Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1915-12-30
REPUBLICAN ON REPUBLICANIsM

If a democratic newspaper were to arraign the republican
party in the scathing manner which the New York Tribune
does, many readers would consider the Indictment actuated by
bitter partisanship.
For years the Tribune has been looked up to in the United
States as the great journalistic exponent of everything repub-
lican, and usually it has followed blindly the way it's leaders
have led.
It now has its eyes open and expresses in unqualified terms
its disapproval of the recent meeting of its national committee
held in Washington a few days ago.
OF this gathering it begins a long editorial by saying:
1t is impossible to read the reports of the republi-
can gathering in Washington without a feeling that
approximates contempt. In charge of this assem-
blage, it would seem, are the men whose very names
have become odious to millions of American voters.
Predominant in the discussions that are published is
the spirit that provoked the revolt of 1912. 1T is true
as every outward evidence would indicate, that the re-
publican leaders are now planning to return to power,
as did the Bourbons, having learned nothing, having
forgotten nothing?
If the foregoing were the words of the progressive Missou-
liam, or the Yellowstone Journal, which three years ago did not
support the republican. ticket, they would cause no great sur
prise, but when it is remembered that they come from a news
paper that has fought, bled and all but died for republicanism,
such remarks are little short of astonishing, especially in the
light of the fact that some of the bull moose organs appear to
be trying to sneak quietly back under the canvas of the big
republican tent.
wether of the republican flock about to leave the fold because
its party is not sufficiently progressive, at a time when a dis
~tinguished portion of the bull moosers is trying to discover
some excuse to save its face in returning it's good shepherds,
Messrs. Barnes, Penrose, Cannon ct al.
The Tribune does not hesitate to give its reason for being
disguised with the leadership of its party, for it shows that
these republican bosses are cowardly in not daring to come out
openly for American principles, and that they display a will
ingness to trade off for a few votes, that they imagine they
might attract to their party, every cherished tenet of national
faith.
1t is not necessary for the Miner to express it's opinion of
such disgraceful political trucking, when the Tribune is in a
position of one in authority to give its view of it's leaders and
does such complete justice to them as follows:
In this situation could there be anything more
contemplate, more provocative Of indignation and
wrath than a group of selfish politicians already dis
credited by past defeat and public c~astigation, sitting
down together solemnly in the national capital and
planning to get back to power by avoiding every SEM
blance of courage or principle, by pandering to the
passions of half a dozen mutually antipathetic factions
and seeking to harness to their own cart every present
popular emotion without taking firm ground or honest
stand on any issue whatsoever.
In view of this honest opinion of the republican party by