Milford chronicle., 1924-08-08
NOT THE SHADOW, But THE SUBSTANCE
OF REPUBLICANISM

(From National Republican, Washington, D. c.,
The time has come when men and women who
are Republicans from principle, rather thar
merely for Office must cease to be taken foi
granted by politicians who use the Republican
party as path to power, only to betray that
party when in Office and even to attempt it's de-
structiOn by the process of boring from within
in behalf of causes fundamentally at war with
real Republicanism.
The time has come when those who believe in
the Republicanism of Lincoln, Grant, Garfield,
Harrison, Mckinley and Roosevelt must refuse
either surrender compromise to demagogic
radicals, out of harmony with every real prin-
ciple and ideal of Republicanism, whose only re-
lationship to the Republican party is the party's
use for the furtherance of their own own per-
sonal ambitions, but who, when in office, are dis
loyal to its principles its policies and its pro-
grams.
Only by such resistance can the Republican
party be saved There may be, and always has
been, compromise within the party on non-es-
sentials, but there can be no sacrifice of the
party itself except an organization for the at
tainment of power and patronage. Political par
ties are of value only in so far as they repre-
sent principles AS a mere vehicle for the Ax-
ploitatiorf of individuals they are worse than
worthless
The policy of compromise with destructive ele-
ments wearing the camoufage of Republicanism
has already gone so far that these elements in
both political parties are now planning to
launch a third national party while retaining,
for the time being, the advantage which comes
from thoroughly insincere and dishonest pro-
ession of allegiance to the existing parties.
1t is time to raise the banner of constitutional
representative government as against the chal-
enge of a radicalism European in its origin and
pirit, which would sweep away the historic in
titutions of the republic indoctrinated Ameri-
ans know and love and intend to preserve
gainst the assaults of all enemies foreign and
omestic. In behalf of these institutions patrio-
ic Americans must unite, without regard to
arty if need be, in the face of the ceaseless and
attacks which are being made upon
hem.
Republcanism does not mean communism; it
oes not mean socialism, it does not mean de-.
tructivism of any sort. From the beginning the
republican party has been both a constructive
nd courageous party. Whenever it ceases to
e either, it will perish and ought to perish. The
uarantees of person and property of individual {
ghts, of the freest opportunity for labor and
nterprise. It stands for the private payroll of
enterprise as against the public pay {
)ll of an exaggerated and despotic state. 1t has
Othng in common with the demogogic doctrines s
destructive radicals whose appeal is to the T
brit of envy. class and caste hatred and revo- d
tionary attack upon the economic system upon 6
hich rests the structure of national prosperity 7
Id progress. s
Honesty and courage in this matter are the q
st strategy What shall it profit party to win +
,minal control of a government only to find h
self powerless to develop the policies to which q
is publicly pledged? The only victory it is v
1rth while for a party to win is that gained in
uare-toed fight for principle, under conditions fl
lich make it possible for a party to make good n
the application of those principles to govern =,
ent The mere name of the party or of the h,
N in power means little to the American mil n
ms, but what the party and the men in power w
nd for and are able to accomplish means ke
,rything. 1t is a battle for the substance, and m
the mere shadow of Republicanism And
that battle is summoned every American who
this time of testing is bold enough to stand Fr
for the faith that is in every citizen who be-
es that this is the best government on earth me
that II is Worth ngnung Ior against dll IHe be-
-erful forces which are either openely or Sc Isl
ly arrayed against it. en-,