The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-05-11
EDITORIAL COMMENT
The Impending Conflict.
n ewark News:


Newark News:
There can be no doubt in any reason
able mind that Theodore Roosevelt will
De the candidate Of the general Repub-
hean convention next year to succeed
himself Probably he has worked as
slduously to assure that result, as far
as any high-minded and conscientious
politician can use such president en-
deaVor- His ambition is a righteous
one to go before the country for a di-
rect vote to justify his fulhlment of
great office which fell to him through
the fatality of a great crime. In virtue
OF his striking personality, his power
Of initiative, his mastery leadership,
uous sympathy with the higher ideals
of public life and public interests, he
has stamped himself ineffaceably on
the esteem of the country.
No other Republican nOtability ap-
prOaches this force of impact, which he
has made on the masses of his own
party, on most of the party politicians,
and on a multitude of voters who do
not class themselves formally as Re
publicans In only one respect has Mr..
Roosevelt failed to make this impress
sion fuI1-orbed in it's completeness
This is his afhation on the general
tariff question with the BOurbonS and
not with the prOgressives of his party
His failure to hold the party up to
their pledges. so far as a president can
inspire party dynamics, constitutes the
weak spot in his administration. It IS
this question which is pretty certain to
be the crux and center of the battle
next year If Grover Cleveland becomes
the opposition candidate the war of
conflict about this focus of struggle
viii be augmented tenfold from the in
flexible strength of conviction and the
splendor of record by which this for
rnidable champion will polarize the
party strength.
The movement asking for the Cleve--
land candidacy has only begun BUT
its nucleus is so healthy, its relation 20
the only thing fairly probable in poilts-
cal possibilities for which Democrats
can hone so vital, that it is likely ito
gain strength every week with cunau-
laffye impetus There is no other M an
of his party VIVA can unite all the bet
ter elements of the opposition and duaw
to him the many who would reject or
dinarv guarantees of platform and q an
didate. His name aud career maxi a
magnet good for an enormous cent Up
etal force Prominent Republican Eloli-
ticians and Democrats formerly am -ag-
onistic to him recognize this fact 7Nltf
growing testimony. If any leader can
unity a distracted party and lead 1t tc
a possible triumph, Grover Cleve land
is that man Whether or not ne lcares
narsonaIlv for another term, he would
be scarcely human in refusing 70 ac-
cade to a nomination which nigh be-
stow on him the unprecedented lhonol
Of a third presidency, and place with
in his hands the large power to ernbody
the finer Democratic ideals, which his
career has typified par excenence,. Fol
the lack of these the party has been
starved into futility-
Other. issues, Imperialism. thet money
question in any of it's varied kphases
the problem Of the trusts, the cembus-
tible negro puzzle, even the olninous
alaor question. however they may swim
on the surface Of controversy, nromisf
to be subordinate as fighting ia cts te
the question of effective tariff reform
Aside from his general eligibility as 9
proven administrator of the public vel
fare. CIeveland's association wish TINS
dominant question arms him with >
captains inspiration which no renewed
PROMISES Of a Republican platform vii
he likely to offset. It would be on this
vantage ground that his participation
In the conflict would make him tbs
most dangerous of opponents to Mr.
Roosevelt The truth. which grows
clearer all the time, that tariff adjust
ment carries in it a powerful solvent OF
the difficulties of the trust problem
gives it a coefficient that greatly
strengthens its cogency and the leader
ship which best represents it.