The Saint Paul globe., 1899-07-31
will be very little done, whatever may be
attempted. to put an end to the trust evil.
A POLITTCAL DEGENERATU

"A POLITICAL DEGENERATE.
Ihere can be no doubt entertained that
at least in the early years of his political
career the present governor of New York
was a fearless foe Of public corruption.
During his two terms in the New York
legislature he had excessive youth on his
slde' with all the enthusiastic aItruism
"hlch 1t usually carries with it. His ad-
m1nistration of the New York police de-
partment, like his conduct as a member
OF the national civil service commission
was Independent and fearless. although
productive of infinitely more harm than
good to the cause of decency in official
life
1t was not until Col. Roosevelt came
under the evil spell of Senator PIatt's in
huence that he gave positive evidence of
his Willingness to place the ends of his
poht1cal ambitions above his understand
ing OF official duty. Since he repudiated
the friendship Of the New York reformers
oy refusing their nomination while that
oI RATS machine was being dangled be-
rore him, up to the present hour. Theo-
dore Roosevelt, while keeping 11n his nro-
Iesslons OF devotion to high political
ideals, has played role suspiciously akin
to that of political mountebank. His
candidacy for governor was well charac-
terized as political Wild West show
lie ala not hesitate, having assumed
Platts political livery, to turn the drama
Oh San Juan hill into bowling political
farce for the advancement of his e-uber-
material candidacy. His professions were
as loud and as numerous during his last
political campaign as his performances
since have been small and tnconsider-
able
inere may be serious doubts entertain
ed as to the charge SC generally made
against Col. Roosevelt that he Welded
10 Platts dictation in calling a special
session of the legislature on the subject
OIL the corporation tax law; but there can
be no doubt that in his attitude toward
the canal frauds of former Repub-
llcan administrations he has shown him
self to be the trucking and subservient
tool Of the Platt machine IF was ~,
these undenied and undeniable frauds
that the campaign for governor was con-
Quoted on the Democratic side Roosevelt
met the Democratic charges by declaring
that he would, if elected. go as far as anv
man could go to punish the canal thieves.
The people believed him.
OF the 100000 of appropriations de-
voted to canal improvements under a
Republican administration If IS e,anaraT,-
accepted as true that all but compara-
lively small amount was stolen by THEY
ing contractors and politicians Gov.
Roosevelt was expected to send certain
Of these thieves to jail. What has he
done? He has made the discovery that
the statute Of limitations runs against
the Republican roguery on the canals.
and has accepted the doctrine that moth
ing having been done within two years Of
the date Of the robberies, nothing can be
done now either to punish the pIunderers
or make them disgorge their plunder. 1t
is just paraphrase, that politics makes
towards Of us all. It has certainly
had that effect on Theodore Roosevelt,
Had he been the same man he was be-
fore he surrendered himself to Platt he
would have never compromised with
crime as he has done in the case of these
canal frauds. Nor would he have be-
come the staggering and blatant advo-
cate Of militarism that the country has
distinguished in him since he degenerated
into the officeseel1ng politician.