The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram., 1915-12-21


presented the western Democracy"
as against the Jefferson, restric ed
suffrage in the seat. 1t was a revolt
against the madison Monroe
machine which had been carrying on
kind of hierarchy succession of
presidents. 1t was also revolt
against the 'aristocratic east domi-
mated by the Adams family.
Party Streams Flow On.
AS long as the power resides in the
people and ascends through their rep
resentatives that long the normal con-
dition is two parties. but when this
power is diverted and resides in the
machinery of the party in control
then a centrifugal force sets in, and
the sparks, splinters and chips thrown
Off try to organize themselves into
political parties of opposition. They
are born, flutter a little while and die.
Thus the Populist, the Green hacker
and the Prohibitionist are protesters
on certain limited lines and in re-
stricted spheres. They never affect
the great fundamental principles upon
which our party government is found
ed and they can never become one
or the other of the two great arteries
of our political life. Tfey may influ-
ence and sometimes force legislation
to suit their ideas, but the two great
party streams flow on, the real sub
stance undisturbed.
In the last national campaign we
confronted a peculiar condition, per
haps without precedent in our politi-
cal history. The Republican party in
its organization seemed to have for
gotten that all power resides in the
people and should flow urward TIL. o.
dore Roosevelt had eight years before
been elected president by the largest
majority ever accorded any other
American. That majority was over
two and half millions. In the cam
paign of 1912 Mr.. Roosevelt revolted
against Taft and against the party
from which he had received such
overwhelming support and fealty. The
Republican camp was split into stand
patters and Progressives. Amid this
family row the Democratic party won
out hands down, Mr.. Wilson getting
in as minority president, his vote
being million and hall less than
Taft's and Ioosey9ll's 5 combined
How They Voted.
In this contest thousands Of gnc9
and true Repuhlicans voted for Poosa-
welt because of their love for b in ard
because Of their devotion and faalrv
to him before On the otrar tana
thousands Of just as good and true
Republicans voted for Wilson because
they looked upon Roosevelt as trail
tor to his party and, d false friend to
Taft, and they voted for Wilson to
keep Roosevelt out of power. There
were yet thousands of Republicans
who voted for either Wilson or Roose-
velt because Taft was a quiet gentle
man, with no 'Hurrah' in him. and
very poor actor as a public hypnot.
izer and spell-binder.
These straying Republicans wee,
with some exceptions. honest and
conscientious. The exceptions we're
those gentlemen who saw better
chance to office as Progressives
than as Republicans. The Honorable
George Washington Plunkett of Tam.
many Hall said he wished but one in
scription on his tombstone and it was
this: He seen his opportunity and
he took it," This can very nronorly
be carved on the tombstones of TIE
Progressive dead who bled and died
for an office, and who had no politi-
cal Fifth worth hanging on to or worth
sacrificing. But the rank and file of
the great body Of Republicans who
seek no office. who think for them
selves, who sincerely wish for good
government, and who voted for Roose-
welt, were honest and conscientious
They are still Republicans and they
deserve praise instead Of condemna-
tion. They were disinterested voters
as far as personal gain was concerned.
They wanted nothing; their sphere
OF action was the common floor of
American citizenship and they exer-
cised their political privilege with
courage and good Intentions.
From this bitter fight good has
come. A new spirit has arisen in the
body Of the Republican party 1t is
the spirit of detestation for the pro
fessional office-seeker, the perpetual
motion office-seeker. the man who
has no earthly or heavenly independ-
ence. the man who will believe any
thing, or gay anything. or do anything,
to get an office. This spirit demands
that leaders Of the party shall come
Clean" shall not have strings tied to
them. shall represent the power OF
the people, and shall have no taint
OF the old political jobbing business
The future success of the Republican
party depends very much upon a thor
ough house-cleaning and the injection
OF good dose of life-giving serum.