The times., 1898-10-01
SATURDAY. OCTOBER l, 1898.
The Roosevelt Campaign.


1t may be expected, with entire conf
dence. that the State campaign in New
York will be one of much bloviation
and fireworks on the part of our anx-
ious Republican friends. Popular fancy
and melodramatic effect are notoriously
about all that Senator Platt can well
depend upon TO elect his man; and the
Republican boss is not one TO stick at
Jrifies al a time like the present.
Whether he has the constructive i'm
agination to make his play in the high
est style of the gentle art demagogic. or
not, may be open to question; but we
may be sure that anything he lacks in
that line viii be easily supplied by the
ego, not to mention the egoism. of that
hair-Taising work of fiction. his candi-
date. Between them they are too as
tute not 10 know that there has never
been a scheme of campaign as generally
popular in the rural districts as the one
conceived by that eminent American,
Buffalo Bill. Indeed, it may be said
with truth that il was the popularity Of
the Wild West show that suggested
Colonel Roosevelt TO Mr.. Platt as an
available agent in his efforts once more
10 capture and loot the Empire State.
1t would be hard to conceive of an
enterprise more consonant with the
ideas and methods of the colonel than
just that description of yellow politics.
We may add that the proposed innoVa-
tion upon customary campaign usages
will be hailed with howls of delight
wherever there are people willing TO be
given a monohippic, one-ring circus
performance, without money and with
out price. But, while they are about il.
the machine and its star must be pre-
pared TO rise to the plane of public ex-
pectation. The Rough Rider, in his
gore stained uniform, is sufficiently pic
turesque for ordinary purposes, but
there is not enough of him TO go
around for more than a short season of
one-night stands His boss probably
will be compelled to introduce other
scenic and mechanical effects. The wild
bucking broncho which he did not ride
up the hill of San Juan would be an ac-
ceptable feature; and if the stage could
be strewn with wax figures of the Span
iards killed by Teddy the Terrible Ter
ror. as they appeared in their death
throes while his murderous machete
flashed in the burning sun and carved
their atomies, then we should say that
the unities had been preserved, and
that everything had been done which
could be expected of the most liberal
management.
OF course the Republican leaders un-
derstand that even the Rough Rider
business has its limitations The city
of New York, which was wild with Joy
10 have the gallant cowboys and In
dians of the late First Volunteer Cav
airy in its midst, has since shown a
decidedly weary feeling and a disposi-
ton to speed the parting guests with
considerable unanimity. What has hap
pened in the city. perchance. may be
repeated in the State at large We ad-
nit that it takes a great deal of Rough
Rider TO satisfy the patriotic appetite
At the same time it is possible TO be-
come stated, even with angel food.
Demos is a tickle creature at best. and
soon tires of the gaudiest toy. In the
HICSS41l 1INAAlOS 10 liON the DllfA
element to consider. There are the Ger
mans, who believe, as a matter of un-
alterable faith, that the police commits.
sioner who could not only enforce the
Raines law with iron despotism, but
seem to revel in the fevered thirst OF
his victims, while he resorted to all the
devices of questionable spy system tC
shut off the Sunday supply of beer. is q
man to be marked and to be revenge6
upon at the first opportunity. That op.
portunity now presents itself, and
Colonel Roosevelt viii observe that II
has been seized upon when he reads the
election returns.
II the Syracuse convention had mad,
The mistake Of nominating for governor