The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-02-25
ROOSEVELT.

apPcaTeI III THESE COLUMNS III WHICH ~
was predicted that President Roosevelt
would pursue a conservative course. and,
as FAR as he should be able, would carry
out the policy Of the Mckinley admins
tration Truly enough Mr.. Roosevelt,
upon taking the oath Of Office. gave out
a statement in which he made exactly
that promise. The people took him at
his word and gave him the promise OF
their cordial support. The South was es-
pecially kind and reassuring in the
pledges which it made to him. The South
felt most kindly toward tho new Presi-
dent because, first OF all, his mother was
a Southern woman, and again, because he
had in the Spanish-American war COM
1nanded Southern boys, and was as kind
and generous to them as a father. And
SO the administration started out under
the most favorable auspices possible.
Everything moved along smoothly. and
the people were beginning to say to them
selves that Mr.. Roosevelt had been thor
oughly sobered by the responsibilities OF
office, ana that we need not expect any
outbreak OF his volatile nature. But one
day the people OF the South were astound-
ed to read in the newspapers that the
President had entertained at his own
table in the White House a negro. The
people OF tho South were shocked, and
they were not slow to give expressions
to their feelings. It was no silly preju-
dice that moved them. They understood
the situation down here, and they knew
that the logical result of social equality
would be the humiliation Of the Anglo
Saxon race in this section. Then and
there they washed their hands Of MI.
Roosevelt. And SO by one single act-an
act utterly uncalled for-the President
estrangol the men and women of this
great section. 1t was one Of the most
foolish things that a man in that posi-
ton ever did, and there was no occasion
for ii.
OF course. some of the Northern Re
Roosevelt's defense, and either ridculcd
the Southern people or said harsh things
about them, and we suppose that the in
cident had been forgotten Ivy the North
ern people when the President, without
any intimation whatever of his intention,
ordered the Acknowledgement to bring
suit, in the name of the United States.
against the Northern Securities Company,
the object of which suit is to dissolve the
company and retire it from business.
g,
under some conditions it would have
created a panic, with disastrous results.
Some Will say thatit required great cour-
age on the part of the President to entertain
a negro at his table. and that it required
great courage, Also to fight the trusts.
We do not deny that Mr.. Roosevelt is a
brave man, but there is too much buster
about his courage. The most dangerous
combination in humanity is the combina-
ton of courage and reclllessncss. Mr..
less, and. therefore, he is dangerous.
When he takes a notion to do q thing
he does it in an impctuous way, without
regard to consequence. No statesman is
lie sentiment or the public interest
.'Cuthbcrt Mills the financial writer
OF the New York Tribune, draws the fol-
lowing contrast between Roosevelt and
Mckinley:
IF tho late President" says he. chad
determined on proceeding against the
Northern Securities Company, he would
first have consulted two or three of his
most intimate advisers; then the CONSUL
tation would have been extended to
some half dozen others, the pros and cons
gone overand thehdverse interests brought
into the consultation. Before the final
step was taken, everybody who had any
interest in the matter at all would have
have been already half threshed out;
and when the last announcement was
made, all would have been prepared for
it, and there would have been nothing
in the nature OF a surprise. 1t was this
cautious method OF procedure which made
President Mckinley such prudent guide.
His successor is apt to give you something
abruptly unpleasant over night"
There is the difference between states
manship and fireworks. Roosevelt is
bound to be sensational and spectacu-
lar.
We confess that We are disappointed
in President Roosevelt. He is tho same
reckless rough rider that he was in the
c>,,pieb ,,,,r;coo war There &c no
knowing when his revolutionary spirit
will break out of bounds. We do not be-
lieve that conservative people OF this
country will trust him for another term.
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EDUCATIONAL CONFERENCE.
On Saturday evening next an important
conference of The Richmond E.duca ton