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About The commoner. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-1923 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 20, 1907)
IjWW. ,-W. aiiiinni'iihiiifciiininiiiitiiiiii ,i i.m,.,. ji ,BI w m)n'r . , ,ij IWjWl JS S3rr;fWr!,,'ltlMl rj 11t""n 'T'l f '""'' itltirmKi ijnhiriii i nii Hi n -! -WM 'HWg i v.fwww- -KfSH& - - - r- . - .. ' NEBRASKA STATE DBc2o,19ovHISTOft!CAl SOCIETY The Commoner. best. If the president threw. his strength to Senator LaFollette, who stands for aggressive reforms, it would be a pretty fight, but the presi dent probably feels that very little reform can bo hoped for from republican leaders, and ho therefore selects Secretary Taft as the reformer who will excite the least opposition. among the representatives of predatory wealth. While the democrats will bo glad to know of the president's fixed purpose not to be a can didate, their opposition to his candidacy waB not on account of his popularity, for it is not at all certain that he could have polled more votes than any other republican, but President Roose velt's candidacy would make it impossible for the democrats to secure the support of Roose velt republicans. The natural fight is between the democratic party and the reactionary ele ment of the republican party, for in such a fight the democrats can take advantage of the edu cational work that President Roosevelt has done, and tho issue ought not to be in doubt. Senator LaFollette would poll the radical strength of the republican party but would lose even more than President Roosevelt would among the standpatters. Secretary Taft will, if nominated, straddle the issues and seek to hold tho two wings of the republican party together. He can not hope to hold all tho radicals that the presi dent would hold or LaFollette would hold. Neither would he alienate as many of the stand patters. With him as a candidate the aim of the democrats would be to show that he does not stand for any reforms worth mentioning, and that his administration,-if in line with his utter ances thus far would be colorless. It is fortunate that the third term issue is removed from politics, for it would have dis tracted attention and prevented a consideration of the economic reforms about which the country is now thinking, rhat the president has acted wisely no sincere friend of his will deny, for he has nothing to gain by another term and a defeat would bo disastrous. Those who have insisted upon his nomination in spite of his declaration have thought more of the party than they have of the president, and it is not certain either that they accurately gauge public opinion, for the anti-third term sentimeut is a real senti ment and one not to be lightly considered. oooo SECRETARY TAFT'S MOTHER The readers of The Commoner will regret to learn of the death of the mother of Secretary Taft. Beneath all party differences there is a human nature that links us all together, and the questions that divide us in campaigns are forgotten when death enters the household. Mr. Taft hesitated about his departure because of his mother's sickness, and he has hurried as rapidly as he could in the hope of reaching her bedside before the last summons came. The news has been borne to him, and he wilL return carrying a burden of sorrow which all of his countrymen will share insofar as 'one can share such a burden with another. Mrs. Taft's-death at this time will be regretted the more if her son reaches the coveted honor of a nomination, for what mother does not rejoice in her son's success? Tho whole country was glad that Presi dent McKinley's mother survived his election and was present at his inauguration; for Mr. McKinley life, too, was made radiant by the domestic virtues which are everywhere prized. OOOO THE KAISER'S POLICY Following will be found a very frank state ment of the kaiser's policy. Ho says: "Germany's future development imperative ly requires a powerful navy. We must export the product of our industries and new and wider markets are constantly necessary to us. As much of our trade must be with semi-civilized countries with, people to whom a nation's physi cal strength is the test of its commercial great ness we must show that we are strong. A mighty navy will add millions to the volume of our trade. We must develop our colonies. To do this we need a greater navy. Germany did not become a colonizing power until the best countries for such development had al ready be"en annexed by other nations. We had no choice but to be contented with the best of what was left. Yet our colonies may be come, through German energy and persever ance, of incalculable worth. We must not be like children, however, who put a bean in the ground and return the next day to see if the plant has grown. Colonies are necessary to our ever increasing population. Without them we must lose millions of our people to countries .which can better accommodate our overflow. There aro no countries in Europo wo could con quer and add to our possessions without danger to ourselves. Denmark, Sweden and Norway aro poor and undesirable. The Netherlands shows much of the old Gonnanic strength and tenacity, "mJ!1. ,g I)ol,tIcul national assimilation difficult. This Is true of Belgium to a still groatcr ox tent. Switzerland is tho best buffer state wo could wish. It is truo the Baltic provinces wore onco Gorman, but their Russillcatlon Is mak ing greater progress daily. Wo aro mistaken If wo think we would bo recolvcd thcro with open arms. Even if wo could conquer thorn, thoy would becomo a pormanent difficulty to us. The extension of our eastern frontier would put us in a more unfavorable strategic position thnn at present, besides making of Russia an irre concilable foe. Wo should nover, indeed, think of such a conquest. We need Russia and Russia needs us. We do not want anything from Eng land and England can not tnko or oyoii wish to take anything from us. England and Ger many have every reason for helping ono an other, so long as our vital interests do not con flict. We have, in fact, every reason for wish ing England's strength to increase. We would ourselves feol any weakening in its power. All we could expect from England ovon in tho event of war, in which wo won, would bo some small and undesirable colony. Any German states man who would fight England on such a pretext would not deserve a place at tho empire's helm. All Germany wants Is peace, and again peace, development of our commerce and Industries and a constantly widening national culture." The kaiser justifies his demand for a large navy on tho ground that Germany wants colonies. Ho is consistent; If ho is going out to conquer and exploit the half civilized racos he will need a large navy. But if wo are not going to burglarize why must wo