The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1901-09-20

hoSl uoVel anu dCCraCtlVo addition to
the horticulture building, and will
increase the fame and laurels Mime
sofa has already won at the Pan
American exposition 1t is a triumph
of which the state may we'll feel
proud.
NEW YORK AND THE PRESI-
DENCY.
Theodore Roosevelt is the third vice
president furnished by the state CT
New York to ascend to the presidency.
Since the election of Van Buren,, New
York has had but one president elected
directly to that Office as such. In the
meantime, however, that state has fur
nished three presidents through the
vice presidency The first was Millacd
Fillmore, who succeeded President
Taylor back in 1S49. Then followed
Arthur when Garfield died just twenty
years ago next Thursday. And now a
second time an assassin's bullet ele--
Yates the third New Yorker from the
vice presidency to the first place. Up
to the time of President Arthur, the
vice presidents who had succeeded to
the presidency had been disappoint-
ments to the people. In each instance
they had reversed the policy of their
former chief, and virtually deserted
the party which elected them. Arthur
came to the presidency with the
memories of Andrew johnson fresh in
the minds, of the people, and there was
strong feeling that but little was to
be expected or hoped for from the
man who occupied the second place
and accidentally succeeded to the
first. 1t was felt that he was in these
later years at least selected as a COM
promise between party factions and
also that not being the man selected
for the first place he was not in
a position to feel himself directly re-
sponsible to. the people. Further than
this, Arthur was known to the people
only as spoils politician. He had
formerly been connected with the poll
tical following in New York, which
brought on the political trouble that
eliminated in the death of Garfield,
and because of this there was sort of
prejudice. But Arthur disappointed
the country in happy way. He gave
the nation. a good administration,
turned his, back upon these elements
which he had formerly championed
and associated with, and advocated
the most advanced features put forth
by his party. Instead of a spokesman
as it was feared he, would be, he
favored civil service reform. This
was disappointment to the politi-
clans, and they bitterly opposed his
nomination in 1884, and this coupled
with Blaine's popularity, comprised
his defeat.
Now comes Roosevelt, but under
+; different circumstances than has sur
! rounded the ascendancy of any vict
president to the first place. He wal
not in, the first place compromis'
candidate FOR the vice presidency. TIT
call for him among the people was
almost as, unanimous as was that fol
! Mckinley. He was opposed to thu
move to nominate hira from the first
preferring to remain as governor OF
New York But the demand was 81
strong that both himself and the poll
ticians who opposed him were obliged
TO, give way, and his nomination was
unanimous. He was thoroughly in &C
cord with President Mckinley and hiI
policy, and on the stump discussed
the various questions of the campaign
which were involved in the admins
tration's policy, with vigor and di,
rectness, which together with his per
sonality aroused the greatest of en-
thusiasna and brought the west almos
solid to the support OF the administra
tion, while it kept the east in line. 81
was the spokesman of the administra
tion and so recognized. 1t is becaus,
of this that confidence in him is 81
wide spread today. What more ma
tural than that he should publicly stat
that he should continue the policy O.
his predecessor, in which he has shown
himself to be so closely in accord. L
is the policy the people so overwhelm
ingly endorsed and which Mr.. Roose
welt has been a part and promoter.
What 1904 will have in store fol
President Roosevelt is far too early tt
predict. That he has held a place il
the esteem of the people during the
past few months, second only to McKin
ley is without question. If he follows
closely in his declaration to continue
unbroken the policy of his predecessor,
carrying it to success he will have
done much to break the precedents
which prescribed his predecessors from
self-succession. But time only will
settle this.