Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1903-09-03
ON The wANE.

A wear ago it is probable that there
was not in this country an intelligent
person who doubted that Theodore
Roosevelt would be nominated for the
presidency by reclamation in the repuG-
lican convention and that he would be
elected by great majority. Today 1t
is certain that great many people not
only question the probability OF his
election but they even doubt his nomlna-
ton. There are obvious reasons forthls
change Of sentiment.
First among them is the fact that the
country is tired of the presidents so
called "strenuosity." and his parade OF
..doing things" They were novel and
entertaining for IA time, but have become
tiresome. Thinking people-and they
are in the majority in this country
realize that the great presidents of the
United States were not of the rough
riding. broncho- bustingt type. More than
this. the president has at one time or
another atfronted the opinions and senti-
ments of pretty nearly every one whose
support he should have acquired in or
der to insure his nomination and election.
In pursuance of his trough. rider polio!
he has made it his business to step on
peoples toes. He has gone out Of the
way to emphasize his indifference for
public sentiment.
The Schley-Sampson controversy is a
case in point. 1t is as certain as any
thing can be that the sentiment Of the
whole, nation with the exception of a
small bureaucratic clique. was favorable
to Admiral Schley. The president
promptly espoused the cause of Samp-
son. He may have been impelled by
honest convictions, but his history and
character go far to support the belief
that his attitude was due to natural per-
versity-to the public bed Id policy
which he has consistently pursued since
the assassination of Mckinley advanced
him to the presidency. This belief is
strengthened by the fact that he went
out of his way to affront public opinion
by his comments on the matter He
wanted to show his contempt for tho
people.
The snub to General Miles furnishes
another instance of contempt for popular
sentiment coupled with an exhibition of
personal meanness of which no presi-
dent ever before was guilty. President
Roosevelt hated General Miles. He like
wise desired to show his scorn for the
people. He gratitied his hatred and his
contempt by denying to the retiring
lieutenant general even the ordinary
formal expression of regret which custom
has prescribed on such occasions. At
the same time he was advancing Lieu
tenant General Wood, his chum and
boon companion, over the heads of nearly
five hundred veteran officers.
Can it be doubted that the two cpl
sodes have stirred up anger and resent
ment among veterans of the civil war
among army men generally? Is it any
more doubtful that Mr.. Roosevelt's
sneering reference to the volunteers in
his impudent communication during the
Spanish war is remembered by the volun-
teers and their friends?
Coming down to the negro question
it has been very we'll pointed out that
if Mr.. Roosevelt's attitude has gained
him the negro vote, it has only gained
what the republican party already had,
while it has certainly alienated white
voters in many of the close northern
states. In other words Roosevelt has
to win nothing in the south while he
takes the chance of losing in the north.
That may be admirable as an exhibition
of independence. but it is not shrewd
politics.
The president, in short. has appar-
emily taken pains to offend and insult
everybody he possibly could. In one
case this policy babe fair to result to
his advantage. His ostentatious enmity
to the trusts and combines generally
gained him certain amount of popular
applause. In this case, however. his
pugnacity quickly evaporated. Instead
of busting the trusts we now see the
president arranging special session Of
congress at their dictation. The one
instance in which the 'big stick policy
would indeed have been admirable and
popular is the one case in which the
president humbly abjured it and roared
as gently as sucking dove.
If in addition to the forces already at
work against him period of marked
business depression should ensue dur
ing the coming nine months we predict
President Roosevelt's name will not
even be mentioned in the republican
convention. He has set out to show his
contempt for popular opinion-and popu
lar opinion is not non-combatant
Roosevelt's star is on the wane.
Isn't it about time for the president
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