The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1902-07-11

of Theodore Roosevelt: Luck has not
spoiled him. He has not got the big
head. He Is the same man he always
was If there is any change IL Is for
the better-he is less imperious, more
anxious TO avoid mistakes, more willing
to seek and to follow advice. Respon-
sibility has tempered an impetuous, in
trepid nature and made IL almost eau
tious-"
Has Roosevelt moral courage as well
as physical? Is he fearless in the face
OF conspiracy as we'll as when confront
ed by the guns Of q foe? The uuapi-
nous judgment in Washington is yes.
This Cuban struggle has been Q case
in point 1t is acknowledged on all
sides that the President has shown
courage of the highest order In dealing
with it. He Was not afraid to assume
responsibility. He was willing openly
to incur the risk Of defeat. He did not
hesitate TO link his name to Q cause
which had but q dubious prospect be-
fore it. He declined to hedge or trim
or work by indirectness or burrowing.
He fought in the open.
But there was one responsibility he
did not care to take, and the story Of it
well illustrates the SOLDERING influence
of the presidency upon . nature like
his. He declined to take the respon-
sitility OF demanding that the Republi-
can senators should take the Cuban
fight upon the floor and thresh It out
there, even At the risk of splitting the
party into factions. He thought the
way to fight thing out was 70 fight 1t
out and let the strongest win. All his
instincts were that way, ~ all his
habits had been. II 1t were . matter
for himself alone, that is what he
should have done.
But he was not going to tell senators
their duty. They had their own tradi-
tions, relations and methods. They
must decide for themselves. He de-
clined to interfere, and the senators de-
termined not to have . fight in the
|open.
1t has often been said during the last
few days that If Grover Clevelsdd In
stead of Theonore Roosevelt was In the
White House this Cuban reciprocity
fight would be won. The Republican
insurgents would be smoked out They
They would be compelled to show them
selves In the open. Patronage would
be withheld from them until they sur
rendered.
Probably it Is true that . Grover
Cleveland would have won the fight.
He would have forced Congress TO dc
his bidding. But II must be remember.
ed that Mr.. Cleveland was not success.
full In keeping his party together. Dur
ing his administrations his party split
| In twain. and those who do do not like
him say he split IL. At any rate, there
stands the historic fact that In nearly
half century Mr.. Cleveland Is the only
man of his party who has been elected
to the presidency, and In both cases II
was Republican who succeeded him.
Mr. Roosevelt's attitude from the
first has been that he must and would
do his duty, and that Congress ought
to do its duty. But It was not for him
to force 1t. He could advise and urge
and coax up to q certain limit, but he
could not attempt to drive. This stti
tude he has consistently maintained.
All through the long contest the
President has shown good deal o
sensitiveness to the charge that he wa
trying to dictate to Congress. He ha.
resented any such charge, and has gone
as far as his nature would permit hin
to go in showing that 1t was an un
founded charge.
Taking Roosevelt as he Is, imperi
Gus, fearless, q bit reckless, seeking
only results, one would naturally sup
pose in case like this he would driv,
and push. bully-anything TO schiev,
the end in view.
But it should be remembered tina
with all the dash and warmth of hi
temperament Mr.. Roosevelt has in hin
10 large strain of Dutch caution. 1
should be remembered, too, that he is
man of fine feelings, Of . gentleman
keen appreciation Of the fitness o
things Mr.. Cleveland came TO tn
presidency by the votes Of the people
Mr.. Roosevelt did not come in tha
wav. II Mr.. Roosevelt could have for
gotten the way in which he Gid come
and could have forgotten that his great
est ambition Is to reach the Whit
House by the suffrage OF the people, he
too, might have taken Congress by tn
throat and compelled it to pay the deb
, OF honor TO Cuba.
= Mr.. Roosevelt Is eager TO be nom
, mated and elected in the regular way
He regrets, more than anyone knows
that he reached the White House 1
, the way he did. The presidency an
, its responsibility, and the desire fo
, the presidency attained as every ma
OF pride and spirit likes to attain 4
3 are exercising SOLDERING influence upo
: him.
: There is opposition to him, but
( is not formidable. 1t consists chief
, of growing and saying smart thing
9 1t is not organized or concentrates
s The probabilities are that It never wi
Q be, and that the men who could col
O solidate it and make something of
l. will not appear. Wiseacres thin
Ia Mark Hanna Is that man-thst he wi