The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1916-11-16
THE SOUTH AND WEST.

THE SOUTH AND WEST. .~..
Ever since the radical change in our
political relations that gave rise to the
Republican party and placed it in con-
troll of the Government, the Eastern and
Middle Western States have been looked
to for the election news that always
gave the result. GAS goes New York |
goes the nation" was saying not dis
credited until this good year of 1916.
The coming into power of the Repub-
lican party made another change in our
governmental policy which is also ap-
parently reversed by the result OF the
election of November 7th. Business con-
sideration became the first consideration
on the demand of the dominant East and
our Government was conducted during
the greater part Of fifty years in the
way OF certain business interests. For
fifty years fear of election results upon
the markets frightened the voters away
from any movement that owned higher
aim than money consideration. The love
of money, the hope of material we'll
being and the fear of "hard times" kept
the national minds eye upon the main
chance.
Slowly, during the past twenty years,
the thought has taken root in the minds
of the American people that there should
be something more important in our
national aspirations than the thingsthat
are merely good for business. And at
the same time the notion grew that bust
ness itself could stand a little reforming
and be all the better for it. The new
thoughts took firmest hold in the West
and South. The result was the swing
ing of the West to President Wilson in
the election of last week when Presi
dent of the United States was elected
without the help of New York-without
the help OF Illinois or Indiana. 1t was
the young Vests declaration of indie
pendencc Of the conservatism of the
East, and the. event marks an era, in
American politics. =.
The reelection Of President Wilson
seems to mean great deal in measuring
the progress of political thought away
from old lines: Wilson is Q Progressive
of the most progressive type: Had he
appeared in the beginning of his polit-
ical career with the program he has
lately caused to be made into law we
should all have called him radical. But
he has only kept pace with public opin-
ion and public opinion has travelled a
long way since 1912. - -.
1t is far from likely that the election
results OF 1916 will be reversed in 1920.
All the power and influence of thesclass
that has been legislated into plethoric
wealth during the reign of business
ideals in government was thrown into
ID the contest this year. Reduced Repub-
! lican ma orities in Middle Western States
under these circumstances and the total
sweeping away OF maiorities in seven
hitherto rockriobed Republican states
nv lhCdii uiiVt c.ultAlClCu DCulOSAde1S
party sway for many years to come, but
it does mean Progressive rule The OLD
conservative Republican party has beer
repudiatea by the West, and the Middle
States and the states around the great
lakes have shown marked disposition
to follow where the bold have blazed {
trail Revolutions do not go backward
The young progressive element in thu
Republican party will either donlinat,
that party, give it new spirit and, per
haps, q new name, or they viii -depar
from the organization permanently. Al
for the Democratic party, it has made
such a record under Mr.. Wilson's :firs
administration for progressive enact
ments that pride Of achievement viii
bind it to the course the President ha
shaped if, indeed, anything more i
wanting to insure the principles of
party that has stood for free institu
tons, lived to see two great rival partie
pass from the stage of national polite
and bids fair to witness the last gasp o
third rival in the Republican party.
1t may also be said that sectionalisr
, as political issue has finally passe
away. The broadminded people of tn
states west of the Mississippi Rive
failed to respond to it, and there is goo
reason to believe that it had small effec
in the Middle West and East. Sectiona
distrust has at last ceased to be OF servic
to party that came into being solel
on that issue, and it is natures reveng
that the party shall die with the issue
The ideals that the West and South hav
joined in proclaiming the national ideal
will live and grow in favor with the PEG
pie of the East.
Col. Roosevelt announced on the eve
ming of the election day, after it ha
been learned that New York had gon
for Hughes and the New York news
papers as matter of course had an
nounced his election to the Presidency
that he would not suggest to Mr. Hughe