The Wanganui Chronicle "Nulla Dies Sine Linea." MONDAY, DECEMBER 30, 1907. THE AMERICAN PRESIDENCY.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume L, Issue 12145, 30 December 1907, Page 4

The Wanganui Chronicle "Nulla Dies Sine Linea." MONDAY, DECEMBER 30, 1907. THE AMERICAN PRESIDENCY.

The interest and excitement incident to •our Parliamentary election is as nothr ing to that which occurs quadrennially in the United States in connection with the Presidential election. There is, as 0110 writer says, jnore or less discussion of tho subject all the year and' every year, but within the twelvemonth' immediately preceding the election there is a gradual crescendo of interest in the subject, until in th© last months .it becomes almost unendurably atiute. It is confessedly one of the weaknesses of the Republican' system, as instituted in tho United States, thiat the election of President throws the country into a turmoil of. dissension and completely unsettles business. In commercial circles, it is well understood that Presidential year is a dull year. For months before the great event the talk all over tho country its to> the effect that no improvement in business can be expect-

Ed! until after the election. Hie only cause for this serious effect on business activity is the suspense and uncertainty of the outcome. For some reason rather difficult to explain, the large commercial interests are chary about entering into big enterprises. Everybody goes slowly till the vote is cast. So noticeable is this that a strong movement has begun amongst business men to amend the constitution, so as to provide for an election every six years instead of every four years, no President to be eligible for re-election. Hn connection with the approaching contest, information to hand shows that the discussion, so far indulged in is almost entirely concerned with the personality of the\ candidates, and but little with policies. Indeed, more than' ever before, it is apparent that there is but little difference in the policies of the two great parties —the Republicans and the Democrats. They were at one time divided on the fiscal issue, the Democrats standing for Freetrade. But there aro, practically speaking, no Freetraders in America today. The most the Democrats dare suggest is that the schedules are too high, and that they should be lowered. It is not even hinted that the duties should be taken off. As to the question of a revision of the tariff, the Republicans seem to be coming) to the conclusion th/at some changes are necessary. The Dlngley tariff has been the law1 of. the land for over ten years without amendment, and, although on the whole it has done its work more successfully tlian any tariff ever adopted by the American people, it is but natural that in a decade it should in some instances have outworn its usefulness. The indications are that the tariff will ba reformed' by the first Congress elected' after the next Presidential election. A San Francisco correspondent, who professes to speak with some authority, declares that one thing is as certain as anything mundane is—and tihat is that it will be reformed by its friends, the Republican party. Some duties vfiTi be lowered; others increased. On most other matters the Republican and Democratic parties are virtually as one. As to the control of the corporations, President Roosevelt has appropriated the- radical policies of Bryan and the Democrats and forced them on the Republicans. There being no serious cleavage between the parties on these points, there, ia a disposition to make an issue on the matter of State versus Federal righta. Perhaps on this question there is more appearance of the parties taking sides: than on any other. Roosevelt has lifted his party to an uncompromising stand for Federal rights, and the Democrats believe strongly in State rights. Alton B. Parker, who was the Presidential candidate- of the Democrats three years ago, in a recent speech directly charged Roosevelt with seizing power for the Federal Government which was deliberately denied by the people when the National Government was created. Ho urges his party to meet these assaults with vigour, and cries that nest year it may be too late to save "our constitutional system in its entirety.'' There seems, therefore, to be some ground for the suggestion that the principal attack on the Republican party in the election next year will be based on the contention that President Roosevelt is an enemy of the constitution and has sought to evade and stretch it. Of course all speculation as to who -will be the next President is dependent on *be question as to whether or not Mr. Roosevelt will consent to be a candidate for another term of office. On the occasion of his last election Mr. Roosevelt said: "The wise custom which limits the President to two terms regards the substance and not the form, and! under no circumstances will I be a candidate for or accept another nomination." The President has repeated1 this1 unqualified declaration on several occasions during, the past two years, and only the other day declared1 again his determination not to accept nomination. If this should be his final answer it will certainly occasion great disappointment to a yei'y large section of the American people, by whom his continuance in office appears to be regarded' as absolutely essential to the national welfare. If, however, Mr. Roosevelt should ultimately yield to the. tremendous pressure to whioh he will certainly be subjected, his re-election may be accepted as a foregone conclusion. Failing Mr. Roosevelt, present indications point to a. struggle between Mr. Taffc (Secretary of War in the Roosevelt Cabinet) and Governor: Hughes (of New York) for the Republican nomination, with the chances for the moment in favour of the former, who is known to bo the President's choice. Mr. Bryan will probably be tSe Democratic candidate, although it is by no means certain that Mr. W. R. Hearst, whose ambition is said to be still unquenched, will not give him a. hard ran for the somewhat doubtful privilege of! fighting in the forefront of a forlorn hope.