Republican Responsibility

REPUBLICAN RESPONSIBILITY

The Argus is not in sympathy with that view which holds that it is better for the democratic party that entire control of the government for the two years to come shall be in the hands of the republicans. Control of the house of representatives by the democrats would have carried with it responsibility without power, it is true, but if the democracy is worthy this confidence of the people and has the ability to conduct the government, it should not consider itself advantaged at any time by defeat because success might compel it to bear responsibility for what it is not chargeable.

It is true, of course, that it came into power in 1892 and was obliged to take the odium for conditions for which it was not responsible and suffered defeat for what its opponent should have been held accountable, but such are always the fortunes of politics. But because of such possibility no party worthy of confidence should be pleased that it is not charged with responsibility.

The confidence which brought on the great panic of a few years ago were laid during the Harrison administration and were right on the country when that administration closed. They would undoubtedly have come right along had Harrison been reelected, and they were such as would have wrecked any administration then in power. Nevertheless, it is cowardly to fear responsibility at any time lest it bring a set-back to the party.

Had the democrats gained control of the next house of representatives, and had any halt occurred int he present business conditions, the republicans would, of course, have charged the whole matter up to fear of complete democratic ascendency. They would have worked this little scheme as they have done in the past and made many thousands of credulous voters believe their campaign cry. Yet these chances any party must take which is ever to become a majority party. But in the contest just closed the democrats did all they could to win the control of the next house and added to their membership twenty-eight congressmen, and yet owing to the new apportionment, the republicans remain in control. The entire government is therefore in the control of the republican party and should there be any halt in present conditions of prosperity, in so far as government is responsible therefor, the odium will be chargeable to the republicans. It is sincerely hoped that the prosperity of the country will remain uninterrupted, but if it does not, republicans will be unable to saddle any of the responsibility therefor upon the democrats. There are conditions which are threatening and it is up to the republican majority to mark progress. The county is deeply concerned about the trust issue and it is up to the republicans to give the country some relief or assume the responsibility before the nation. The next two years promise to be a critical period.