Crusaders and Apostles

While the "regular" Republicans were preparing a list of issues for the next campaign, Senator Borah, the leader of his own one-man bloc in the Senate, had something to say about the next election. Into a speech at Akron, Ohio, he ventured to inject two sentences--by a little rhetorical device dating back to the Roman Re- public--two sentences that caused no little stir in political circles. "I do not turn aside to discuss," said he with studied innocence, "third party movements. Such a movement is not impossible, not even improbable." This declaration he made in a speech which was in reality an excoriation of the Republican Party for not having any real issues, for "a want of faith apparently in the willingness of the electorate to follow a bold and determined program." He said, in part: "If I were to suggest the underlying fundamental vice of American politics at this time, I would unhesitatingly declare that it consists in playing the game on too low a standard--far below the level of both the intelligence and patriotism of the voter. . . . Let us give to the country a thorough and fearless program. ... A Democrat in the days of Jackson was a crusader. A Republican in the days of Lincoln was an apostle."