New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-01-03
REPUBLICAN OPPORTUNITY.
Must Throw Out Discredited POliti'
clans and Adopt Fearless Platform.

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: The Republican party to-day hns the
greatest opportunity ever vouchsafcd II, no'
excepting 1860. Our country Is in peril
The party In power has cruelty manned and
almost dsmembered It. The ideals that were
'nstiled by our forcfathers and cherished
by each generation have been thrown ruin
lessly into the scrapheap.
Our honor, our patriotism, have been bar
tered for political gain. An alien vote has
served to outweigh our duty. slayish Tear
has taken the place of a courageous dignity.
All our standards that our ioreiathers
fought, bled and died for have given place
10 a peace at any cost policy. The Amerl-
cans. and there are many, hang their headS
in shame and impotent rage
II the Republican party will but voice 1t
self as the fearless defender OF that Amerl-
cansm so trampled, it would sweep the coun-
try. But there must not attach TO the Re
publican party any suspicion that its rulers
are guided By personal ambition or personal
hatreds. II must be above suspicion, fear
less and sincere. Will it do so7 Can it do
40 with such men rs Barnes, Penrose, Hills,
Crane. Smoot and their stripe in control?
Manifestly not; these men were tried and
found guilty in 1912. To-day they wear the
stripes placed upon them by the people at
the polls in 1912. This election proved if It
proved anything, that their views and acts
had practically no support Witness their
victories pitiful two states! Yet in the face
Of that, these same men, unchanged, have
the monumental cGrontery to reiterate in
1916 ,he same inbecie rule or ruin policy
Of 1912
Representing ridiculous minority, they
say, Though neither by right Of majority
nor by the wishes and desires Of the great
army Of Republicans. it matters little that
they tried us and found US guilty in 1912
and, further that our guilt Of 1912 opened
the door TO the Democrats. In spite of all
this we will make close corporation Of
the Republican party. We will close our ears
to all Who in 1912 did not follow US IN crime.
Could there be situation more imbecic?
These men would in this supreme hour Of
ou~ country's need throw aside the great op-
porturity Of the Republican party.
The issues suggested in the place Of a
broad. fearless stand for right, justice, high
ideals are what? a tricky, eyasive policy
ward heecr's sacrifice of honor for votes;
attacks upon the Mexican policy because
Mexico has 10 votes; refusal 10 criticise the
German policy. which has permitted hun
dreds of our citizens, men, women and chill
dren. to be murdered. Why? Because they
would follow exactly in the steps Of the
Democratic administration and sink all that
is dear for the sake Of bidding for the Ger
man vote They would fill IN their issues
with the old bogus tariff prosperity, etc.
If the Republican party has the strength
and the will to refuse TO be prostituted 70
the ambitions and hatreds of this half dozen
discrcditcd politicians. and will open its arms
to al those men who hold their nations
needs greater thar party; if il viii announce
boldly a broad, fearless platform, it will
march to a victory in 1916 that would cleo
ufy the country. This is no time TO higgle
and haggle for tricks Of discredited politi-
clans. /, is the time for all honest patriots
TO arise and save what is possible from this
wreck OF American ideals and honor. What
will they do with it? AMERICAN.
New York, Dec. Is, 1915.