Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1916-06-02

Europe has affected world his
tory like a partial eclipse " the
sun. It IS as If the spotlight
OF the solar system were turned upon
the area Of battle-fells, while all the
other nations stood like spectators at
a moving picture show. watching In
darkness.
The attention Of all peoples outside
the realm Of conflict being thus fasci-
mated by the awful scene, their own
affairs have seemed trivial. and have
been neglected or forgotten in the
hushed thrill that has held the heart
OF the world.
This phenomenon alone can account
for the fact, obvious To every one in
the United States. that the approach
ing presidential campaign has not de-
velOped an appreciable fraction OF the
interest and agitation which usually
prevail for many months before the
meeting Of the great party conventions.
Usually the political temperature In
America begins TO rise about a year
before each recurring national cam
palgn, reaches fever heat about the
time OF the conventions, and shows
boiling blood before the election. In
this year, 1916, the popular mood that
ordinarily would have been manifest
In January, is barely discernibie I'm
May. The whole political season Is
backward. But, for this very reason,
We may well expect that from now on
there Will be a quick-step In the march
OF events. 10 make up for past tagging,
and by the time the conventions are
over, the American people will be
ready for the full swing Of our quad
rennial contest. Even the European
war will then drop back to second
place: and this for two reasons, first,
because the political campaign, by the
sheer insistence OF issues that can nc
longer be postponed, will crowd it's way
TO the front: and, second, because, as
the English writer II. G.. Wells so apt
ly puts Il, the conflict abroad has pass
ed the stage OF initial onset and reach.
ed the period Of drag, when the result
Is 10 be determined rather by endur
ance than by impact, aud by-standers
are always more Interested In a quick
assault than In a prolonged tug.
Contest Unique In American History.
The conventions Of the two grea.
parties are now Immediately before us
Every day and every hour qulckeni
the interest. reveals new phases OF tn,
situation and p%resagcs a contest uniqu,
In American history. Already Con
gress Is restless. and the leaders q
both parties are considering an earl
adjournment. or. Ht least. n rercss, nm
III after the nominations ARE made a
Chicago and 81. Louis. But more I'm
usual and significant than any Othe
aspect Of the situation Is the fact tina
the mind OF the whole country Is IN
tent upon one convention only. Thl
Is true for the first time within the eX
perience of the present generation
While II has several times happened II
recent years that the candidate of on.
party or the other was a %f0regOne con
cluslOn many months In advance OF In
nomination. there has been. at least, al
interest In the platform or In som
other incident Of the convention. FO
example, the second nomination O
Cleveland IN 1883 was assured. Will
the probable Republican nominee wa
a riddle; yet both conventions attract
ed the liyeliest concern, because It wa
not known how far the Democrat
would follow their leaders declaration
for a radical revision Of the tariff. S
In 1896. while the probable choice O
the Democrats remained a mystery IN
III the day OF the convention (hnall
going to a maj heretofore withou
national renownl the nomination O
Mckinley was well forecast by events
Yet the two conventions were east.
OF equal import, because this time IN
question was how far the Republican
would go In a courageous stand "a