its escape from disaster.
For this much it may indeed thank
God for Wilson,"
The incidents of Tuesdays voting dc
not matter much. In Pennsylvania il
was the tariff; ia New York it was chaos.
That which was accomplished OF definite
moment was the elimination OF Theo.
dore Roosevelt and his condottieri as a
political force, recruiting the Democrats
and menaeing the Republicans.
The Bull Moose is no longer an un-
known quantity. Those Republicans
who fell under the spell OF mock hero
and a yearning for better things viii
have to fade into the Tess aliuring re-
course OF Democracy. Those who were
merely playing politics" have already
returned 10 Republican ranks. Our
Wandering Minstrel OF Oyster Bay may
continue to agitate. Such spirit as his
is unlikely ever to be queled. But he
will no further hurt, or help, anybody.
In general way there would seem to
be reaction against the breakpeck speed
of riotous reform, which should convey
a lesson to both parties. The Democrats
especially need to give this ear and
thought. 1t is OF good fortune for them
that they have already put upon the
statute books enough of constructive
legislation for trial trip through 1915.
This they certainly owe to tie Presi-
dents leadership.
By the arrival OF the next quadrennial
Presidential period, the revised Tariff
will have been in operation quite two
years. The Republicans will change it
at their peril. The business depression
incident not to the Tanff but to the war
in Europe will probably have passed
away 1t accounts for many votes
particularly in the East-of last Tues
davis election. In the event that times
have frightened and fears iightened, the
advantage will whip back to the party
in power, as the existing depression was
charged to its account, and Woodrow
Wilson will be his own successor. He
is an able man who is not surrounded
by a body Of friends that know precisely
what they want. Yet he, no less than
his party, will be wise not to be over
confident
Save in the matter OF Mexico, he has
been right to the core. There he may
have to revise his policy, and that will
involve dangers of no ordinary sort.
The Mexican question may indeed be
the paramount issue OF 1916. Assum-
ing that the New Congress will stand pat
.upon the work OF the Congress that is
nassing from the scene, it is likely that
mot only Mexico but all our Foreign Re-
lations will engross the attention and
interest Of the people. In this event the
Administration and the Congress will
find themselves face to face with party
we'll led and we'll equipped for taking
advantage of circumstances.
The President we say the
Schoolmaster-- an academlcIan-
perhaps a political ideaiist- has shown
himself much given to the doctrines OF
sweetness and light which animate the
professional purveyors OF the Uplitt.
Where these doctrines are not mere
literary stimulants, not TO say decora-
lions. they are sociaiistic fads. They
recall many historic examples OF the
visionary and empiric. craftsmanship
is 4 bard selfish science built upon the
serra frma Of the popular level. When
It SETS out to soar the Detachable Mount
aims il is likely to fail even before 1t
reaches the River of Doubt.
righteousness. which has become
she big word OF the political takers, is its
keynote. Righteousness" is very hard
90 attain in single community united
bv grace Of God. II is delusion and
a snare when seriously attempted as a
practical agency in public affairs. All
Of US Republicans and Democrats alike
ARE righteous. !" or at least we claim
to be, and, where there are voters to be
guiled by the outcry, he fools best who