Sunday Washington globe., 1902-01-05
SUNDAY, JANUARY S, 1902.
President Roosevelt and the People.

President Roosevelt and the People
Under the plastic late administration the
Imperial Republic was launched on its
tempestuous voyage to an unknown har-
bor: and under the present strenuous one
the imperialistic program has been solidi-
fed and made an accomplished fact. This
condition of affairs all will admit who are
not purposely blind to the trend of public
affairs. AS great riches in the individual
develop luxurious tastes, and those ap-
petites. or sensual vices, of the sybarite so
great wealth in a nation invariably de-
velopes a tendency towards pomp, power
and aggrandizement at the expense OF
weaker peoples and nations. The nice
sense of honor is blunted in the indi-
vidual. who is inordiuately vain OF his pos
sessions, nor does a Nation discriminate IN
the sense of right and justice when it has
once started on its career of pomp, power
and acquisition.
We have since the Inauguration OF the
late President began a new epoch-the i'm
perial one-in our history, and as the fates
or destiny would have it, we have been
given for our Chief Magistrate a citizen of
the most imperiOus personality, which he IS
disinclined to modify in his official alrelations
with the public as with individuals. His
methods, manner and actions are those Of
great character, conscious of his ability and
alive to the power limited only by a dis
carded and discredited Constitution. This
greatness Of character consists alone in the
dangerous elements of imperious will, stern
purpose and dinhexible resolution, tempered,
Il Is true, by the softer vices of vanity and
a belief in his superiority over Congressman
aud Cabinet officer who salute his Office,
but peer the man,
Mr.. Roosevelt's two public acts Of recent
date leave no room to question his courage
to make not only history but precedent.
His full and unrestrained assertion Of the
hitherto unexercised authority vested in our
President. as commauderin-chief Of the
armies and navies of the United States, by
publicly rebuking the ranking officer Of the
army and his arbitrary action in removing
the libellous Maclay, in violation OF
the Civil Service law, evidence the
dictatorial bent of his mind. In much
the same impatient and imperial re-
sistance to the restraints imposed, if not by
law then by respect for the acts of the grand
and noble characters who have preceded
him in the chair Of Washington, he has
made the approach of the leading men Of
the country to his presence distasteful, EN-
barrassing and humiliating in the sense OF
an absence Of that courteous acknowledge
ment of their standing and position which
even constitutional kings observe. When
a subordinate Mr.. Roosevelt was inclined to
be contentious as an official and even tur-
bulent in the iusistence Of the adoption OF
his convictions. In the army, as a subor-
diuate commander or line officer, he made
his inferior rank more conspicuous than has
ever been known in military history in
either peace or war. He boldly signed and
circulated the Round Robin" and even
"belled the cat" impeaching the wisdom
or disposition Of the troops by the actual
commander thereof, present at the scene oi
action; and he had the abundant and deter
mined assurance to succeed where less
bold if equally. sagacious officer would no
only have failed but faced a firing platoon
for his insubordination,
1t is impossible for his coachers to teaci
him prudence and a suave observance o
the proprieties Of his high Office while
urging, countenancing and approving th'
imperalistic program they have corrupted
the nation with; and the furthering o
which he feels himself charged as the chic
executive officer Of the people. One yea
hence we shall marvel at his present mod
Grafton; two years hence we shall becom
accustomed to the experience Of witnessing
that of which we have read and pitted i
South American republics, and by the tim
his term Of Office expires the country vii
have either elected a Democratic Presideu
and Congress or an undisguised Dictatorship
shall have been established by the Pluto
cratic. Republican imperalists.
The salvation of the republic lies in tn
return Of the masses to Democracy and tn
administration Of a masterful rebuke {
those public servants, from Theodor
Roosevelt 70 the humblest and most oil
scure sycophant serving in livery, VIII
have arrogantly asserted their irTespons
bility to the POWER that created the Office
they hll--the GREAT AMERICAN PEoPLEl