Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-09-27
SUNDAY. SEPTEMBER &c. 1920.
Future of the Republican Party

= AN the Republican party survive three
- successive defeats? Will it gradually
disintegrate and eventually be swallowed
up by some wortlier successor. if Cox is
elected this fall ? If 1t has not strength TO
win this year, with all the advantages it
enjoys, can it ever hope to win?
These are questions which Republican
leaders,, not Democrats, are asking them
selves, and while no man is qualified TO
give an answer, every thinking man is en-
titled to an opinion regarding a subject Of
this. nature. That there is genuine appre-
hension in Republican minds as 10 the flu
ture of the party, may be taken for granted.
But it is by no means certain that that
apprehension is we'll founded.
Political parties in this country, once
they attain a dominant position in politics,
are not easily killed. Many times during
the past 100 years Democrats have felt that
their organization could not endure; that it
could never again rise to Il position Of
power, and that a fresh start would have
Ii be made. But the Democratic party has
: lived and thrived Notwithstanding vicissi-
tudes that seemed to have overwhelmed it.
II did not perish even during the period
of passion and storm incident 10 the War
the States. 1t was banished from
control Of the government for more than
twenty years after that conflict ended, but
il has won four presidential elections in the
past thirty years and is today in the full
bloom OF its strength.
The Republican party came into exist
ence after the Wing organization had dis
solved. 1t was founded upon the issue of
abolition and in less than eight years from
its birth 1t had elected Lincoln. It's sue
cess in winning the War Between the States
and in reconstructing the South after the
war gave 1t a powartul hold upon the coun-
try, n hold that WaS shaken, but not loosen
\ ed, in the Tilden-IIayes contest. Not until
4 Cleveland defeated Blaine did it surrender.
and then only four years. Cleveland served
a second term, whereupon the Democratic
party split, and as a result of that split. it
went into o decline for twelve years.
In 1912 the Republican party itself broke
in two when Roosevelt led more than half
of its followers into the Bull Moose organi-
cation, with the result tina, a reunited
Democracy swept the country and installed
W oodrow Wilson in the White House. That
dissension in the ranks OF the opposition
could not be wiped out in time for the Re-
rublicans to elect Hughes, but at this mo-
ment the Republican organization seems to
he solidifed as at no time since 1904.
And, with a united party behind him,
with all the dissatisfaction felt against the
present administration working to his adj
vantage, and with almost unlimited re-
sources to reply upon, Senator Harding, in
the normal course Of events, ought to win.
His friends know that. Farsecing Demo
Gratis know it. But if the Republican can
didate should fail; If his party has so far
lost popular confidence that ii cannot elect
a President with all the handicaps carried
by Governor Cox verify, the future Of the
party is one calculated to give its leaders
profound concern.
Something of a vital character would
have to be done TO reorganize and rchubili-
tate such an organization. New issues must
be found and a new type of leadership de-
yeloped. The old order, which is respon-
sible for Harding. and which is responsible
for the opposition TO the league OF nations.
would have TO 90. OF this there could be
no doubt whatever.