The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1902-01-04
wa.tsrsor Discusses President Reese
yelt.

vslt.
Henry Watterson, in an editorial in
the Courier-J0urnal, under the caption
Rough Riding in Washington, goes
for President Roosevelt in lively fashion.
He declares Roosevelt il laying the wires
for reelection. saying:
All this buzzing and byplay at Wash
ingtOn means the succession and nothing
but succession. Mr.. Roosevelt is in the
saddle and proposes to continue in the
saddle OF know the reason why.
'Tis a very pretty quarrel as it stands
already. In public life men are rated a.
they rate themselves-that is, men whose
personalities are not 40 striking as I'd
oyerleap all bounds and TO defy disguises
and Mr. Roosevelt, albeit aggressive
and bumptious. has been both canny
and thrifty in his pursuit OF the good
things of life, and maintains a certain
worldly wisdom, as well a. mother wit
and method in his behavior But he is
the first American who has united the
elements Of the devil-maycare soldier
and the ready writer in the successful
politician. Already he has made a
monkey OF Tom Platt. What he is going
TO do to Mark Hanna is, at least in
his own mind. 's-plenty, and there are
Others. with Fairbanks 70 lead the pro-
cession.
with these things Democrats have
nothing TO do. Decidedly it Is not their
funeral But there are some matters go
ing forward at Washington that do in
terest them and concern them note little,
because they relate incidentally TO the
army and navy and arise out Of certain
peculiarities OF the chief executive Of the
nation.
III it be true that the President person
ally affronted the lieutenant general Of
the army-.if it be true that in verbally
repeating department eensure, ques-
tionable at best, he showed his temper
or elevated his voice so that others
present might here-h it be true that
even in the privacy ofthe council chamber
he used bis chance official rank to arraign
a veteran, brilliant and brave officer
who was fighting the battles OF his
country whilst he himself was tackling
the tin soldiers in the nursery, then not
merely Democrats, but all good citizens,
all patriotic Americans, have to do with
il; and all such with one voice cry
'Shamep
Again, the people Of all parties and
classes dislike the whole Schley business
from start to finish. Nine out Of every
ten Americans are with Dewey and
against the court In the end some ae-
count will have TO be rendered Of these
things TO the people at large.
Meanwhile Mr. Roosevelt IL in the
saddle. Already his admirers are liken-
ing him TO the Emperor of Germany.
Forgetting quite the difference OF sys-
tens, they are reminding Us that in the
outset OF his career William was doing
much the same that Theodore is doing
and, meaning Theodore, He'll get brave
ly over his indiscretion in time just as
William did We shall see what We
shall see. Audacity, like Brag, is a good
dog, but Holdfast yet remains the better;
and there be other dogs; while there
stands a public opinion to be reckoned
with which is not blind, nor deaf, nor
dumb, which, though half awake, has
two full years to recover its senses, and
which in 1904 will speak with most re-
sounding II not with miraculous organ.
NATION WILL RENDER VERDICT.
''The civil service reformer, having rid
den down the machine TO his profit, may
think to set up a machine of his own
equally potent and Objectionable. The
soldier ofa single campaign may lord it
over the soldier of forty campaigns and
fancy it glory and power. The Chief
Magistrate, sworn to do his duty, may
see gallant naval officer .wronged, nor
raise a hand to right him. The well
read student of history may have reach
ed the conclusion that he can blend the
man Of affairs in the man OF letters, and
vice versa, after a fashion so picturesque
and attractive as TO carry all BY sheer
stress Of personality and good fortune
to 80 cozen and lure the whimsies of the
popular sovereignty by alternate dash
and cunning as TO secure what was
denied the other accidents in the White
House, from Tyler 10 Arthur. And so
he may; so be may; but let US repeat, the
country will try fall out Of him before
he does it. Let the Democrats stand TO
their guns aDd keep their primary dry.
There are a good many things between
heaven and earth not dreamed Of in Ted
dy's philosophy. He Is a smart young
man. He is bird of gay and gaudy
plumage. who sails high. But-and but
and yet again. But"
Cnid worth Minions
M I'M - urorth u,fllfoua IN me