The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1916-06-08
THURSDAY, JUNE 8, 1916.
Republicanism on Trial.

members Of the Republican party SO
important as the one which will open
in Chicago tomorrow. It is the life
and death struggle of party Of patrio-
tism. 1t is to be the re-aWakening OF
the tragic death of a great party which
has stood for the people. 1t matters
not what may be the wishes Of indlvld-
ual members of the party; it matters
not what may have been their disagree
ments in the past; it matters not what
may be the ambition of some men who
consider themselves as leaders OF the
party. All that matters now is that a
great nation is looking to this conven-
tion to name man who will and can
lead the nation out Of its present COM
promising conditions and bring to that
nation a government which will be for
the people and by the people.
We are satisfied with the patriotism
of the rank and file of the Republican
party and we believe that the rank
and file want to wipe out all differ
ences which may have existed and go
into the coming campaign under unit
ed banner. The days Of the Bull
Moose have passed. The coming Of the
Moose may have been necessary to
bring to the minds Of some Republic
cans the demand of the nation on the
party. Whatever may have been the ex-
cuse of the existence of third party,
its usefulness has passed and the de-
mand Of patriotic men today is for
united Republican party. This does not
necessarily mean the nomination of
Theodore Roosevelt by the Chicago
convention. Mr.. Roosevelt stands for
vigorous Americanism plus every
thing else that the Republican party
has stood for in the past. He has been
the first and foremost advocate of the
theory that the United States was
nation worth defending and that the
people of the nation as whole was in
favor of defending it. Beyond this
ono nature Mr.. Roosevelt stands like
lot of other excellent Republicans on
a platform which is acceptable to the
great mass of the members of the
party, His virulent type Of patriotism
has made the people enthusiastic for
his cause and enthusiastic for him. All
of this does not mean that Mr.. Roose-
Welt is the only man who can lead the
Republican party. There must be other
men who stand just where this great
leader stands. Men who can be
nominated and if nominated elected by
N re 41a
party. Mr.. Roosevelt is the type of
man that is being demanded. The
people want man who stands first of
all for "Our Country" 1t may be
that this man is Justice Hughes, we
do not know. Justice Hughes has not
given to the men who are closest to
him even suggestion of his stand on
great political questiors. There is a
vide sentiment in favor of the nominal
ton of Justice Hughes. 1t is but fair
that he answer this call by telling Just
where he stands. We are satisfied
bhat the justice stands on the same
broad grounds Of Roosevelt, but there
are doubteTs. 1t may be that Root,
Fairbanks, Burton, Weeks, Cummings
or Haley stand on That same ground.
II may DE. These men are all high
minded patriotic men. Any one Of
them would dignity tae office of presi-
dent Of the United States. The cues
tion that is raised in connection with
every ore Of then is Can Ee Defeat
Wilson," The mar who defeats viii
s3n must bring to the campaign ell Ct
tho enthusiasm OF 6 united Republican
party. He must have al the principle
that is incorporated in the platform
and in addition he must have the ability
to appeal to the people
We are not hedging We are ready
to support for the presidency any man
who may be fairly nominated on a
Republican platform so long as he is
q man worthy of the Office and we feel
convinced that no other man can be
named in this crucial period OF the
nations history. We believe, however,
that it is the part of wisdom TO name
man who can and will win. There is
no idea of control of federal patronage,
but the proposition is one of the broad
est possible patriotic action. We have
said before that the convention in
Chicago should be convention of
patriots, not partisans The nation
cries out for relief and any honorable
compromise that can be made is en-
tlrely proper under the conditions.
The battle of fractional politics was
fought four years ago and it ended in
dismal failure. Is the Republican par
ty going to fail to do its patriotic duty
this year and permit the nation to re-
main under wishy washy Democratic
rule simply to satisfy the political
hatred or uphold the political ambitions
of few mems The party machinery
Of losing party is not of great value.
We care not who directs the party So
long as it is directed by mon who look
for the nation first and party after
ward. If such men rule in Chicago
there is not 0oino tn no apv- 1sx,;s;o,,