Evening star., 1940-11-12
The Opposition Party

In the last six national elections
the G. o. P. has been turned back
at the polls. Upon occasion, notably
In 1888, it has scored gains, but not
since the defeat of Herbert Hoover
have the Republicans been able to
win a controlling position in national
affairs And yet the G. o. P, even in
the role of minority party, has not
lost its vitality. 1t survived the dis
astrous defeats of 1882 and 1886, and
in last weeks election more than
21,0O0,O00 votes were cast for its cam
didates-the largest vote ever re-
ceived by Republican ticket.
This past record, the very fact that
the G. o. P. remains vigorous and
influential after repeated reverses,
should cause it's leaders in Congress
to consider most carefully the partyS
role in the future. To a very con-
siderable extent, it is for them to
determine whether their party shall
emerge from the grave crisis con-
fronting the Nation as stronger
and more effective organization or
whether it is to decline into political
insignificance.
For at least two more years the
Republicans in Congress must con-
tinue to function as an opposition
party. But this does not mean that
they should shape their policies along
narrow partisan lines, nor does 1t
mean that in the name of national
unity they should paSSively accept
whatever legislative programs are Of
fered by the administration forces.
There remains what might be de-
scribed as a middle courSe-the role
of an alert, an intelligent and con-
structive critic, and it is this course
that the Republicans should pursue.
This, in substance, was the advice
given by Wendell Willkie to his sup
porters last night.
In Mr. WILKES judgment-and he
is entirely correct-the maintenance
of a strong, alert and watchfuP'
opposition party, without any Sacri-
flee of loyalty, is the very essence OF
our democracy. AS his immediate
contribution to the preservation OF
this "loyal opposition" he vetoed all
speculation that he might accept
cabinet post under Mr.. Roosevelt.
And at the same time, he urged that
his supporters should not build their
plans for the next presidential elec-
ton around his name, a recon-
mendation designed to clear the way
for all aspirants to the G. o. P.
nomination in 1914.
Mr.. Willkie put his finger on the
true function of an opposition party
when he declared that American
unity cannot be made with words or
gestures-that it must be forged be-
tween the ideas of the opposition and
the practices and policies of the
administration. Abjuring the 'parti-
san error" of opposing things just for
the sake of opposition, he said: "We,
who stand ready to serve our country
behind our Commander in Chief,
nevertheless retain the right, and I
will say the duty, to debate the course
of our Government. Ours is a two
party system. Should we ever permit
one party to dominate our lives en-
tlrely, democracy would collapse and
we would have dictatorship"
That statement of the essential
function of the G. O. P. as minority
party, representing the considered
Judgment of its titular head after
the heat of the campaign had sub
sided, is applicable to Republicans in
and out of public office. AS this
Nation moves into period which is
almost certain to see more and more
power vested in the executive branch
Of the Government, it is no eXaggera-
ton to say that our democracy OF
the future will be shaped in con-
siderable measure by the faithfulness
and intelligence with which all Re-
publicanS adhere to the program
recommended by Mr.. Willkie.