South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1914-02-28


are rumOrs that republican machine
politicians may form a com bination
with Tammany for the purpose of
causing the rejection of the Mitchell
police reform bills. Such an alliance
would be a spectacle for the GODS
Chicago Record-Herald.
AMERICAN DIPLOMACY.
We Americans are apt TO plume our
selves upon our "sTnartness, our adapt
ability. our JUST -httle- better-than-
any other-race" in whatever contest
we may engage with them.
Just at this time there is offered the
most striking refutation of these
claims Both houses Of congress are
torn. irrespective of party lines. into
two divisions upon the question of free
tolls through the Panama canal, with
the weight of propriety and honor
resting with those urging the repeal
of the regulation granting that privi
lege to American constructing ship
ping.
clause making all nations equal in the
use of the canal for matters of COM
merce rests upon the Clayton-B ulwer
treaty in the drawing of which this
country practically made a partner
ship agreement with Great Britain.
Conditions changed; new plans were
considered by this country, and to fol-
low them il became necessary TO have
n new treary with England. to take
the place of the one already in eX-
istence.
Our state department failed 10 see
the full meaning of the agreements
contained in that document, or of the
application which might be made Of
them We are smart, but Great
Britain is smarter. when il comes to
the final determination of her rights
in the use of the canal.
All of which brings US to the cues
ton if this country is forever 10 have
it's interests with the balance of the
world handled by a lot of accidental
diplomats. represented by rich men,
who are rewarded for contributions
or political service, by an appointment
as ambassador TO some foreign nation,
where he basks in the social import
anCe falling to the OCCUPANT, while the
serious affairs are maltTeated through
inefficiency.
We are a great country in al re-
spects. but what we do not know about
diplomacy is one of the greatest OF
orr attributes -JacksOn Patriot.
STANDPATTSM'S LAST STAND.
There is a new and subtly contriVed,
hut neverrh eless manifest, tendency in
American politics TO turn the current
of the peoples thoughts away from
is the scholarly expression of forces
that always have been and always Will
he antagonistic to actual liberalism OF
government In certain aspects II Is
the voice of a refined partisan bosslsm.
In other sspecIs il is the voice OF IN
dividuals who would disdaln 10 De
known as partisans or share In the
omen fruits Of partisanism, but who,
notwithstanding, are jealous OF the
DreroVatiVes of power and influence
that are theirs by reason or the par
tisan system. In still other aspects IL
is the voice of a sinister and lawless
business.
1t is the spirit of delegated authority
rising to reassert itself In the reallza-
ton that the onward rush OF decade
has all but swept il to oblivion II
resides i'm both old parties, but its pre-
cmpted demesne in these days or nulu
sentiment is the old republican parry.
IL appeals To COnstituuonalisn, II IN
Weighs against "fads". IL DEGREES al
vance: it fouts a popular primary, and
il invokes the forgotten ghost Oh
states rights to prevent national con"
troll of conditions that II knows no
agency but the nation can control.
In New York. through the medium
of the newspapers that cunnlngly sus-
gested reyersion. it apotheosizes sen
ator Root as the kind of genius OF re-
publicanisn and calls upon him 10 &C
cent the domination for United states
senator. because il recognizes in Root
the only commanding figure that can
STAY the dissolution. In Indiana through
the columns of a standpat press, II de-
rides the primary because IN the write
execution of the primary principle II
sees the death warrant OF its person
aIlv conducted management of public
affairs.
Standpatism fights progress because
progress is inimical TO its own secret
concerns Its motto is: Trust 10 rs
for we ere the elect of God III govern
uent'-an extension. in these days OF
the twentieth, century. OF the divine
right" of kings-a desire 10 revive
DoliticaI serface of the multitude
that the few may continue TO fatten
bv a privilege and a plumber that are
altogether anti-social - indianapolis
Star.