Omaha daily bee., 1916-06-19
Things to Be Thankful For


There is one feature of the political situation,
and commanding one, that all can rejoice in as
the people Of the United States enter upon the
presidential campaign Of 1916. The hatreds and
the bitter differences which came out OF the re-
publican contest Of four years ago must pass into
the background. An ugly chapter OF party history
is to be closed There can be no repetition this
year of the battle which followed the refusal OF
the republican party in 1912 to endorse ex-Presi.
dent Roosevelt's Reputation Of the man he had
picked to succeed him in the White House. We
shall hear no vociferous assertion that thieves,
burglars, criminals generally, and crooks with
steam roller, have robbed Mr.. Roosevelt Of the
nomination this time.
The strenuous contention of four years ago
seems like chapter of bedlam in the retrospect
1t failed then to command the. sympathetic re-
spect Of impartial witnesses who were able to
vention Of 1912 with the doings Of previous ma
tional conventions of which Mr.. Roosevelt wholly
approved. That which had seemed right and in
order when Roosevelt was the beneficiary became
disorder and wrong when Taft was to gain by it.
Men in politics are but children OF larger
and employ incorporate language. Excellent men
and women IMMERSED in politics accepted at face
value shrill and bitter denunciations long con-
tinued. They looked on Colonel Roosevelt as an
angel Of light and came to regard President TAFT
as in league with all the forces OF evil in Ameri-
can politics. Men of emotional temperament
reveed in such attack and imagined themselves
filled with light. Happily that period of obscured
understanding is to pass and good sense must
have its place this year
1t is good to see that no voice is now raised
in any quarter to impeach the Righteousness Of
the Hughes nomination. None can be outside of
an insane asylum. Every body agrees that the
convention which nominated this years repub-
lican candidate was controlled by the delegates,
shat the forf hA vr,ttr
made came from the people Of all sections of the
country, that the delegates as whole stood their
ground and worked their will despite the favorite
sons and the desires OF once powerful leaders.
More than this, the Hughes tide, that rose from
the mass OF republicans, submerged the organized
and amply financed Roosevelt movement, until
the man who sought the nomination in two con-
ventions was overwhelmed by those who were for
the man who did not want it, and who did every
thing in his power to keep it away. Here we have
remarkable political spectacle, and very re-
assuring one
The American people are not to be stampeded
this year This has been demonstrated in the
midst OF the mighty world disturbance calculated
to upset the nerves Of our people and to make
made in behalf Of Colonel Roosevelt as the only
possible savior for this nation. Not all OF US have
realized how much Of a test Of the national tenn
per was involved in the contest which eliminated
III tHc aCtOH OF tue NHlCdBO convention. ne
United States is not ready to be rushed into the
fray, though we all see, as we have seen all along,
the possibility that this country may be drawn
into some phase Of it. 1t has been decreed that
whatever the issue Of the November election may
be this country is to have careful leadership. The
shouting and the din Of appeal and denunciation
had their run and died down, and the result is
to show that the type Of president desired this
year Is expressed in Charles E. Hughes and
Woodrow Wilson The country was besought to
express itself in terms Of Roosevelt and it re-
fused. ts6
II is fair to draw from this. result the deduc-
ton that the people desire to see our nation kept
sane In this period Of amazing international tur-
MOL. Somewhere there must be measure of re-
straint, coupled with helpful purpose toward
those who are in the midst Of bloody contention
and infinite distress. One Of the two men is to
be elected after campaign that will be keyed
less to hystera than to reason. The result in
Chicago has determined the character Of the
campaign, and that for good. 1t is to be decent
political contest, one more OF argument than of
mere denunciation, such as leaves room for the
play Of thought and good sense For this every
body who loves his country has reason to Be
grateful. 1t opens the way to the manner of
campaigning that BELTS the seriousness of the
times AHF.