Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1900-08-07
ROOSEVELT is ROASTED.
Willis J. Abbot Flags the Rough Rider
Most UnmercifulIy.

Willis ]. Abbot Flags the Rough Rider
Most Numerically.
If Democrats were well versed in the
vocabulary of invective which Theo-
dore Roosevelt habitually employs they
might say of that noisy parsonage, with
perfect Justice, that he is ranter, a
Quibb eI,, charlatan, demagogue and
liar Unhapplly, the Democratic party
does not furnish an exact parallel to
laxative Teddy. Religion has his
mate In the Rev. Sam Jones. Journal
ism boosted a true Roosevelt in the late
lamented Braun, of the Iconoclast.
Among the middle-of-the-road Populists
there's a fellow named 10 Parker who
has a really Rooseveltian way of call
ing all who disagree with him thieves,
rogues and traitors. Incidentally 1t
may be noted that the last-named per-
son is a protege of Mark Hanna
further point of resemblance to Roose-
welt.
Democracy, however, does not fur
nish his match. Even its most radical
leaders-Altgeld, Tillman and the 9TH
ers whom in 1896 Governor Roosevelt
Gaid should be set up against wall
and shot dead-fall so far short of the
Rooseveltian standard as to habitually
prefer argument to invective. This in
ability to answer the Rough Rider in
his own vernacular is unfortunate.
When a man calls whole party-some
100000 people-traitOrs, regulators,
copperheads and towards, mere argu-
ment is unsatisfactory. The sober
sense of the people must be relied
upon to discern that a man SO prodigal
of hard words for his fellows must be
exceedingly anxious to divert attention
from his own character and record.
1t is, perhaps, Roosevelt's plan to
shift the issue from himself, his ego
mania, his surrender to boss rule, his
charlatanry and his innate brutality to
a discussion of the purposes and beliefs
of his adversaries. Acting upon Mel
sons maxim, ''The best defense against
an enemy's FIRE is a vigorous use Of
your own guns" he has opened the en-
gagement with a broadside of billings
gate.
Nothing quite so repugnant to refined
senses has been known since with prog
ress in the art of war the Chinese aban-
doned the use of stink pots.
Is he charlatan? Read the ac-
counts in his own Chicago organ of the
way he uses battered hat as sort of
theatrical property Every five minutes
he is tossing his old campaign hat IN
a corner" hunting for his old ca1-
paign hat" waving his old campaign
hat" or in some other way making cap
ital out of relic of cheap and boastfuI
''heroism." AS yet he has not bran
dished the pistol with which he killed
two Spaniards- Raging Justify about
it afterwards in a book as no real sol
flief nor true gentleman ever could.
Is he liar? What of man who
opens a speech by declaring himself
one who 'has come not as a Republi-
can to speak to Republicans. but as an
American to speak to Americans" and
thereup6n talks nearly two hours in
bitter attack upon all Democrats and
impassioned eulogy of all Republican
politicians? What of man who can
say of the one organized body which is
striving for a worldwide peace, charity
and amity. "Our opponents represent
all the forces of discomfort, malice and
envy. formed and formless, vague and
eoncrete?"
Is he a demagogue? Read his speech
and see if ever man put out more
arrant piece of demagogy. 1t is shame
full demagogy to say that against Nc
Kinley are arrayed ''the forces of
chaotic evil" TO describe honorable OPP
ponents as .pandering to the worst and
most degraded elements in our national
life" as willing TO purchase party sue
cess at no matter what cost of ruin to
the nation"
Is ii short of demagogy TO try to ex-
cite the passions rather than arouse the
reason of your audience? Was there q |
single appeal to reason in the st. Paul
speech? Not one of higher sort than |
this: They (the Democratsl stand for
lawlessness and disorder, for dishon-
esty and dishonor for license and disas- I
ter at home. and cowarily shrinking |
from duty abroad
Look about you. reader, and consider |
whether your Democratic neighbors |
merit this description To just whsh
Democratic public men. from William
Jennings Bryan down, would you APP
ply 1t? Roosevelt, with crazy seIf-as-
surance, applies il o all
What does the Democratic platform /
declare the paramount issues of this 4
Imperialism and militarism.
How does Roosevelt meet this? I'VE /
cannot argue with them on rnis propo-
sition because no serious man thinks