Adams County news. [volume] (Ritzville, Wash.) 1898-1906, 1900-10-17
THE ASSAULT ON ROOSEVELT.

Oh the mob at Victor, Colo, which
assaulted Governor Roosevelt and his
party after vainly attempting to break
up the mass meeting he addressed,
will be unqualifiedly condemned by
every American worthy of the name.
There are some otfenses and outrages
which are indistinctively recognized
as beyond all excuse in extenuation,
and the work of the Victor ruffians
and hoodlums is one of these. If they
are undertaken in the interest of any
cause or movement, they only injule
and discredit it..
We do not believe there is any
foundation for the notion that the
cowardly and miserable assailants OF
Mr.. Roosevelt had been 'hired" by
any responsible political manager. To
instigate and plan attacks upon can
didates for high Office would simply
be suicidal for these imbecile and
reckless enough to resort to such
methods. We are living under a popu-
lar government, government by dis
cussion, and campaign should be an
appeal to the intelligence and patriot
ism and enlightened self-interest Of
the electorate.
1t is surely truism ir the United
States that a political candidate is
entitled to u fair bearing, and that
the voters approval or disapproval OF
certain policies must be registered at
the polls in proper, lawful form.
What, even in the eyes OF the most
fanatical Victor silverites, is the head
and front OF Governor Roosevelt's
offending? He stands before the peo-
pie as the champion OF law and order,
as the advocate of measu'rs ar'
national policies that have been. con-
ducive to general prosperity and the
prestige and honor OF the United
States. He has been open, frank
and vigorous in his attacks upon
what he believes to be heresy and
error, but his methods have been fair.
He does not impugn motives; he
challenges and denounces propositions
which it is right and duty to do.
Perhaps the "poor, misguided"
ruffians have been taught by the silver
orators to look upon Mr.. Roosevelt as
a tool of the eastern plutocracy" and
enemy of the masses" Ii so, demo-
cratic stump speakers should ponder
their indirect responsibility for the
violence and lawlessness which result
from aroused class prejudices and
animosities. Mr.. Bryan has depre-
Gated the Victor outbreak, but some-
thing more than general expression
of censure is necessary. The deplora-
BILE episode should teach the SPELL
binders that abuse, invective and
senseless exaggeration, discounted by
the rational, may be taken seriously
by the ignorant and fanatical. Dis
cussion OF a dignified, intelligent
character would never .incite mob
violence.
Incidentally it may be remarked
that those who profess to regard
Roosevelt as Spectacular" poser
will find it hard to reconcile their pre-
judice with the facts of the Victor
disturbance. Colonel Roosevelt's only
thought was the preservation OF order.
He remained on the platform and was
determined to ride out of the town
facing the mob, "stones or no stones"
He did not lose his GOODNESS or pres
ence of mind for second. He urged
his friends to endure everything as
long as possible and leave the monop-
oily of rioting to the mob. That re-
quired more courage than San Juan
Hill.