Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1903-12-31
Mr.. RoosEvELTs RAsHNEss.

NEW 7IOF IrlDu1e.--PreSlQenI ROOSe-
yelt's rashness has come to be sort
of proverb. 1t is one of those popular
attributions which persist quite indie
pendent of any basis of fact. The
President on any particular occasion
may be rash or he may not. 1t makes
no difference. Before he had entered
the White House his restless energy
had attracted attention, and large
number of people assumed as mat
ter of course, that everything he did
would be impetuous. AS well try to
convince them that Charles the Bold
was not invariably bold as that Theo-
dore- Roosevelt was not always rash.
So when anything happens in the con-
duct Of the government every critic
of the policy adopted shouts that it
is another piece of the Presidents
rashness. though it may be the essence
of conservatism If the President hap
pens in a conspicuous case merely to
do his duty enforcing the laws by sub
Jecting the legality of a railroad mer-
ger to the judgment of the supreme
court he makes a rash attack upon
property. If he recognizes promptly
the establishment of a new government
in Panama, again he is rash, and is
sure to involve us in complications
with Europe, even though European
governments approve his course and
promptly follow his lead. If he re-
deems q campaign promise to welcome
in Washington campaign chairman
to whom Mr.. Hanna had sent him, it
is a monstrous indiscretion, because
man is a trades unionist in a disturb
ed district; though when Mr.. Hanna
entertainS the same man at the Wall
dorf- Astoria it is wise and states
manlike effort to guide the labor party
into conservative paths.
-
When the, administration of this
rash" man is calmly reviewed it is
not easy to find evidence of that rash
ness. He has indeed done many
things that have aroused opposition
and any president who does anything
positive always will. But there is a
great difference between positiveness
and rashness. His actions. though en-
ergetic and quick, have turned out I'M
commonly well, and won the approval
of the American people in fashion
which suggests that they were taken
with anything but rashness. If it is
rash to enforce law, whether it inter-
feres with schemes of millionaires or
labor agitators, there is need of rash
ness over the whole country. If it is
rash to use the influence of the Pres
sident to bring together warning
industrial interests whose self CEN
tered struggle menaces innocent thou
sands, then blessed are the peace
makers" was said of the RASH If it
be rash. to guard American interests
with decision and keep the peace at
Panama, what a line of presidents and
secretaries of state have been rash!
For nearly three years. now President
Roosevelt has been running his inn
petuous and devastating career at the,
White House, yet we have a remark
ably prosperous country with a gov
eminent never more respected at home
and abroad, and conservative, money
making people strangely happy and
free from alarms.
Yes we know that" say the crit
les. He has kept himself in check SO
far. lie has to be moderate till he gets
a second term. Then he will break
loose, and it is not safe to trust him.
Well, if Mr.. Roosevelt's dangerous
rashness which will break out in his
second term is to be deduced from his
acts in the first, it does not seem to be
particularly terrible thing after ALL
If it is merely disposition attributed
to him regardless of any manifestation,
position SO thoroughly in check through
must be pretty complete master of
his impulses and able to do equally
well with ripper training. Then his
only care will be to make a highly
craiitable record as president. If he
now recognizes the wisdom of modera-
ton enough to exercise what is assum-
ed to be an unnatural self control,
there is no reason to fear that such
wisdom will suddenly desert him