The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1914-02-27

was known that the then dominant
party had carried but two states, the
opinion quite generally prevailed
that one of the most interesting and
remarkable chapters in the annals OF
political parties was drawing to a
close. Indomitable and aggressive,
directing with remarkable skill and
judgment the coure OF government
for fifty years, the party now seemed
nearing complete disorganization.
But the signs were misread. 1t was
not dissolution but evolution. This
fearful wreck simply proved in a
grim, conclusive way that a new era
in politics had been ushered in, that
the voters had determined in their
own way that the organization of
the party must be at all times the
servant and not the master, that po-
litical parties, regardless Of their
traditions and past achievements,
must be kept and conducted on a
high plane, and held in touch with
the demands and needs of the hour.
subsequent events disclosed that the
latter, Interpretation was correct.
'arhe first call to arms after the
defeat was out in the great state of
Nichigan-out there among those
people where over half century ego
at a meeting under the oaks the
party was organized. In that con-
test, through the sheer courage and
party devotion of the rank and file,
the republican ticket won over all
comeptitors. Not only hundreds but
thousands who recorded their votes
of protest in the preceding election
renewed their allegiance to the re-
publican party. The same thing in
the same way happened in the con-
gressional election in Maine. The
spring registration in several states
disclosed the same tendency. In the
last November election in the state
of New Jersey nearly a hundred
thousand who had voted the third
ticket returned, in Maryland fifty
thousand out of fifty-seven thousand.
In other states the same trend was
equally marked and unmistakable.
This exceptional showing was almost
as startling as the result of the pre-
vious November election. 1t brought
from the brilliant young chairman
of the now dominant party the pub
lished statement that the real ad-
versary of his party in the next cam
paign would be no other than the
republican party.
"To whom do we owe thise revi-
val of party strength, this resusci-
tation of party power? To the or
ganization? Certainly not. To lear
ership? Certainly not, Had some
Sheridan overtaken the routed forces
and called them back to order and
victory? Certainly not. We owe
it to the party loyalty, the courage
the high and steadfast purpose OF
the republican voters. Those who
had dared to tear down, dared to
rebuild, and to do SO upon broad
lines and in harmony with the true
historic bent of the organization,
with past achievements and future
obligations. 1t was singular exhi-
bition of self-restraint, citizenship
and of party loyalty. To record
their protest and return with such
remarkable unity was to place con-
viction and party ideals above posi-
tion and power, and to measure duty
not by the passing advantages of
office or station, but by the funda-
mental obligations of citizenship.
1t demonstrated that to those men
republicanism is not an expediency
but vital, element principle of So
cial development, a distinct and posi-
tive exposition of government, a Pc.
tential agency of constant advance
and progress, recording from time
to time great statutes and construct
ing great institutions of government
and that neither the Indifferent self.
ishness of entrenched conservatism
nor the chagrin and confusion of de-
feat could long change its course mol
stay it's progress.
There is no mistaking what al
this means. 1t means that the voters
of the party are too independent tt
condone what they conceive to BIZ
mistake or a wrong and too wise
to abandon permanently the name
the traditions, the purpose anG
honor, that they and their forbears
have established and built uI
through fifty years of relentless po
litical warfare. 1t means that the
voters who have been reared in this
world renowned school Of republican
politics are after all bound together
by a common conviction and domin'