Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-09-23
A ROUGH-RIDING REFORMER.

The Dispatch has more than once
OF courage and brains. Not the slight.
est bit OF the laurels that he won at
Santiago would we pluck away. Indeed
TO do so would be TO perpetrate. incident
ally. an injustice upon our own section,
for five companies of his command went
from New Mexico. and hundreds Of
others of the Riders from other Southern
or Southwestern States At the same
time. we are not disposed TO give all the
credit OF the Santiago campaign to
Roosevelt and his men. There were
others there; not many other volunteers,
but regulars by thousands.
Nor are we disposed to complain be-
cause Roosevelt used his personal and
political influence TO get the best arms
that the government had, and the earli-
est orders Of any volunteer corps to pro-
coed TO Cuba. Nearly all the ether
regiments exerted all the influences they
had with like purpose but Roosevelt had
che inside track. Every man in the adj
ministration was his friend, and all of
So let all that pass. Let him nave the
military glory that he is entitled to. Yes;
let the measure of credit be full and
running over-hs it is. What we have
TO say OF him now affects his position
az a politician, or statesman, as you
will.
Colonel Roosevelt is distinguished as
a political refoimer-a civil-service re-
former. indeed. But where do we find
him now? Is he fighting Tom Plat.
and the monstrous ring of New York
politicians, who have robbed the Re-
publican masses there of all lower?
DO we find him bold, Independent
figure in politics in New York? Not at
all. He is lin" with Tom Plat. IT is
arranged that he is to be Platt's nomi-
De presumed that he and Plat have
:ome TO an understanding-ano ex-
ample, as il were. of the Puritan and
he black-leg coming together.
The situation is favoring Roosevelt
he dearly wants to be Governor, and
?latt finds him suitable instrument
With which to Gust Governor Black, for
Black and Plat are out. This. too,
ifter Black has ruined his good name I'm
he service of Plat! Black is stil fight
ING; fighting against fate, it would seem.
because Plat has openly espoused the
,ause of Roosevelt. and Teddy's mill
AIRY glory will do the rest. SO, we are
breed TO believe that Black Is doomed |
n. so far. at least. as the Repu5li- |
AN nomination is concerned.
This alliance Of Plat and Roosevelt |
Is strange thing. II nominated and |
elected will Roosevelt throw overheard |
All OF his civil service theories, and do |
Platt's bidding, or win he so back upon |
Platt. and stick TO his civil-service record? |
II may be said that Plat is 100 anxious |
Roosevelt: but. In our opinion, he Is |
much too practical a politician to do !
business that way. We must conclude.
therefore, that Roosevelt has a well-un-
derstood treaty with the spoilsmen Of |
his party. In other words. he Is now
"h1t may De calied rouSh-fulnS re-
former.
Whom the Democrats OF New York
viii put up against Roosevelt we cannot
guess. They do not appear 10 lave
anything but political rough-riders in
their ranks. And Mayor Van Wyck Is
among the greatest OF these Moreover,
our party In that state is not as rearly
united as,we should like 10 see them
with respect 20 the platform that should
De adopted a united Democracy could
beat the Platt-Rooseselt combination
Therefore. he; US trust that union win
be brought about. without ,strangioe
the party In New York State from the
national Democracy.