New-York tribune., 1900-07-02
THE GOVERNORS GOOD SENSE.

Governor Roosevelt is on his way to Okla
hOma City with confident expectations of an
exharating reunion there with the Rough
Riders. The Governor is now more than ever
before a National figure, and will doubtless be
greeted everywhere with enthusiasm, well as
scrutinized with care. He has formed the re-
solve to make few speeches as possible on
this trip, and to avoid political topics to the best
of his ability. But most of the people along his
route will have their first opportunity to ''size
him up" for themselves and are certain to i'm
prove it. They are equally to tempt him to
an expression of his views on the political sit
uation, and it may be more difficult than he
imagines to say things that they will be glad to
hear without saying anything in particular.
But his determination not to begin campaigning
until he has received the regular and formal, II
somewhat perfunctory, notification of his NOM
ination is commendable, and hope that he
will be able 10 adhere to it under a pressure
that is certain to test his powers of resistance.
Just before his departure the Governor said
that reported plans for a Rough Rider attach
ment to the campaign which he designs to make
during the late summer and fall were not
authentic. and so far as he could see would not
receive his approval; that in his opinion such
spectacular adjuncts would not be helpful, and
that he intended to ask from the stump for sup
I
than his achievements in arms 1t appears to
Us that this resolution also does the Governor
credit. Two years have elapsed since his return
from Cuba, and while we are sure that there is
no general disposition to diminish his military
fame. events are moving rapidly, and there
might be some risk of a reaction Of feeling if
his martial prCwess were emphasized in an
artificial manner Perhaps it may be said with
out suspicion of dsparagement that the spirit
exemplified by Colonel Roosevelt in the Spanish
war was of even greater value 10 the country
than the deeds that he performed. That spirit
of ardent and aggressive pi triotism still COM
pletely possesses him, and he can safely count
upon its exercising powerful attraction upon
great number of those with whom the activities
of the campaign will bring him into contact,
while an obvious effort to bring a specific mill
tary record into the would probably en-
courage censorious attacks.
But Colonel Roosevelt may find in the pres
ence of his audiences that he is not entirely his
own master. Kinglake has remarked that the
leader of a cavalry charge is sometimes COM
PEELED to adjust his pace to the flow Of the tor
rent behind him. Somewhat similarly, a cam
paign speaker of lively sensibties may find
himself in a measure controlled by his sur
roundngs. If in some parts of the country the
people insist on regarding him as a colonel
rather than a Governor because Governors are
plentiful and such a colonel is rare, the Candi-
date for Vice-Presdent may have to adapt him
self to their mood as best he can. But he is I'M
questionaby wise in declining to take any per-
sonal part in the organization Of Rough Rider
contingents to escort him from place to place
| 1t is we hope. to be a campaign of reason.
Engaging personalities will surely exert their
natural influence. but sober judgment should
| determine the result