OCR Text |
Show "I AM SIR ORACLE!" i - 1 Two weeks ago American citizens every where read without disapproval the suggestion that Theodore Roosevelt might be Republican candidate for President in 191G; and now that t dentatcd Sir Oracle indicates a willingness to bo so honored only in tho ovont that the Republicans Re-publicans abandon their party and accept his; surrender their organization and take orders from his organization. So far as there is anything generic or vital in tho platform of tho Progressives, it is identical with tho genius and tho spirit of tho Republican party, and has been the watchword and inspiration inspira-tion of tho millions who have voted that ticket evor since Colonel Fremont was a candidate. (And if tho momentum of dominance had carried some of tho Republican leaders beyond tho ideals of tho party masses, and into habits and customs cus-toms obnoxious to tho rank and file, they have boon punished and retired. Tho error has been corrected. Tho variance has boon rectified. And tho whole question now is: Shall tho Republican party bo killed because some of its loaders offended? Why, no. Its basic prinoiplo is tho basic principle of representative government. It cannot can-not bo killed in a nation of ninoty millions of people. Necessarily, that system must prevail in so extensive a commonwealth. And men who hold to that doctrine, as the Progressives must, can gain in their now relation no advantago not possessed or possiblo in tho old. Wherefore, if Colonel Roosevelt is correctly reported in tho statement that tho Republican party must bo abandoned and tho Progressive party enriched in consequence, he is demanding the impossible. My other old friend Emerson says: "It is handsomer to remain in the establishment bettor than tho establishment, and conduot that in the best manner possible, than to make a sally against evil by some single improvement." And Emerson is evorlastingly right. Besides which, noither Colonel .Roosevelt nor any other man can accomplish the Republican party's dismemberment and effect its destruction. Tho millions of men who hold to the Republican doctrine, who honor tho history of that party, who show tho aspiration of its founders and recognizo the splendor of its achievement, are not going to abandon it so long as its hopes and its mission can bo realized within the old party lines. Thoy will not follow Colonel Roosevelt, greatly as they admire him, generously as thoy judge him. Thoy will recognize tho old party's movemont toward its own correction of error, toward its own elimination of whatever was foreign to that party's original motive and life- i long aim. They will write Colonel Roosovolt down as a groat man, but they will not surrender to him their consciences. Tho Republican party is not going to die. |