The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-07-21

What Saratoga Means Both to Re-
publicans and to democratic.
When the Republicans met In Sara
toga last week 1t was not State
convention in the ordinary sense. II
was not even official enough to be
what WILLIAM ii. TAFT called It--a
near convention. But 1t was a great
gathering 1t was led by great men
who had done great things In the his
tory of the country. Its meaning of
the moment was as clear as sunshine.
Its influence ON the future was as
plain.
Yet Democratic newspapers gener-
ally failed to grasp what that gather.
ing meant last week, what it will
mean next autumn, and what II will
mean still further along In the 20.
litical calendar of this nation. Our
nelghbor, the Evening Post, for ex-
ample, made the astounding discov.
cry that the spontaneous tribute paid
to Colonel ROOSEVELT by all factions
at Saratoga will remain the open
confession that the Republican party
in New York is in sad plight. so
filled with discomfort and torn by fac.
tons that it turns despairingly to
| one man to save it from disaster"
II this were 80. II 1t were any.
where near so, 1t would be great and
glorious news to the New York lead
ers Of the Democratic party. Few
things in politics are certain, but II
1t isn't certainty that those po
litical experts expect to lose thi,
State overwhelmingly In November
then they will ngree that there never
was such thing as certainty. UJ
1 to date the Democratic leaders ar
not trying to pick a winner. whoever
might be nominated by the Republi
cans. They are trying to pick. as
one who can best be spared, a sacr
fetal offering.
Beyond and above the State cleo
ton next autumn, the Republicans q,
Saratoga called to Colonel Roosevelt
as millions, whether Republicans OF
! Democrats. are calling to him from
oil over the country, as the foremos
American who has stood up to tel
the truth about the mistakes of tn,
party In control of this Government
He was not afraid to do this before
we began to be military factor II
France. He was not afraid to do i
Mt Saratoga, after our troops hat
covered themselves with glory and re
nected upon their country imperish
able honor. He will not be afraid
whenever things go wrong, to do /
TIL the end of the war
There Is no party. there is no fac
ton, that Is not behind this war t,
the limit Of our financial power. Oh
| industrial power, and our man power
There Is no Republican bigger thnn 1
peanut that will not give the Gov
eminent all the support that is in hin
to help win the war. But we are al
now swept past the petty. mean days
when great men. capable OF doln,
great things, were expected to hol,
silent tongues though administrative
departments floundered in weak indie
cision and cocksure blunder.
Not merely Republicans, Old Guar
and New Guard, but the American
people realize to-day, as they neve
realized before, that the highest typ
Of patriotic service has been TO poin
out what was wrong, to demand ac
ton when there was wavering, to b.
militant for correction Of error whe,
to 90 on with such error might b
fatal.
If there hadn't been some voices il
the Republican party-and we ar
bound to say there were some In til
Democratic party as we'll; If ther
hadn't been some among the news
papers, Democratic as well as Repuh
lican. honest enough with themselves
with their fellows and with thei
country to dare to demand the thing
that were essential to success, Their
might have been no splendid Amer
can Victories on the Marine and tn
Alsne. Rheims might have been swal
lowed. Paris itself might have faller
the Channel ports might have gone
In this imperative service of insist
Ing that we back up our allies wit
effective power as well rs with fai
words there has been no voice stronge
and clearer, from the outbreak of tn
war four years ago to the turn o
the tide on the Marine to-day, thaj
Colonel RoosEvELTs.
That is the meaning of Saratogs
There is no telling how far and t
what results 1t will carry.
| Conscience Disturbing Facts.
n ipyolyipr rnn,o into,