The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-10-02
(Atlantc Monthly.)

' J
 will realize two things; first, thai President Wilson has proved himself a party leader of unusual power; and secondly that the party thus led has done much more for the country than the Republican party accomplished ir five times as many years"
 Thus writes Dr. Charles w. Eliot President Emeritus of Harvard Uni versity, in the Atlantic Monthly of Oc- tober, in an article entitled, "The Achievements of The Democratic Par ty and its Leader Since March 4 l913."
 Characterizing President Wilson and Charles Evans Hughes as reserved men who do their own thinking and select their own counselors," Dr. Eliot says that "the American voter who desires to cast his vote in conscien- tfous way in support of the best inter- ests of the country will have to be guided in his choice between these two candidates by his reason and not by his emotions"
 'The voter is going to have his choice, not only between two candi- dates" Dr. Eliot continues, "but be- tween two parties; and every reason able voter will therefore turn for guidance to the declarations which each of the two parties made at its nominating convention"
 "It was to have been expected that the Republican platform would pro- vide some clear issue to which that party-now in opposition-could be rallied; but the Republican party platform will be searched in vain for such an issue. To be sure, it denoun- ces vigorously certain policies and acts of the existing Democratic administra- ton; but it makes no specific state ments as to what a Republican ad- ministration, had it been in power, would have done otherwise. Thus, in regard to American rights and for eign relations it affirms belief in American policies at home and abroad.' Is there anybody in the country who does not? It declares that the party will enforce the protec- tion of every American citizen in all the rights secured to him by the Con- stftution, by treaties, and the Law Of Nations; but every Democrat in or out of office, would promise as much. It says, we promise to our citizens on and near our border, and to those in Mexico-absolute and adequate pro- lection in their lives, liberty, and property;' but omits to say that they propose to give this protection by force of arms, which is the only alter native to the measures adopted by the present Democratic administration
 From the Republican Convention, which was controlled by experienced aY- pected some clear specific declaration about tariff policy; but on examination one finds only reduced forms of the delusive promises long made by the Republican party ending in a recom- mendation of tariff commission to gather and compile information for the use of Congress- A scientific tar If commission is advocated by the Democratic party also. In spite, how ever, of the vague and general nature of the terms used throughout/the Re- publican declaration concerning the tariff, the persistent inquirer can per- haps deduce from it one tolerably clear issue, as follows if the Republi- can party should be put in control of the Government, 1t would repeal the Underwood Tariff, or modify it so profoundly that several important American industries would have to re- adjust themselves to new Conditions, and would subsequently, set up a tar if commission with powers to collect information for the use of Congress-
 Tt is altogether probable, if the Democratic party be continued in pos session of the government, that the Underwood Tariff, to which American industries have already adjusted them selves, will be essentially maintained, and that . permanent non-partisan commission of experts will be intrust- ed with the function of suggesting the expedient changes in it. Whether the orators of the campaign are to make use on theA stump of this pos sible iAsue still August 13) remains to be eeen. The business men ought to consider carefully which of these two policies is best for the country. They have doubtless learned from the war and it's antecedents, that 'protec- tion' of national industries tends to- ward national selfishness and inter- national war, and that tariffs for revenue only tend toward openness of mind and heart and international goodwill
 Tt is customary for the candidate of the party out of power to state in his letter or speech of acceptance his objections to the conduct of the party in power, his remedies for the evil it has done, and his proposals for diff ferent action by his party if it should be placed in power; and this speech or essay is supposed to give the in AQuiring voter reasons for acting at the coming election with the party out of power. In the long, carefully writ ten essay in which MT. Hughes ac- cepts the nomination of the Republi- can Convention the most thorough search will fail to find a specific rec ommendation on any controversial matter. The paper is chiefly filled with universally accepted statements concerning the proper natio.-Ll poli- cies, and general descriptions of what ought to be done and ought not to be done by a national administration. To most of these descriptions nearly all American voters would subscribe. This is especially true of the passages about Amerfcanism. Foreign Relations, Mex leo, Preparedness, the Military Ob- legations of Freemen, and the Organ ization of Peace-passag ges which oc- cupy three-Quarters of the entire essay.
 Apart from the denunciations of what Mir. Hughes thinks have been the Democratic policies and methods, almost all Americans would agree with the sentiments and opinions expressed hy him From the com pa ra lively short