The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1916-06-01

8f Europe has affected world his
q tory like partial eclipse Of the
sun. 1t is as if the spotlight
of the solar system We're turned upon
the area Of battle-felis, 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 III
the United States that the approach
ing presidential campaign has not de-
veloped an appreciate fraction Of the
,terest and agitation which usually
.revail for many months before the
meeting of the great party conventions
Usually the political temperature in
America begins to rise about q year
before each recurring national cam
paign, 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 discernible in
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, to 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 msistence Of issues that can no
longer be postponed, VIII crowd its way
TO the front: and, Oud. because, as
the English writer H. q. Wells 50 apt
ly puts it, the conflict abroad has pass
ed the stage of initial onset and reach
ed the period Of drag, when the result
IS to be determined rather by endur-
ance than by impact, and by-standers
are always more interested in Il quick
assault than in prolonged tug.
Contest Unique In American History.
The conventions of the two great
parties are now Immediately before US
Every day and every hour quickens
the interest, reveals new phases of the
situation and presages a contest UNIQUE
in American history. Already Con
gress is restless, and the leaders Of
both parties are considering an early
adjournment, or, at least, a recess. IN
til after the nominations are made at
Chicago and st. Louis. But more un-
usual and significant than any other
aspect Of the situation is the fact that
the mind of the whole country is in
tent upon one convention only. This
is true for the first time within the eX.
Perience of the present generation.
While it has several times happened in
recent years that the candidate of one
party or the other was a foregone con-
clusiOn many months in advance of the
nomination there has been, at least an
Interest in the platform or in some
iOLnGL luNlutlll VI lllt COHNtlIllpu. Vi
example, the second nomination of
cleveland in 1883 was assured. while
t-be probable Republican nominee was
4 sriddle yet both conventions attract
! ed the liveliest concern, because it was
not known how far the Democrats
would follow their leaders declaration
for a radical revision of the tariff. Sc
in 1896, while the probable choice of
the Democrats remained a mystery I'M
ill the day of the convention FINALLY
going to a man heretofore without
national renowm the nomination Of
Mckinley was well forecast by events.
Net the two conventions were easily
,of equal import, because this time the
question was how far the Republicans
would go in a courageous stand for