The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-08-21
THE REAL ISSUE.

AAAaAh A71CASs
In his speech of acceptance Mr.. Wat
son, the Populist nominee for President,
attempted to make it appear that there
was no substantial difference between
the Democratic and Republican plat
forms-that. in fact, there was no great
issue between the two great parties.
Evidently he has not studied the po-
litical situation closely. Unless some
Of the clearest thinkers of the country
are mistaken there is presented by the
Democratic and Republican platforms,
and the Democratic and Republican
candidates for President. one of the
greatest issues that was ever before
the country, namely, whether the gov
eminent shall be brought back to its
constitutional mornings or continue to
drift towards imperialism. In his
speech of acceptance Judge Parker set
forth this issue so clearly that it is
impossible not to see it.
Almost from the day Mr.. Roosevelt
became President the quickening Of the
movement in the direction of imperial
of constitutional restraints. He wants
to govern without the aid of Congress
and the courts. What his opinion of
the courts is no one is prepared to say,
but it is the understanding that he
hasn't a high regard for Congress. If
he could have his way he would in
crease the army and greatly enlarge
the navy. so as to be ready to take
part in any trouble in any part of the
world that offered an opportunity for
adding glory to our arms or increasing
our territorial possessions. It has not
been long since he gave an interpreta-
ton of the Monroe doctrine that
amazed the world.
If instances are wanted to show Mr..
Roosevelt's autocratic temper they are
not hard to find. He made recess ap-
pointments when no recess of the Sen
ate existed. simply because 1t suited
him to do so. He made all the Union
veterans invalids, as it were. so they
could draw pensions without legisla-
tive authority, thus increasing the pen
oADiA bhl htll many AIltlliOliS VI hplldlS d
year, and he violated international jus
tice in the Panama affair, a thing he
wouldn't have attempted to do if he
had been dealing with a strong Euro
pean Power instead of a weak South
American republic.
Mr.. Roosevelt has been commended
for interfering in the anthracite coal
strike in the way he did. though he
had no precedent nor authority for
doing so. His action was an outcrop-
ping of his autocratic disposition,
manipulation of contempt for his con-
stitutional limitations. He did not
care If he made a precedent that would
be troublesome to the government at
some future time. It is already caus-
ing him trouble. The miners who are
on strike in Colorado are calling on
him to interfere in their behalf and
labor organizations in different parts
Of the country are urging him to do so.
Doubtless he would respond if the pres
idential election were not close at hand.
The apprehension that his interference
might cost him his election causes him
to hesitate.
The issue between constitutional
ism and Imperialism is clearly made.
For going back to constitutional meth
DDS Judge Parker stands. For going
on towards Imperialism Mr.. Roosevelt
stands. On the issue thus clearly made
it is worthy of notice that the ablest
lawyers of the country are on the side
of Judge Parker. They see that Roose-
veltism and Imperialism threaten the
destruction of the republic.