The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1914-04-03
Republication and Harmony.


very suggestion of a coalition with
the Republican party. IL is apparent
that their attitude represents to a
great extent tactical play" or to
\ express Il as many Of them do il pri-
vatoly, they consider 1t politically in
eXpcdicnt to enter INFO an agreement
with the Republicans at this time be-
cause to do 50 would deprive them
Of the opportunity CT forcing as adj
vantagcous terms as it miaht be
possible for them to effect if a COM
bination were delayed until important
elections arc impciNling.
Consequently If The question CT
reaching a common ground of asree-
ment between Republicans and },
grossivcs was to be left fer settle
ment entirely to the Judgement Of
those who represent the strictly po-
litical element in both organizations
we could not hope for the most favor
able results, because ii is very c,
dent that each set CT politicians woul
view the situation largely in the teri
of their own political advantage.
What would be brought about is
the creation of a strong and compe-
tent opposition party. A sentiment
for this movement, properly directed,
will sweep aside the petty political
interests of dealers" and force them
TO defer to- the prevailing convict
ions of these whose interests they de-
sire 90 represent. IL is now generally
conceded that the existence Of the
third party movement has servoi its
to convince those who mismanaged
the last Republican national conven-
ton that their punishment fitted the
crime.
A third party to be effective, as ii
has frequently been through its legis-
lative representatives in European
councils, must hold and WELD a bal
ance of power between the larger po-
lit.cal forces; but a third party move
ment whose only effectiveness Is to
make a single party permanently sue
cessful cannot be regarded as an in
strument of public usefulness. 1t
must be patent to thousands of men
who followed the Progressive stan
dard in 1912 that the only purpose to
which the party could ever be applied
in the future would be the defeat OF
Republicans and the success of DEM
ocrats.
This was not the motive which
induced large numbers to follow the
Progressive party, and therefore find
ing that their motive had been mis-
applied, they have returned in large
numbers to their old political align
ments. as proved by the election re-
turns n practically every State where
an election was held during the year
1918.
No effective opposition to the Demo-
cratic party can be built or maintain
ed on the theory of exereme constt-
tutionalism, as advocated by some
Republicans, or the attractive doc
trines of social justice, as preached by
Progressives. In the first case those
who have taken the ground that ev-
everything in the old order was right
anil should not be interfered with are
just as hopelossly at sea as those who
in the second case think they have
found in certain forms of humani-
tartan legislation the solution of all
our government ills.
The proposition to which we should
address ourselves is: What does the
Democratic party in power at the
present time represent? For all gen.
eral purposes 1t represents the entire
ly we'll meant and high minded con-
victions of President Wilson; but we
certainly should examine these con
victions aAh determine whether, car
ried into practice, they will make for
the betterment or despair of the
country.
The best exposition of Mr.. Wilson'S
ideas which has come to my observa-
ton is contained in Judge Grosscup's
admirable article, Can Republicans
and Progressives unite?" in this
months North American Review. He
says:
Now the economic pcstulate ON
which is Wilson freedom centers is
that industry and commerce are now
just what they were hundred years
ago. a matter of single handed COM
bat between man and man; not mat
ter. even In part. of combat between
man and man the world over. without
concern on the part Of the nation OF
whether a particular combatant Hives
ON one side or the other Of the line
that divides the nation from the Other
nations.
And as a corollary to this postulate,