The daily journal. (Salem, Or.) 1899-1903, 1902-02-15
THE MAN
FOR THE
HOUR
AS FOrecaSted in 0regOnian
Nov. 18.
Sway of Corruption In Public
Lands not Checked.

Good news comes from Washington
whenever the new President announces
a determination upon some new policy,
Theodore Roosevelt has come into the
kingdom at good time, and bis re-
solves, as they are from day to day dis
Closed, only serve to light up the dark
places in our politics, to which we have
grown Indifferent through very familiar
ity. A man of mannerisms that are
disquieting or at least surprising, not
accomplished as statesman, and not
profound as a scholar, he has an honest
purpose that covers and wisely directs a
multitude of eecentricites.
1t isa portentous list this catalogue
Of things that need deiverance. There
is the civil service, weighted down with
idleness and incompetence; there is the
army, crippled through favoritism thei e
lie the navy, torn with Jealousy and in
trigue; there is the Federal judiciary.
the prey Of spoilsmen there is the tariff,
the victim Of clashing private Interests
there lie the public domain, fast melting
away under the rapacity Of corporations
and perjurers.
To all of these the new President
comes with promise of aid. The Army
is to have promotions on merit the in
terests picked out for sacrifice by the
Kasson treaties will discover friend at
court; the places wrung by spoilsmen
from the classified service will be re-
stored and others added; the judiciary
will be lifted whenever possible out Of
the mire Of partisan politics; the Navy
can expect treatment commensurate
with its needs. Salutary effects that
are likely TO flow from the new regime
in the Forestry Department, The new
hope for the public lands is rosy with
promise. In this reclamation Of a great
resource from the sway OF corruption
and ignorance one of the most Disgrace
ful and costly scandals Of our history is
to be brought to an end.
The explanation of these phenomena
is very simple. There is man in the
White House with two qualitie, that are
rare in politics. lie has moral fibre and
he has intellectual convictions. In
every address the President makes will
be found somewhere tucked away a
recognition of spiritual truth aud feel
ing. lie breaches" as he himself says.
He does it openly. for he is not ashamed
Of it. He does it creditably, for what he
breaches he practices. The strenuous
lite OF rugged endeavor is not only his
theory but his conduct. In the elevation
OF such men as Roosevelt and L1w TO
high office there is more promire for the
Republic than IN all the balances OF
trade OF our prosperous years. or all the
victories Of the Spanish War.
1t is lie worth n great deal, also, to
have the highest example in the land set
by one VINO loves TO find out what is
right and true for its own sake, and sets
out to do it,, rather than submit every
question to the changing test OF partisan
expedieucy. 1t is encouragement to
the whole tribe OF trimmers and wealth
ervanes, and it is an encouragement TO
every man who likes TO think that what
is best lie worth having, and what isI
right is worth fighting for. The lot OF
every American youth is something
brighter, and his future more radiant,
every time one of these inspiring an
Of honest policies com6s
from the White House. 1t is upon such
careers that must be fed the heroism Of
every age.