New-York tribune., 1918-02-10
Opportunity!

Inc IElUuuC uOpCS VI VIC ScAeiiSlihS, CA
the Republican National Committee at ST.
Louis on Monday that it will be something
more than mere meeting for the selection
of a chairman, however important that
may be. There is a call for leadership,
which the party now sadly lacks; a call for
a programme and policy. A wise choice
in the craftsmanship may go far toward
this end, but the committee as whole may
do more. 1t may take steps toward the re-
constitution of the Republican party as
the strong and aggressive organization
which has been the dominant political
power in this country in the time of It's
most splendid development.
For more than half century, follow
ing the early formative days of Washing
ton and Adams, the party of Jefferson and
Jackson, of Van Buren, Pierce and Bu-
chanan, was the dominant force in the
political life of the nation. 1t went to
pieces on the question Of slavery. And in
the half century following it never was
able to throw off the stigma Of its cham
pionship of that institution.
In this second half century the Republi-
can party represented the constructive
and developmental force of the country,
the force that, largely within this space
of half century, has made ours the great
est industrial nation upon the earth.
1t would be a deep loss if it were to sur
render this high character of leadership
now. But for the moment the fact is clear
enough. 1t has lost it. It's leadership is
gone.
For six years it has been a party torn
asunder, house divided against itself
Upon such foundation it cannot long
stand.
There is danger that it may become in
this war, as the Democratic party did in
the Civil War, a party of idle antagonism
and opposition. This is not the Republi-
can tradition.
We do not believe that the nation will
long intrust it's destinies to Democratic
leadership, for a simple reason. That
party has, throughout perhaps the larger
part of its existence, been distinctly the
party of a section. 1t remains so to-day.
There never has been a ''solid North" s."
For nearly three generations there has
been and there still is 'solid South D
This section has throughout this period
dominated the Democratic party, and
through that party now Dominates the
whole country
The whole Administration is Southern,
in ire %vp bohitc
1t is singular situation. Since the
Civil War the South has undergone
considerable development. But moth
ing like the development of that North
against which it fought To-day the
states east of the Missouri and north
Of the Mason. and Dixon line are richer
more populous, relatively, than in 1860
Nearly two-thirds of the whole population
nearly three-quarters of its manufactures
and wealth, are within this area.
The national policies which affect oun
industries, our trade, abroad and at home
our attitude toward national problems anc
our relations with the outside world, ough,
to be, must be, formulated by a majority
of the nation, and not by minority
At present we have to all intents tn,
policies of the whole country directed by
minority. This is intolerable
But responsibility is great educating
force. Eight years in power may develop
in the Democratic party strong Leaders
who may change its character and de
velop constructive force.
Of this there is no evidence as vet
The old Democratic party is dead. A nev
one may be in the making.
But at present its leaders seem drifting
toward huge extension of governments
powers, centralized paternalisn, an in
stinct for governmental interference,
disposition to follow the visionary and tn
doctrinaire.
We do not believe that this is the Amer
lean spirit or the American ideal We d.
not want Prussianized America, gov
ernment of bureaucrats, semi-socialisti
nation, drifting to we know not what
1t may be that we are now approachin!
a great national crisis. 1t is, at any rate
time when the Republican party ough
to cease from heckling or undirected oppo
sition and put before the country pro
gramme to which the nation may turf
with confidence and approval.
We hope to see the committee at st
Louis take some steps toward the calling
of q nartv conference at Chicago perhaps