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

| years, ana since his majority mas Deen
the. incumbent: 20. :, either municipal,
state--or national Office. Since the death
of him to whose Office he. succeeds he
may be safely declared to be the most
popular man in the entire country.
tits fitting that rs the constitutional
order of affairs such a man should
succeed to the Office. It is we'll for the
american peoplesthat sach a man $! SC
succeeds.
! AS never before, the character OF
Theodore Roosevelt will receive the
closest scrutiny of his countrymen.
Until the vast responsibilities of the
present fell upon himshe filed the full
measure m the .spublic eye of brave
and picturesque public character. Nc
man can excel him in physical OF
moral courage. HAS ne, too, those
, qualities OF patient and discerning
toll, of thoughtful concern for the
rights of others, and that broad and
! commanding conception Of national
rights and obligations which disGin-
guish the statesman from the mere
politician?
The people of the United States, N
their material interests, viii find that
no real characteristic of Theodors
Roosevelt is revealed in the suggestion
of The cart 0onist He is no mere
swashbuckler. lie does not carry the
traditional chip on his shoulder. He
seeks no quarrel with any man but
he has the conscious power of fulfill
ing Polonius' requirement once a
quarrel is forced upon him. There is
no national interest that can be made
to rest upon him that he will not dis
charge with the deepest sense OF per-
sonal and Official res possibility. There
is no wrong that will receive even toll
GRAFTON at his hands. There is no Evil
for which he will not seek remedy,
and apply the remedy. without fear OF
favor when found
There will be strong man at the
helm Of national affairs for the next
three years Or over. Theodore Roose-
welt will during that period be presi-
dent Of che United States !. He will
have no proxy, and hes.will register nc
will save his G'wn and what he believes
is the will of the American people.
He will head no clique. He will be
the echo of NO man OF set OF men. In
nearly twenty years Of public life he
has never for moment bent to the
personal exigeneies of any situation.
He has stood immovaOle By his CON
ceptions of right. Thepast has never
revealed his Judgment to have been
greatly at fault, Whether as mem
Der of the New York legislature, of the
national civil service commission, Oh
of the police department Of his native
city, or as governor of mis- native state,
he has done that which lay at his
hand, to do without thought of the in
huence of his act on ais own personal
or political fortunes and in, all cases,
as events have proved, he has done
well. There is no act in his public
career of which he has needed to be
ashamed. There is no attitude borne
by him in any disputed question Of
public policy that has not reflected
credit on his intelligence and borne
testimony to the mans probily in
thought and action.
1t has happened with almost unfail,
ing certainty in the political history OF
the country that lie, who has been
called to the presidential chair through
the demise of it's incumbent has re.
versed the policies of his predecessor,
| and has ran counter to the powers an6
Influences in political life whom that
predecessor represented Will it be sc
in the case of President Roosevelt
Only time will reveal. 1t is too early
to indulge in prediction. The charac,
ter of the man is we'll known. The
character and requirements of thos.
that have been nearest to the presi
Dental chair during the past five year.
are, too, known. Let the assuranc,
go forth-for it has an indelibf'
foundation in the strength and recti
tude of character OF the new presiden
that no policy will be adhered TO
whether in the interest. of party or in
dividual, which will run counter. t,
Theodore Roosevelt's conception o
what the rights and interests of thes
people demand - Nothing will remain
undone which may be needfulss to do
to set the currents of national ex
ecutive authority in directions whicl
will prove destructive of the plans" o
those, however high in official or poll
tical power, that SAVIOR in the slightes
measure of individual gain at the"ex
pense of the national interest or honor
! The Democratic party can make n
reckoning on the plumbers of the new
national executive. To the policies o
his party and his administration i
may offer an effective opposition a
running counter to the true welfare o
the country; but there will remain
sense of official accountability benin,
each and every act of President Roose
velt such as, combined with the man
own Judgment of men and events will
surely destroy any calculations tina
may be made on his possible mistakes