Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1916-04-14
FsiuAY Apr IA = 1916
kEPuHLlcAN tiAR ONY THE
FIRST ESSENTIAL.

The task not oaly implies a redeem
ing # The National G,yernment from
farihe Democratic control, but it in
wolves as condition precedent Of
thu redseming an assured unity Of
purpose from the Republican Party
itself.
For a numbe. Of months it has
been assume that no schism will
divide Republicans, this year. This
assumption has been due to feeling
that sufficient dissatisfaction with
Democratic control exists to warrant
BE- iet that no possible Republican
disse ision can operate to give the
Dem lcrats an additional lease OF
powe- Such may or may not be the
case. With complete healing Of
differences within the Republican
Parry known quantity, Republicans
would have nobody bnt Democrats
to consider in their campaign acivi-
tie. That that happy state has been
Ie,ried remains to be proven
A. Chairman Of the National Re
pub lean Convention OF 1908, the
II N. lIenry Cabot Lodge employed
some portion OF his al lless 10 warn
ing his party, and incidentally the
country, against the ilroads of social
ism upon AnerIclu politics. The
political socialism OF that hour was
captaliz II by William J. Bryan,
Democratic candidate for the Pest
den and for Republican consider
alton then it was little more than an
ellme At ia the enc ny's sorces. -Four
years later, IN 1912, as We all know,
unrest ideas, like the shipworm, had
SO fa- bored into and through the
timhers Of Republicanism that the
craft proved unseaworthy 10 the Ma
tioaaI E eciion storm.
AS a trus eeship from the people
the Republican victory over the so
oialism Of Bryan in 1908 was not Sc
used but that another and m re ag-
gressiye forn of unrest tendency es-
tab ishsd iself thin the Republican
Party. IL manifested its habitat by
revolt against party machinery t, eff
festive, if not to altogether lauable
purposes. Aud, at least for the ends
of tour years of government in the
Unit.l States il demonstrated its
it's wer. Had Senator
Lodges able analysis of socialist c
dangers in 1908 been locked upon as
quite as menacing upon Republican
integrity after wards as apon Rapub-
liean success at the time, probably the
Republican disaster of 1912 could
have been avoided with very differ
e. situation governing as regards
conditions now.
Has there been an assuring subsi-
deuce OF unrest within Republican
ism during the past four years 70 wal
rant tue operation Of party machinery
under such coulro aud after such
manner as were successfully revolted
against 10 1912?
II so, the old mills may be put to
grinding agaiu, the Did methods may
be applied again, the Old manipala-
tors may be installed again, the old
ideas of nomination control may he
put in force again add all without
fear of the November result.
Ii not, there is something yet to be
dene within the Party before the
con ing bat,lecall for sdsanee upon
the entrenchel Democrats is given
its bugle note.
Ia the proceedings Of the recent
Republican State Convention of New
York, there Is inference that some
number of Republicans hold schism
as no longer Of account state of
mid that in 1912 was grave
blander.
1t is 10 be hoped that they are as
right now as they were wrong four
years age.
1t is to BIZ hopel that Republicans
for the coming campaign do not need
"get-together" admonitions from ell
der statesmen in ''keY-note speeches.
Il is 10 be hoped that extremists at
both ends Of the party are equally
ready to "enlist for the war
But hope and believe as Republi-
cans may, convention leaders and
'Sey-noie" speechma kees should pom
der we'll the tact that partisanship in
tins country is no longer the sure
thing it once was.
IL keeping in the font line of all
Republican activities the idea of bar
mony and unity Of force, no mist Ike
will be made; in isLorlng or belttling
It there turks danger.