Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1904-05-05
ROOSEVELT THE ISSUE.

| hOOSENEIT The ISSUE.
When the Democratic national con,
vention meets at st. Louis in July. II
viii frame a platform that will de.
nounce everything Republican, OF
course. It will take its position as
the party Of opposition and obstruc-
ton. In constructive plans-what 1t
proposes to do in case the people
entrust it with power-the platform of
the Democracy must be rather weak
and lame for inherent reasons. The
truth is that about the only article OF
faith that the Democrats from all over
the country can agree upon well
enough to make a square declaration
is their opposition TO the party in
power and their antipathy-almost a
personal enmity-to the man at the
head.
This is not a new characteristic; it
has followed the party for a genera.
ton. The Democracy can always be
depended on to vote mo- when any
thing is proposed, but given control
itself, with the responsibility upon it,
trouble comes at once. There is no
such thing as harmony in it, and it
fails utterly to produce anything of a
constructive nature that would bear
the light of day, So that the best
service the Democratic party can give
the country is an active, alert and
yociterous opposition to Republican
measures, to prevent abuses, check
extravagancies and slow up the wheels
Of progress to the conservative notch. |
Whatever generalities the Demo
cratic platform may include, its KEY
note will be opposition to and denun-
citation of the Roosevelt administra-
ton. This may be taken for granted. !
And the Democratic plan OF campaign
is perfectly clear now. 1t will be an
attack upon Roosevelt himself and on
the policies he has forced, is forcing
and, if reelected, will force on his
party and the country. An attempt
will be made to convince the American
people that their rights, liberties and
interests are threatened with grave
danger by the usurpation of power in
the hands OF so unsafe and reckless a
chief executive as Theodore Roosevelt.
His record will be raked to show how
he has been in the
doing of things that suited his iudg.
ment or fancy. And from every
stump will come the hushed question.
''lf this man would follow such a
course in his first term, when called to
the Office by the assassin's bullet. and
with his desire for another term acting
as a curb on him, what would he do
what wouldn't he do-if elected tri.
given free rein and no
curb at all ?"
The issue Of the coming campaign
will be-not the tariff, not Imperialism.
not tree silver-but Theodore Roose-
welt. His methods, his policies. will
be the target for all the slings and
arrows OF the Democratic hosts. And
it's much to the credit of Theodore
Roosevelt that this is so. No man but
a strong man could thus put tariff and
finance and all the abstract questions
Of politics into the background.
II Roosevelt has party arrayed
against him it is equally certain that
he has party unitedly and enthusiasts
tically behind him. To the latter he
is leader worthy of the support given
him. They like his style, approve
his methods, endorse his policies.
They are not afraid OF his becoming
either despot or tyrant. He could not
if he would, and they have faith to be-
lieve that he would not if he could.
He is their captain by their own choice.
aud has no other claim TO leadership
than the wisdom and courage with
which be aids in the promotion Of