Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-10-31
THURSDAY. OCTOBER 81, 1918.
But II Would Be Surprising.

"It would not be surprising if the Re
publicans gained malontv in the next
House of Representatives,, says the
New York World Precedent is all
that way. Wars involve taxes, and heavy
taxation, even when Just, breeds dis
content. MANY administrations have
been confronted half way in their career
by Congresses not in political accord with
them, and nobody has suggested that the
party reverse was in any respect repudia-
ton of the President,
But il would be surprising. at this time
and under prevailing conditions. And
II would not be in accord with precedent,
but in reverse
1t has been shown by results IN the
past that war taxes. no matter how heavy.
do not affect the patriotism Of the people
10 the extent Of turning them against the
administration under which they are
taxed. If such taxes arc Just and fair.
This was proved by the Congress
elections of 1862, during the Civil War,
when President Lincoln administration
was put 10 the test Tho people pa
trioticalIv sustained linn hy clectng 2
Congress IN accord with his admnlstra-
non. Ii was again cmphailcally
set forth in the Congress elections Of
1898. after orr little war with Spain.
when President Mckinney. earnestly
supported BY RAeseyclt, Lodge. and
other virulent partlsans oi today who
are now denouncing President Wilson Tor
making similar appeal, with vastly
..c.e reason, was cordially indorsed hy
i c.cction OF a Republican Congress
..r.ntac sentiment carried the day on
-., occasion.
I..c potent element IN popular cleo
son that results in a popular rebukc q
tic national administration, Is business
and industrial deprtsslon, which imposes
suffering upon the people. We have had
notable Instances OF this.
In 1874, when the great pane was
LAYING its heavy hand upon thousands
OF mechanics and laborng men who
yainlv sought for employment. the Con-
gress elections converted a Republican
House into a heavily Democratic body
In 1882, hard times caused il similar
revulsion, the Republican administration
suffering from the rebukc In 1894,
when the Republican silver imitation
panic spread industrial depression and
consequent suffering oyer the country.
the Cleveland administration was made
the goat By dissatisfied voters. and
Democratic House Of Representatives
gave way to one largely Republican.
But these radical political changes.
these partisan repndiations Of national
administrations, do not come when the
people are prosperous. no matter what
the situation in respect OF taxes may be.
Al this time the country is tremendous
Iy prosperous. Never before was labor
so well paid. Many workers receive as
much for a days work as they received
for a weeks work in days gone by. The
demand for labor is insistent, and there
are many more jobs -gOOd-paying jobs,
too than there are men TO fill them.
Never before was general business more
profitable.
Talk about the people voting for a
change change that might threaten
serious injury 10 them under such
splendid and profitable conditions? II
is not 10 be thought of. They know
when they are well off, and will
not deliberately set aside d certainty
for an uncertainty.