The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-12-01
MIR. ROOSEVELT ON DOODLE.

MR. ROOSEVELT ON DOODLE.
Such meager accounts of the department swim
dies have heretofore filtered into the press have
but poorly served to prepare the public mind for
Brstows revelations and the sense of shock is keen
and profound The extent and character of graft as
disclosed by the report is almost stupefying, and
were 1t not for the fact that the public is accus-
toned to the idea of millions. the mere numerical
magnitude would be difficult of comprehension FIT
teen years ago millions Of graft would have been
almost unintelligbe.
That graft in one department alone has been on a
scale to justify the employment Of forty inspectors
for six months in investigating it is a suggestive
fact which assists the Imagination to grasp the
truth. And that the system discovered has been de-
veloping through administrations. extending its
ramifications and perfectng its operations, unds-
turbed save by superficial examinations, s another
poignant fact. And President Roosevelts express
sions such gross corruption bribery ana
blackmail" "feecing the public" give further color
and suggestion to the great melancholy fact.
Unquestionably the principal significance of Mr..
Bristows report is to confirm the belief that graft
is deep-rooted in practically every department of
ecutive business and to strengthen the public con-
victon that the only way it effectualy is to
apply the wholesale cure of the ballot. Mr. Roosc
velts comments make legitimate and proper
the discussion of the scandals political phase at this
time Obviously he seeks thus early to anticipate
and avoid the political effect of the disclosure.
In discussing the matter OF cure, he says: IAN
questions Of difference in party policy sink into in
significance when the people Of the country are
brought face to face with question like this AS
suredly such differences ought to sink unless they
vital to the ITSELF If they initiated against
the thoroughgoing renovation obviously demanded
and conceded to be necessary in the Federal service
they ought to be ignored by the people.
But what are the differences" and how do they
affect reform? The Democratic party insists upon
final and complete overhauling of the service and
the utter demolition of graft. The Republican party
has put itself in the attitude of defense upon the is
of reform. From the outset it has been apol-
ogist. seeking the hand to excuse the corrup
ton which revealed denying party responsible
ty therefor and on the other hand denying that ex-
tensive graft existed. Not until investigations and
exposures became inevitable perforce Of public in
sistence did the administration act and its progress
sions in the work have been marked by reluctance
and by sullenness toward the public. For the par
tal results actually achieved the administration de-
serves credit, but no amount of reform activity
henceforh change the fact Of its early attitude
upon the scandals, 1t has sought to make virtue
of necessity; Of which the people duly cognzant.
It admits the extent and character Of the frauds
those only however, of which the nation is already
fully informed-and vigorously proclaims that re-
form is necessary. The difference" to which Mr.
Roosevelt refers relates to the question Of which
party is better calculated to accomplish the work.
1t is equally difficult to believe that the Republic
an party If retained in power and left to its de-
vices would seriously disturb the present conditions
of Federal service; and to comprehend how a whole
sale renovation, consequent upon a change Of admin
stration could fail to produce the desired result Let
the Republican party be judged by Its reform"
ord.
At the outset, many months ago. The Republics
criticism of the administration proceeded upon the
theory that less the fact of rascalty existent
under an administration than the manner of dealing
with it which affected party. But later, with the
continual developments at Washington and through
out the country, disclosing the pervasive ramifica-
tons Of fraud and establishing beyond doubt the
fact of a broad and deeprooted system Of crime |
which involved high officials and responsible heads
Of various departments, and with the development
Of the important fact of corrupons connection with
the party organization, it became patent that the
kind and character of the rascaty itself reflected
upon the party The great of responsibility has
been laid at the Republican door.
Mr.. Roosevelt cannot be heard to tisclaim party
for the crime. which has fourisled
throughout two Republican admin |
stratons, and which could not have foursled with
out considerable degree of protection from party
powers. His plea that differences" should be sunk
must he regarded in the light of his party's record
and with reference to present facts and the stu
atoms plain logic 1t appears to he attempt to
avoid party responsibility at the expense of the
nations necessities. Is it possible to sink the "d
ferences" altogether without burying the reform is
sue? Without eliminating reform?
BUILD THE CANAL.
Out of the rhetoric, recrimination and mistaken
reasoning which piling up around and tending
obscure the Panama question there should rise into
prominence, blazoned forth in raised let
ers as the dictum of the public mind. the command
Build the Canalv