The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-12-15
LogrNa HIS GRIP.

That Theodore Roosevelt, President by grace of the assassin's bullet, is not im- mutably fixed for another term is getting more certain every day. As The New Haven Register says. if he were placed in life so that he could calmly and pa- | tiently examine the state of feeling throughout the country, with reference to his political future. he would have occa- sion'tO view the situation with alarm.' The Register is one of the most con- servative papers that comes to our table, and is not in the habit of expressing opin- ions without having a good foundation for them. Its judgment in this instance Is formed upon evidence which is to be found in the newspapers from all sections as well as upon expressions of Repubu- cans both North and South, and it Is positive that ''he has lost steadily in fa- vor during the past year." On the same line we find a long editorial in The New York Times, another paper not siven to l jumping at conclusions, and which has unusual opportunities for getting at pulp lie sentiment. It says:
 
 States of President Roosevelts loss ot strength and popularity are too numer- ous and too well authenticated to be ig. nored. The members of the Repubncan National Committee now assembled in Washington talk for publicS ion, of MT. Roosevelt as the only candidate the desire for his nomination to be unani- nous. There Is evidence that when tax ing not for publication. many members the Repuniican attitude toward the Pres ident. Instead of being unanimaus tne Party is actually divided upon the ques. next ruS year year. 1t is not necessary to go to Washington or to consult the Republican | National Committee. to learn this news. | the speech of people to know that great numbers of Republicans now look with deep misgivings upon the popularity of fear would involve party defeat. It may | be a temporary and curable condition, but unquestionably something has weak ened Mir. Roosevelts hold upon the Re- | publican Party and upon the people.
 There are specimen expressions from two weIl-informed and level-headed news papers, and they speak of what is appa- rent to all who keep up with political conditions.
 "something has weakened him. as The Times observes, and whether that some thing is a tangible, curable condition, or whether it will defy the efforts of him. self and his most deeply interested sup porters is a matter for the future to set- tie. This feeling is not because Rooseo welt has appointed a few Democrats to good positions, nor because he has not generally been loyal to his own. Party. True, he has more than once given offence to some of his best friends by his bull headed speech and actions, but none of these, nor all of them, will account for all the loss of popularity. The real cause is that the conservative sentiment of the country, of all parties is afraid of him. Republicans who care nothing for their Party or for Roosevelt, except for what they can get out of it, may stand by him and talk loudly and fuently about his popularity and invincibIlity, but that class can neither nominate nor elect a President There are others who are loyal to him because he is their President and head of their Party, but their faithful ness may not elect him.
 The fact remains that those who place the public good above and beyond Party or man have lost confidence in Roose- welt. They never know what he win say or do next. and they are in constant cad of his recklessness. It Is a fact beyond question that both the peace of the coun- try and the stability of its business inter- ests are continually in jeopardy. No one can forecast his words or his acts, and whether he will plunge the country into
 war or bring on a ruinous financial panic is equally possible. That Is why he is
 both doubted and dreaded and why his own Party lacks very much of being
 united in his support. If he Is set aside