The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1918-03-06
SAINT NO SUCH ANIMAL"
What is a Republican?

What is Republican?
What is Democrat?
These pertinent questions are asked in letter
from Tribune reader who advises that ne is not
looking for political thunder but is open-mlnded
seeker after the truth.
In reply, The Tribune will say in the language
of the street urchin, "There amt no such ami
NAL"
For the first time in the history Of America
party lines have been massaged away. In this
respect, President Wilson has an easier task than
General Washington had in the days of the revo-
luton, or than President Lincoln had during the
war of the rebellion or than President Mckinley
had in the Spanish war.
In spite Of the overwhelming sentiment for
American independence, the tories, or loyalist
party, were active all through the heart breaking
American revolution and for some years there
after Washington, while combating the Tories,
had the demands of the Wings, or the American
party also to contend with.
Lincoln had his copperheads and his northern
democrats to combat. Partisan politics within
Lincons own faction played in desperate
and sometimes, despicable way. Everyone of
the present generation will readily recall what
Hearst and other yellow journalists did to Nc
Kney during the war Of 1893. Republicans and
Democrats still existed in those days. They fid-
died away with their political bows though Rome
did burn.
But anyone who can dfferentiate between re-
national emergency must needs be very wise
man. Wilson has been criticized as little or less
by republican members of congress than by
representatives and senators of his own party.
Criticism by either party has been discouraged.
The partisan press has been wholly bipartisan
in it's comments upon the administration and it's
conduct of the war.
Wise party leaders have recognized the fact
that free trade or protection, the gold standard
or bi-metalism and other issues which have
stirred up political partisanshp in times past are
not involved in this great struggle, where the is
sue is the life of all parties concerned in repub-
lican form of government ITSELF and the very
existence of that government itself.
Perhaps out OF this great war, as out of the
war of the rebellion, will come an entirely new
lineup of political parties, under new designa-
lions and embracing new principles. The repub-
lican party has had great and glorious career.
The democratic party has past upon which it
may look back with pride, but the names "Repub-
lican" and Democrat are only empty symbols.
With each succeeding national campaign they
have come to mean something different The re-
publican who sat under the oaks at Jackson,
Mich, and assisted in the birth of a new party
would recognize little of that party in the repub
llcanlsm OF today. The old-time fire-eating dem
ocrat Of reconstruction days and later would find
no shred left of the party which he knew and
which he was willing to fight for and die for.
The old type of politician who would vote for
his Satanic Majesty himself, if the terror ap-
peared on the ticket under the proper party
heading, is as obsolete as is the brand of parti-
sanship which produced such politicians. Until
the war is over there will be but one party in
the United States-the loyalist After the war.
it is entirely probable we will see a revival of
the old parties or the creation of new ones. But
until the war is won there is no place in America
for any partisanship except that brand which
seeks to excel in patriotism, loyalty and sacri-
fee.
"Wlet are the directorataasf tkose HosllSldnd
and q cago packing concerns2" inquiries q reader
We hTent the list 81 their private businesses
b. but arg aRIs e stats that tAfIfG Ill f1