The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1916-04-20

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laws already passed.
Sixth: Tie democratic party de-
serves credit for the enactment OF
the long promised measure giving to
the PHILIPPINES the promise OF indie
pendence, thus answering the charges
| that have been made againTt our ma
| tional purpose and restoring to us
| freedom to proclaim to the world the
doctrine that governments derive
their own powers from the consent
of the governed and not from super
ior force.
| Seventh: These are some OF the
substantial results of harmonious CO.
operation between a democratic pres
| ident, a democratic senate and a
democratic house. During the &C
icomplishment of these domestic re-
forms the administration has been
dealing with diplomatic problems OF
great deicacy. 1t deserves credit
| tor having resisted the demands of
those who tried to force the govern
ment into intervention in Mexico.
The policy of "watchful waiting has
saved us untold loss of life and mon
ey, and it is not improbable that by
refusing to intervene this nation es-
starting the European war.
Eighth: The democratic party de-
serves credit also for the fact that it
has not allo' ed the country to be
drawn into the European war, al
though the course of neutrality has
been beset by many difficulties. Our
nation has suffered at the hands of
both sides, but the injuries were not
;,,@o INC
dental to the war which belligerent
nations are waging against each 9TH
err.
Ninth: The administration has
very much improved our relations
with Latin America. A policy OF
friendly cooperation has been sub
stituted for dollar diplomacy, the le-
cations in Argentina and Chile have
been raised to embassies, the offer Of
mediation rendered by Brazil, Argen-
tina and Chile was accepted in the
dispute with Mexico, important trea-
ties have been negotiated with Near
aqua, Colombia and Hayti, and all
South and Central America has been
brought to the cordial support of the
Monroe doctrine.
Tenth: The democratic party de-
serves credit for the negotiations, by
this administration, of thirty treaties,
on new plan, providing for investi-
cation Dy an international tribunal
of all disputes of every kind before
any declaration of war or commence
ment of hostillties. These treaties
are with nations exercising authority
over one billion, three hundred mil
lion people, or three-fOurths of the
inhabitants of the world, and make
war between the contracting parties
remote possibility.
On the subject of preparedness the
record of the party has not yet been
made up. The president has announc-
ed a program and made non-partis
an appeal in its behalf. According to
present prospects it can not succeed
as party measure in the form in
which he asks it. If he succeeds in
securing the appropriations which he
asks, it will in all probability be by
the aid of the republicans. The dem
ocratic party can not, therefore ex-
pect gratitude from those who look
upon the policy with favor, or be held
responsible for it by those who op-
pose it.
1t is too early to measure the ad-
vantage or disadvantage of the pro-
gram of the party, if the democrats
in congress secure the presidents
consent to a modification of his pro- +,
gram.
The third element of uncertainty
can not be weighed until the republic
can convention or conventions have
met If the two wings of the repub- /
lican party unite upon a candidate |
acceptable to both, the republican
chances will be greatly improved and I
it follows that the democratic pros ;
poets will brighten in proportion as
there is discord in the republican i
ranks. 1t now looks as if the pro-
gressives were determined to return
to the republican party almost with
out condition, although they will, of
course, secure as favorable terms as
possible. The democratic party has
been so progressive that it ought to
appeal strongly to that portion OF the
which, acting upon con-
viction rather than upon personal at
lection for the progressive candidate,
but the number of recruits thus far
won from the progressive republicans
is not encOuraging-in fact is it dis
The reunion of these ele-
ments so bitterly hostile to each 9TH
err four years ago illustrates anew
the strength of party ties and the
difficulty of drawing permanently
from one of the leading parties any
element of it's member
ship.
Mans opinion of what is to be is
part wish and part environment, and
| can not claim freedom from the in
fluence of either wish or environ
ment when I construe the prospects
to favor democratic success. Be-
lieving that the party has earned the
confidence of the public, and should
therefore receive it, believe demo-
cratic success probable. The party
has done good where the republicans
would have done harm, and wherever
it has failed at all, the republicans
have failed more signally.
BUSINESS AT THE OLD STAND.
Republicans need have no misgiv-
II