The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-07-22

barrier between them and their goal of
aspiration fixed and impossible. All
along the political coast lay emblems of
their wrecked hopes.
These are the facts, and with them in
view Roosevelt received his nomination.
The question, then, that presents itself
is: Did he thus accept the situation or
go deeper and divine the true spirit of
all the history bearing upon this matter9
1t Is well worth looking into, and Is
FREIGHTED WITH ENCOURAGE
MENT
to one of Roosevelt's bravery and optim,
ism. AS already intimated, example has
been so overridden by precedent and
prejudice as to be lost sight of entirely.
Not many recall the presidential conven-
ton of 1882, and those who do so remen-
Der 1t only as the beginning of O con-
venient custom, that will likely continue
indefinitely 1t is now about seventy
years old, and the last two national gath
erings had much Of the character of the
first. They again bring to mind the in
tention of it. And it is that which invites
the consideration Of the people, and par
t1cularly Of the governor of New York.
1t was called to name a president, not
then but four years hence. And it did
| so. Now, that is the point, and it was
| the whole force of inspiration that we
| miss. The outward show, the form, the
organization, is all that is retained. The
central idea has departed. And 1t has
| done SO to the detriment of one man
| only, the nominee for vice president. All
| other features of the convention system
are worthy of retention, but this one
| seems extremely harsh.
| Since the reversal in 1904 of the custom
that prevailed in the succession of Adams
! q nd eff an IN 70 ha tiy10n Of
Buren's nomination, George Clinton and
| EIbridge Gerry died in the office of vice
| president, and several resigned. The eX-
| ceptions that remained were Daniel D.
Thompkins and John c. Calhoun. The
| latters ambition to grasp the reins Of
government is historical and is quite as
| familiar as that of Clay and Webster.
And in one sense he was the
MOST POWERFUL POLITICIAN
in the country. He embodied the issue
and the principle that made his party
dominant. He was ruler, and prophet.
| He controlled through his state and sec
ton the remote and diverse elements,
and he predicted with precision the result.
| 1t was awful, but was identical in nature
with the mad genius of Calhoun The
presidency was not for him. but whatever
his chances would have been with Jack
| son out of the calculation 1t was his
! prominence as an aspirant that gave rise
| to the first convention He was big game
and 1T required a master stroke to kill
him off. Nothing could well better show
the high estimation of Cameron than the
| fact of jackson and his crowd turning to
| him In this emergency. And the great
| statesman of Tennessee had a way Of
! holding on to others when he felt that he
was entering a hole. His tact and sly
ness seem to have evaded his biographers
|
| that he took up the cudge1 against his old
friend, but he did so, and by national
! convention opened up the way for the
| vice presidents advancement
| In; the seven campaigns between 1904
and 1892 we see only two men, Tompkins
and Calhoun, who were. as incumbents
of the second office, eligible to the first.
Ihat is avery short list. and is one Of
the many evidences that we are likely to
md latlve facts scarce when ION hunt
Tor them. Then take the vice presidents
| from the death of Hobart back to 1896.
rand out of the lot Of sixteen it would
| have been possible to nominate and elect
only two for the presidency These vera
Hannibal Hamlin and Schuyler CoIfax.
ana the extraordinary popularity of Lin
coin and Grant, who were
RENOAEINATED AND REEF EIpTED.
+ practically puts them beyond the range
or consideration. Tyler, Fillmore and
Johnson succeeded in case of death seIe-7
eral died in office, and the rest would
nave been defeated through the change
In, party government. So, while the fact
stands that since the constitutional
amendment of 1904 excepting the action.
OF thegffEst@c0IRg ention at Baltimore. the
vice president has not been held eligible
to the head of the ticket 1t Is found
upon examination, that he has had the
nerest- shadow of an opportunity had
2 the sentiment Of his party been favorable
TO him. This cold and clear fact, buried
beneath a great deal Of vag1leness and
misunderstanding seems to rid 47o6se-
Xelt=s way of its supposed tmpediments.
After all, If we except faith, there is
nothing like certain knowledge for giving
one a sense of security. And Gov Roose-
Welt will find that whatever obstacle he
may encounter in a still higher flight
Will be attributable far more to prejudice
than truth.
1t is never commendable to boom or. be
little any one, yet at the same time a
man is entitled to his chance and all the
encouragement he can get The nominal
ton of Roosevelt is one Of the most ex-
| ceptona4 things in our politics. Not that
1t isn't one of the sanest and most ap-
| proprtate; its exception consists IN the
fact that circumstances are more favor
! able to his further elevati than thew
| have ever been to that Of any nominee
I or elected vice president except Van Bu-
rem. This is not generally understood,
| and likely does not occur to even the
| governor and his friends, yet 1t is a very
| plain truth. We do not charge anything
! for the suggestion, but II Roosevelt
| deems 1t to his interest to clear away
| Whatever Is prejudiciaI against a vice
! president he will do well to accept it
and give it the widest possible publica-
|. ton 1t would be altogether in the line
of education and, in general way, ad-
| vantageous. Another favorable factor IN
| this popular problem Is that President
| Mckinley stands for a second term when
his party is at the height OF its renown
! and usefulness. Nothing presages dis
aster; and, by a fair computation Of
| principles and statistics, it will continue
dominant indefinitely. To this condition
! both Mckinley and Roosevelt have con-
tributed, and the knowledge Of it would
leave the latter in formidable position
upon the presidents retirement. And
that can not be said Of any other man
| from r. M. Johnson to A. e. Stevenson.
BEATING PARIS THEATERS.