The daily morning journal and courier., 1902-04-24
AN APPEAL. TO ROOSEVELT,
To Do His Duty, Even When it Means
 to Break With the Politicians.

He Has lne capacity to rise above con
 slderations of partisanship in estima
 ting the careers of those who were hit
 contemporaries. One hazards nothing
 Tn saying that MT, Roosevelt VII in
 dorse this Judgment of MT. Fowler upor
 MT. Cleveland-that when great emer
 sency confronted him, he was pa
 triot, and did his duty" and that the
 action should make his name immor-
 tal."
 MT Roosevelt knows too, that this
 was by no means the only occasion when Grover Cleveland displayed the
 courage of the patriot and the wisdom
 of the statesman. He must recognize
 the fact, which becomes steadily more
 plain, that the American people, with
 out distinction of party, regard the only living ex-president with constantly | growing respect and admiration as a
 man who did his duty" as he saw his duty under all circumstances, no mat
 ter how strong the temptations or the
 pressure to pursue some other course. It is thus MT Clevelands good fortune,
 as he goes on into old age, to see the verdict of history anticipated by his
 own generation. and to enjoy that vim
 dioation which early death has denied
 to some of our most maligned public men.
 MT. Roosevelt is scholar enough to know that this verdict of history is the important thing for president; to ap- preciate already that the vital question for him is the judgment which the peo- pie will pass upon his administration, and the estimate which they will hold of him as public man, after he has re- tired from the White House We ac- count it most fortunate for the nation that the present president should have before him the spectacle of his only surviving predecessor. There could be no lesson more worthy of study by MT. Roosevelt than that predecessors ca reer, and there could be no time when it would be more important for him to give heed to it than the present
 MT. Cleveland gained his hold upon the people by trusting them and by de- flying the politicians. The managers were constantly warning him that he could not afford to do this thing or that. He simply made up his mind whether he ought to do it. and then braved the When the. free-coinage craze was sweeping everything before 1t in 1891, when leading republicans yield ed to the popular clamor, when his own party appeared to have gone daft on the question, he calmly wrote a letter declaring his implacable opposition to what he pronounced dangerous and reckless experiment." When the shrewdest machine leaders in his party ! year later, confidently set forty to re- sist the growing demand for his renom- nation. and organized snap conven- ion" in New York to declare that he ,ould not carry his own state, he sat still while the lnasses brushed aside all he tricksters and elected delegates to he national convention who nominated linn by a two- thirds vote upon the frstI ballot. There has been no greater per sonal triumph in the history of Ameri- ! ,an politics than the return of Grover Cleveland to the White House, after his f irst defeat for recollection, through the [ confidence of the people in man whom | he politicians hated and tried to ruin. i t was this triumph of character which | 'gave him the opportunity in his sec md term to render that service in say ng the national credit which ';alone houd make his name immortal"
 Theodore Roosevelt must realize that he thing he should most desire is to be egarded by the people, after his with rawal from the presidency, as Grover Cleveland is regarded now. He can re- lize such an ambition--but he can do
 in only one way. He must convince he people that he has the courage to o his duty when this means that he lust understand that he cannot com etc with the politicians, that he is sure } lose if he tries to make terms with lem. He must abandon all attempts win the delegations from New York nd Pennsylvania by making appoint lents to suit Platt and Quay, and he ust depend upon the republican voters
 champion his cause. He must devote mself entirely to being a good presi- !. ent during this term, and let future :, rms take care of themselves. It is hardly too much to say that MT. ' oosevelt stands to-day at the parting ,
 
 te which arouse the apprehension that r , is inclined to take the wrong path ,- e has practically removed a pension e whose only offense was :, otecting the interests of the govern 1 ent, when courageous patriot would n i've told MT. Evans the he must stay :,
 his post. He has paid conspicuous d nor to one of the most notorious N oilsmen in the country by appointing h surveyor of customs the same James s
 Clarkson whom, when civil-service e, a dozen years ago, he eX- f, sed as so shameless that he would h ail in his duty if he did not show it nself hostile to Mir. Clarkson and tl 2 idea which MT. Clarkson repre- W nts." Grover Cleveland would not o We done either of these things. The is ore Roosevelt cannot keep on doing Il oh things without endangering his a ances for the fame which he should al n. All friends of good politics hope 1t the president will realize his dan o' ?, and be warned in time.-New York tc ening Post. in
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