Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-10-21
NO SECONDARY DEFENSE

WTERE the people OF the United States
w asked to vote this year for the Dem.
ocratic party as the Democratic party, the
victory for the opposition would be com
parable TO the advance OF an avalanche.
The party has been characterized by a
versatility In laundering without prece-
dent in the history OF great nations. 1t
has had an infinite capacity for getting
on the wrong side OF every great question
which has arisen for moro than half a
century. Before tho Wilson era II mud
died its way into office on two separate
occasions, with results so calamitous to
the nation at largo that the first oppor-
tunlty OF reputation in each case was
embraced with emphatic promptness by
tho electorate.
Mr.. Wilson was catapulted into office
by n remarkable conspiracy OF circum-
stances with which he had nothing TO do
and over which he exercised no control.
He began his Administration by summon
ing as his Premier that prince of platitu-
dlnarianism, William j. Bryan. conhding
20 his care the conduct of foreign affairs,
although cis-Atlantic diplomacy Of the
highest type was at the moment required
and there was in the Balkan atmosphere
prophetic augury of the great cataclysm
which was about to plunge Europe into
deluge OF destruction. He straightway
also brought Congress TO the task of over
throwing the economic system under
which the American achievement became
the wonder of the modern world. The
country has survived low tariffs, after
sufficient suffering. but this was a tariff
which denied native industry even the
incidental protection which the very ne
cessities OF revenue had formerly assured;
for the whole theory of revenue produc-
ton was abandoned, and n large part of
the funds previously got through the
customs houses was exacted by direct
taxation at home. The result was an
immediate lowering of Industrial vitality
In Philadelphia, the very citadel of In
dustry, the winter of 1914-15 was a win
ter of soup houses and charity, when the
weli-to-do taxed their purses to the ut
termost to aid those in want. This news
paper, In fact, so great was the exigency,
opened its employment columns free Of
charge to assist the worthy to obtain
what few positions, temporary or perma-
nent, were available. The country was
staggering along toward the inevitable
panic when fate threw a wrench into the
Democratic machinery, erected virtu-
ally impossible protection barrier. over
throwing the laws and statutes of Con-
gress, and In addition flooded our mar
kets with orders for billions Of dollars
worth OF goods. Mars, raising havoc in
Europe, was a bountiful god in America,
his sword a cornucopia and his bloody
hands all gold.
The Democracy as a governing agent
was pretty well discredited by the sum-
mer of 1914. But It had been welded into
a functioning machine. Radical and
conservative had been hitched together
and obeyed the "Geel Hawl'' of the White
House. Indeed. Mr.. Wilson had already
merged the party in his own personality
when the sudden subordination Of all do
nestle policies to the new international
exigencies elevated the Presidency TO an
Importance which 1t never before had as
sumed. and threw into the background
the whole coterie OF minor statesmen
who In ordinary times had loomed large
on the horizon.
The Democratic platform is Wilson.
The Democratic party is hidden behind
Wilson and representative government
is lost in the personality of Wilson. Mr.
Hughes represents a system OF govern
ment. His supporters advocate a system
of government rather than an individual.
Mr.. Wilson. on the other hand, is in
dorsed by many. not because he is a Dem
ocrat, but In spite Of II.
The Importance of this distinction may
be emphasized by a simple query. What
chance would the Democratic party have
In the election II It were known that
Mr.. Wilson would be incapacitated a
month after Inauguration? Could the ma
ton see any hope In Mr.. Marshall as
President or In any of the other leaders
who ride on the Wilson wagon?
Granting that Mr.. Wilson is the prophet
his admirers deem him. granting all
things that can be granted In his favor
It would be little short of national In.
sanity 10 stake the destiny of the nation
on one life tenuous at the best, with Ger.
tain ineficiency and general collapse
the inevitable alternative.
The Democracy has no reserve strength.
In the language OF the grldiron, Il is
without a secondary Defense and this
should be fatal TO its chances, irrespec-
tive Of the merits or demerits OF its chief
candidate.