New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-11-29

was without n leader, was empty. - '
organization without great purpose; IL nsu
20 cause with which TO fire It's constituents
and kinde the nation. Since us detnrohe-
ment it had done no work It's members AZ
Washington were unorganized, were without
common purpose; most Of them were content
TO be politicians, instead Of statesmen, and
all were without leader. few shone, but
as individuals only. How conld party IN
such condition Of disintegration have ex-
pected a return to power? 1t should not have
done so; nevertheless it did, and it failed to
achieve it, This is the lesson.
Now. as to the future. Our people demand
service; let the Republican party give SER
vice. not the mere promise Of service. Our
country is in dire need OF il. Substantially
every charge made against the Administration
by the leading opposition speakers IS true.
Some are trivial, many are serious, and one
is exceedingly grave. In its subversion OF the
patriotism Of our people the Administration
has hurt, beyond repair during the lives OF
the present generations, the sacred cohesive
ness Of our nationality. In deadening their
sensitiveness TO an insult offered their coun-
try IL has done 10 our young an irreparaole
spiritual injury, analogous TO that put upon
Young girl who is robbed of her virtue. Once
the sacred line is crossed and either sex
loses its chief spiritual possession, all stand
ards are gone. expediency replaces principle,
and every depth of degradation becomes a
possibility
Here. in the shortcomings Of its opponent,
is the great opportunity OF the Republican
party. Let it become a living national insti-
tuition, striving to solve the great problems
which surround US and cease to be merely
political machine in dead storage. Let IT
endeavor TO heal the wounds made by its OPP
ponent instead OF being content merely 70
point them out. Let it undertake 70 restore
to our young men the constituencies OF their
patriotism. Let il become a teacher OF the
people a helper and friend. Where II mas
appealed to their pockets with the tariff, let
it in addition appeal to their spirit with
patriotism and to their heart with sound ro-
posals for social betterment. Let it place
at the disposal Of all the people-of the peo-
pie principally in the younger districts who
now distrust tits worldly wisdom, show
ing them Herewith how to make practicable
their altruism.
That the Republican party il composed of
the most highly educated, the most travelled
and experienced Of our men none will deny.
But because of their very advantages these
men are regarded as being apart from the rest,
the rest and are dstrusted accordingly.
This is the Republican party's handicap. But
this handicap can gradually be turned to i'm
mense advantage by actually placing at the
disposal of the people at large this store Of
knowledge and cultivated intelligence. This
the Republican party can do by suitable
reconstruction of its organization and the
undertaking by il and the individuals which
compose it of a countrywide movement OF
educative work
But such a movement to be successful must
be born Of an honest intention to help the
party only through helping the nation, by
actually rendering service. The party's self
ishness must be an enlightened selfishness
it must seek political preferment as a reward
for work done during its period Of political
Information, and not as prepayment for ser
vices to be rendered after the receipt of Of
flee. In political sense It must pull itself
together, lay down broad and advanced -sin-
cples affecting economic and social better
ment, announce farsighted foreign policy
which it shall be our determination to main
tain, outline boldly the new naval and mill
tary policies which the rapidly advancing con-
diton of world super-armament is forcing
upon US, set forth concretely a practicable
project for the reestabl. hment upon a per-
manent basis of our merchant marine and
shpbuilding industry, and generally, place
before the American people such new vision
of possible domestic and overword achieve
ment, spiritual, social and economic, as shall
touch their national pride and arouse them
to action.
By such service only can the Republican
party restore itself to the place of affection
and trust to which its patriotic work of fifty
years ago then entitled it. But it cannot sue
cessfully serve our present day America
without leadership, the leadership not of a
group, but of a single individual, such one
as shall arouse it's spirit, engage its affec-
tions and command its admiration and re-
spect To kindle its patriotism, to satisfy
It's love Of kind as we'll as its material de-
sires, must such man be able. There is
but one who is able and into his hands the
work Of revitalizing the Republican party
should instantly be given. Then a nation
wide conference Of the younger. the more
modern, elements Of the party should be held,
for the purpose Of formulating it's policies
and projecting an energetic campaign Of ma
tional helpfulness to be undertaken at once.
With such a reorganization of the forces
opposed to the Democratic party, and Colonel
Roosevelt as the movements energizing spirit,
a corrective influence of enormous power
could be thrown about the present admins
tration and the evil effects of its retention
minimized HENRY A. WISE WOOD.
New York. Nov 81, 1916.