The Washington herald., 1916-11-05

All other things being equal it
would seem increditabls that the peo-
pie should be willing to experiment In
the midst Of this world cataclysm.
when . single misstep In the manage
ment Of our delicate foreign relations
may convert this blessed era OF peace
and our unheard-of and undreamed-of
prosperity into the yawning abyss OF
war and misery with which the
greater part of the civilized world is
now cursed
QueruIous and partisan critics.
moved by the selfish and ignobie de-
sire for public once. may challenge
the means by which peace and PROS
perity have been achieved Whatever
has been done may appear TO their
warped point Of view 20 have been
wrongly done. but the perils TO which
their alternatives invite rs are not
likely TO tempt those who love their
country. They offer ~ nothing beyond
criticism and the ASSURANCE that tnex-
perience will serve ne better than az
perisnce- That h hardly enough TO
tempt us to relinQuish the certainly
Of a policy that has kept us out OF
trouble and to embark upon an un-
known sea. with an unknown pilot
with no port in sight. for We are not
even told what policies are 70 be SUD
stItuted for those that are now con-
demned, In spite OF the fact that they
have served M 90 we'll
Cannot Challenge Record
Assuming now that the burden OF prov
ing that the Democratic administration u
entitled to a new lease of life rests upon
the party In power (Which 10 an untusti-
fable shifting Of the burden Of prooD.
how proudly do we assume that burden
and In support Of our contention point TO
q record that has never been eoualled
IN the wealth Of its constructive accom-
plishments! The long roll Of honorable
achievements has been 20 often called
during this campaign and is 80 familiar
to all Of US that II need not Be here re-
peated. Our opponents cannot challenge
the record, for they dared not take issue
with the wis3a Of the legislation on
which Il Is b most OF which they
were forced toy wort Never before
In the history Oh y political party have
the promises on which n was put into
power been so faithfully kept
But the overshadowing reason for con-
tinuinE the Democratic party has yet to
be stated. Upon its continuance depends
the very existence Of popular government.
The issue is one OF democracy against
plutocracy-the rule Of the people against
the rule Of the special interests.
The war has been, In many respects.
unfortunate for us. Chief among its
nisfortunes IL the fact that Il has d.
verted attention from our domesSc prob
lens. The most pressing OF these prob
lens was the exterminatioh Of ''invisi-
BILE government" by the powerful inter
ests. To that great task the President
has. against stupendous ODDS. addressed
himself with q persistence and en-
thusiasm for which the country can never
be sufficiently grateful.
"stranEle Hold Broken.-
The subterranean power Of this handful
Of men and their intelligence, resource
fulness and vindictiveness are beyond
the conception Of those who have not had
to deal with these secret influences. Much
has been accomplished toward lessening
this strangle-hold upon the agencies OF
government, but there IL still far more
vet to be done. All these vicious In
nuences are now aligned solidly behind
the Republican candidates.
II the election can be bought, the means
will be Forthcoming. There viii be the
history Of the country. The old methods
will not be employed That grand past
master in the modern art OF buying pub
licity, George w. Perkins, who 10 In
virtual control Of the Republican cam
paign, knows better than any man alive
how to educate the public mind during
the closing days by a nationwide cam
paign by misleading Advertising and cir
cularixing and he knows how and where
to get the means.
Invisible government realizes that it 10
engaged In a death struggle. Shall Il be
permitted to regain the lost ground and
thus be restored to the seat Of govern
mental power, or shall the people be
finally permitted to come into their ovnf