supply our selves with a kit of burglar's tools? That is the way ono democrat has expressed It and it Is an apt expression. Wo aro not contemplating a raid and have not, thoroforo, tho reason that Germany has for wanting a big navy. Our isolated position gives us a national protection which no navy could supply. Why join In the mad rush for naval supremacy? oooo KNOX ANNOUNCES CANDIDACY Senator Knox has announced his candidacy for the republican nomination for tho presidency. When analyzed his speech will bo found to contain no statement of policy, no promise of remedy. It eulogizes the republican party,' praises the president and expresses an infinite faith in republican leaders. Those who trust the republican party as implicitly as he does will like tho speech, but what of those who want relief and demand something specific? They will have to look to the democratic party. OOOO A POOR SHOWING A school teacher informs The Commoner that in fifty-three cities which he has canvassed having a registration of thirty-two thousand high school pupils, only eight per cent are studying American history and only three per cent aro studying American government. This Is cer tainly a very poor showing, and if it is true throughout the country, it is high time that books on history and government be sufficiently simplified to Insure the study of these subjects by all high school pupils; in fact, the study of both history and government ought to begin be fore the high school is reached, for a large per centage of the children never get beyond the graded schools. OOOO KENTUCKY The republicans who are trying to extract satisfaction out of the result in Kentucky should examine the vote. They will find that the dem cratic vote was thirty-two thousand less than It was in 1903 and that the republican vote was six thousand less than It was that year. In other words, about thirty-eight thousand voters staid at home not to speak of the natural Increase in the vote. The repub lican candidate for governor was elected, and the republicans, though not securing control of the legislature, made gains. This, however, was not due to an actual increase in the republican vote or even to the popularity of the republican candidate, for he actually received fewer votes than tho republican candidate of four years ago. The trouble was that tho liquor question hurt the democratic party In the cities while factional fights within the party hurt it in the country. Much as the result is to be deplored, there Is A VV' ' ''?, ' 3 . no reason to doubt that the democratic imrh will carry tho state by a largt majority in lh nroaldontlnl campnlgn of 1003, for all of th factions are mil tod on national pollalos. Ken tucky will bo in the- damocratlc column a guro ns oloctlon day come. OOOO OPKNING TIIK CAMPAIGN Tho campaign of 1008 In alrmuly opening, although the convention Ik some six months off. Tho first lmnquot aftor tho announcement of Mr, Bryan's willingness to bo a candidate, If the democratic voters desired It, was held at La Fayotto, Ind. IDIght hundred men sat at tho tables and some three thousand men and women occupied tho galleries. Nearly all tho loaders of tho Indiana democracy wore present, a num ber of them taking part In tho program, Tho bollof was everywhere oxpressod that Indiana would bo found In tho democratic column In 1908. On Novembor 20 tho United Democracy of Washington held a banquet at tho Raleigh hotel; whore more than flvo hundred wore seatod at the tables and as many moro woro unable to obtain tickets owing to tho limited capacity of tho dining room. It was said to have boon tho most successful political banquet over hold In Wash ington, and there Is no doubt about tho hopeful spirit that porvaded tho democracy thcro. Hon. John Sharp Williams, leader of the minority In tho houno of representatives, was ono of tho speakers at this banquet. At the Iroquois club in Chicago a , luncheon was given on tho 0th of Do- . comber, at which tho various factions of tho party wore represented and harmony pre vailed. On tho ovoning of tho Cth a banquet was held at Freeport, III., which was in many respects remarkable. The city has between twenty and twenty-fivo thousand inhabitants, and is ono of tho few cities in northern Illinois which has a democratic majority. Crowded meetings were held at the opera house and at tho court house, and then six hundred and ninety porsons sat down to a banquet at J 1 o'clock. Tho speaking commenced a little after twelve and concluded at a quarter of five In tho morn ing. When it is remembered that a considerable number of tho banqueters were republicans, the interest shown certainly Indicates a change in sentiment since 1890. Frcoport is the home of Hon. Douglass Pattorson, tho brilliant young leader of the minority In the Illinois leglslaturo, and Mr. Patterson acted as toastmaster at this banquot. On tho evening of the 7th a banquet was held in Omaha under the auspices of tho Dahl man Democracy, a club named after Hon. James C. Dahlman, the present mayor of Omaha and the present Nebraska member of the national committee. Something over twelve hundred por sons sat down to Uio banquet and soveral thou sand heard the speeches from the gallery. This was tho largest banquot over held In Nebraska, and probably the largest In the west. Mr. Bryan spokQ at each of these banquets and was grati fied to find the democrats so enthusiastic and so ready to begin the campaign work for 1908. OOOO .. THE VIEWS OF A VETERAN 0 Mr. O. O. Staley, tho veteran Washington. ,fc correspondent of the Louisville Courier-Journal, has published an exceedingly Interesting volume , entitled "Twenty Years in the Press Gallery." His Intimate acquaintance with the public men who have marched In procession before him and whose public work has been dissected by him gives him eminent fitness for the Judicial task which ho has taken upon himself. Besides con taining a review of important legislation and his estimate of men and measures, the book con tains pen sketches by prominent newspaper men of tho leading statesmen of tho period. The ver satile Watterson has written a characteristic in troduction for the 'book, and Clifford K. Berry- , man has prepared the illustrations. The book Is published by the author through the Publish ers' Printing Company of New York, and ought to find a large sale. OOOO FOR THE NORTH, TOO The New York Tribune says that "Bryan . is for the south" when he advocates a law with drawing from the lower federal courts juriadlc- . tlon and authority to suspend the enforcement of state laws. If the Tribune kept up with the times it would know the attorneys general of tho various states have endorsed the same proposition and most of these attorneys general are northern men and republicans. M i 4 2 4 r 4 ffiwcmfcA-:,;. . . .xkaoi- ltmi&