The Washington herald., 1915-12-30
Democracy,s Tower Of Strength.


weeks made no secret of their confident belief tina,
the people at the election next year will again give
the national government into their charge. The
activity of large number of candidates for the
to the general conviction that nomination will be
equivalent to election. With the convening of the
Sixty-fourth Congress, Signalling the coming
back of many conspicuous figures in the party. and
the assembling of the national committee this
month it was not unnatural that in Washington
at least there should be jollifcation and that in
pect. But now that the joy ride that began just
before the holidays is about ended, there will be
calm and serious inquiry to whether there is
real foundation for the supreme confidence of the
Republicans, or whether it is merely a state of
mind induced by agreeable environment. Those
who are not carried away by excess of enthusiasm
will be forced to admit that there is nothing very
tangible upon which to base high hopes of triumph
next November; that they approaching cam
paign in which the usual issues and few new
ones are to be debated against opponents now
strongly entrenched in power.
There is no reason to assume that the Demo-
cratic standard bearer will be any other than
Woodrow Wilson. If he will consent TO accept the
nomination for the second term to which he is just
y entitled, it will be his in spite of any opposition
that may be offered by the man in the party
who would betray him. The Democracy cannot
be counted on to commit suicide by displacng
Wilson, nor is it at all likely that he will decline
to lead the party if he realizes, he must, that
upon him depends the victory.
With Wilson as their opponent few Republi-
cans will honestly believe that victory can be
easily won, matter what they may say AS
winner of votes his of strength overbaance
his weaknesses three to one. To begin with. all
the indications are that he will not have to appeal
to a country stagnant industrially, but rather to
people enjoying a greater measure of prosperity
than has been theirs fer years; and under such
conditions the measures which the administration
adopts to remedy deficient government revenue.
which the Republicans are disposed to point to as
an evidence of ineompetency. may not be regard
cd as of such serious importance after all. Nor
is it likely that voters will question the of
the prosperity; that it is partly due to tremen
dous war trade will not initiate against Democratic
the farmers all have robust bank accounts due to
abundant crops for which they found ready mar
ket Not only the manufacturing States of the
East, but those of the Middle West the great
Presidential battle-ground, are enjoying plenty,
and there will be no hunt for any to blame
for it. and thus the high cost of living will lose
weight issue.
1t is not nconceivable, either that it will be
more difficult this campaign to create alarm over
he tariff The Democratic claim that the war has
nullified their law will be recognized by many
who will be satisfied to give it further trial. The
successful operation OF the Federal reserve law !
must inevitably bring support to the administra-
ion.
Turning from industrial conditions. one great
source of President Wilson's strength is instantly
suggested He has kept the country out of the |
var. and from the interior comes flood OF re- |
,orts indicating that this is regarded by many
thousands OF plain everyday Americans as the
most praiseworthy achievement of the administra-
ion These people are devoutly thankful that Will ;
on and not Roosevelt at the head of the gov
rnment during the days of national peril They
ire not of the small peacc-at-anyprice tribe head
d bv Bryan, but they represent large portion
If the population who abhor and dread its
,orrors, and in gratitude they will vote for Mr..
wilson. |!
Much has been heard of the loss of the Ger
nan vote by the administration, and yet there is
10 claim that the German vote solidly
Democratic. Very likely it has been fairly well
livided in the past In any event it is not at all
lifficult to believe that great many German
Americans, in spite OF all their outery against Mr.
Wilson's alleged favoritism to the allies, which
he latter profess to have been able to dis
ern, will prefer continuance OF his brand OF
neutrality, that has at least been tested and ap-
raised to inviting experiment with that yet
o be developed by the Republicans may
dominate. In fact this would appear to be the
art of wisdom.
Who shall say. therefore. that Woodrow Wilson
as not made safe President and strong Presi-
ent, or that he will not prove a most formidable
pponent for the Republicans? He enjoys the
copies confidence to the full and it goes without