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Show TIME FOR CONCILIATION. In the upheavals of politics the present year, the Republican party suffered a tromondous defeat by reason rea-son of the extremes to which partisanship partisan-ship and personal ambition were pushed. What has been dqncv cannot be undone, but it, is certainly tho part of wisdom and constructive politics for the party leaders to take such stops as will bring together the two factious, eliminating tho personal animosities ani-mosities and ambitions that, led to the split. Indeed, a beginning in this good work has been reported. Colonel Roosevelt Roose-velt cannot possibly expect to figure any more in Republican polities; and without him, thcro is nothing left of the Progressive party that ennnot easily bo adjusted to Republican policies, poli-cies, Republican traditions, and Republican Re-publican advancement. Wo have condemned con-demned the aet of the Progressive committee in Sew York which contemptuously con-temptuously rejected overtures from the Republican committee of that State for a reunion of tho two factious of the Republican party. For, eliminating eliminat-ing Roosevelt and setting aside somo of hi3 vagaries as having nothing to do with roal politics or practical government, gov-ernment, there are no differences between be-tween the two wings of tho party that cannot easily and fairly be adjusted. ad-justed. We consider that any factions outcry or recrimination on tho part of cither wing of the party with respect re-spect to the other is not only exceedingly exceed-ingly bad taste, but exceedingly bad polie', and detestable politics. Antagonisms An-tagonisms of that kind simply tend to make reunion moro difficult, aud perhaps per-haps to postpono it indefinitely. As we have said heretofore, we consider that the Progressives (aside ifroni Roosevelt) deserve well of the Republican Repub-lican part', as striving to lead it forward, for-ward, as against the standpatters, who were determined cither to stand still or go Ibackward. The two elements of the party can easily fuse, and ought to fuse; but they cannot fuse if thore is a constant irritation kept up and continued attacks on party leaders. These can servo no possible purposo except ex-cept to keep alive acrimony, that ought to be allayed. Accordingly, wo do not find auy words too severe to condemn tho editorial edi-torial in the Smoot organ of this city yesterday against Senator Borah of Idaho, claiming that he "is roapiug just as he sowed." That editorial is as follows: Senator Borah of Idaho seems to bo ruapinp -jl Just harvest from the seed sown by himself at the outset of the National campaign. When he assumed his strictly Impartial attitude of supporting support-ing neither Air. .Roosevelt nor .Mr, J'aft. ono could but gutss at his motives, but tho Inevitable results forecasted themselves them-selves with ease. Jlc wuu warned that neither Bull Moose nor Republicans would be pleased at his position, and that he who would endeavor to ride two horecs risks falling between them and apralning his political ankle. And the news from Idaho indicates that both the Taft and Roosevelt men In the leglsla-laturc leglsla-laturc will require powerful arguments before they will consent to Join Issues and support -Mr Borah for re-election. That editorial losos sight altogether of the Republican party, and of tho principles upon which it was founded. Every Republican will agree in a general gen-eral way, and ought to agree, that the party is greater than any man in it or than any combination within itself. It is altogether unreasonable, therefore, there-fore, to stako the fortunes of the Republican Re-publican party upon Prosidont Taft, although al-though he is a grand Republican. On the other' hand, it is an impossible proposition to piaco the permanent fyr-luuca fyr-luuca of ciLher faction of tho party upon Colonel Roosevelt, That sort of thing is personal politics, and not politics poli-tics of principle. But what is wautcd just now is a return to principle, leaving aside the personal equation as much as possible, and especially to leave aside irritations irrita-tions founded upon personal animosities animosi-ties and personal vindictiveness. There is no reason why any Republican should resent the course of Senator Borah. As we understand his position, ho planted himself squarely upon Republican Re-publican party principles, declining lo bind himself to any individual, no matter mat-ter how high or how vehemently tho cause of that person was advocated. Senator Borah's allogiance to Republicanism Repub-licanism has never been seriously questioned, ques-tioned, and ennnot honestly be questioned. ques-tioned. But ho declined to commit himself him-self to tho fortunes of any individual, which is merely to say that he considered con-sidered Republicanism and Republican party principles as having greater demand de-mand upon his allegianco than tho personal per-sonal cause- of any man, even though he was tho nominee of tho party. Wo consider that it was Senator Borah's duty as a RopuMicau to support Pres ident Taft; but hi did not so look upon his duty; and now lhat ihsuo has entirely gone by. Theru is nothing noth-ing now to bo gained by assailing any one for not supporting President Taft, or for supporting Colonel K'oohcvelf. Hepiiblieanism is greater than oUhcr, greater than both. Upon Republicanism Republican-ism Senator Borah took his stand. There is no reason, therefore, why any Republican, regular or Progressive, should rcfiihu to vole Lo return Sou-ator Sou-ator Mornh lo the U. S. Senate from Idaho. |
