Saint Mary's beacon., 1904-08-25
COMMUNICATED.

One of the funny" features OF this
campaign in the National Capital is
the evident desire of the leading re-
publicans TO keep President ROose-
welt and his record in the back
ground; to efface him and his record
absolutely.
When the average republican here
meets his democratic friend and pro-
ceeds 10 discussion OF the political
situation, he gleefully says to the
democrat: You have no issue;
where and what is your issue?''
When the democrat, with a smile,
remarks that we will make all other
issues subordinate and secondary
consideration to Roosevelt and his
record, the republican Immediately
throws his hands up and practical
ly says: For heavens sake don {
do that" it simply accentuates the
importance 10 the democracy OF
Roosevelt as campaign issue.
When every effort is being made
by republican leaders to compel
Roosevelt TO hide behind his former
self; when the ex-Secretary, Chair
man of the Republican National
Committee announces that the Pre-
sident will make no speeches in this
campaign, it means that he will be
given no opportunity to make a
blunder; it means he will try self
effacement as an effort to overcome
his record for rant, strenuosity, dis
play, military spirit, hypocrisy and
moral cowardice.
Roosevelt has fooled a whole lot of
people. II democrats, everywhere.
will only instruct the people who
have been fooled on the facts OF his
record, they will be fooled no Ion
ger.
President Roosevelt himself is
giving every sign of being aware
that ROoSeveltism is TO be a leading
issue of the campaign. And il is
evident that he so little enjoys the
prospect that he is sedulOusly en-
deavoring to recreate himself-to
make a new Roosevelt for presenta-
tion to the respectful, if not awed
consideration of the voter.
The Roosevelt that MIR. Roosevelt
wishes the American citizen to con-
template is grave, silent and
thoughtful statesmen, an austere
Chief Magistrate, absorbed in the
dignified discharge of his lofty du-
ties.
Thecharacteristics and properties
which made his reputation are no
longer visible. lmpetuOsity, volu
bility, soldierly frankness and swag-
ger have vanished. The khaki uni
form has been laid away in the closet
with the sword and the big stick.
while the the towards and weaklings
who came in for so many an orator.
cal drubbing are given q well-earn.
ed vacation. EXhortatiOns to parents
respecting the size of their families
and 10 clergymen TO be good are
heard no more. Even the preach
ing Of civic righteouness, with
Addicks and Platt and Payne in n
front pew, has been given up.
But, unhappily for the President.
the new Roosevelt, the campaign
Roosevelt, cannot separate himself
from the old Roosevelt's record.
And it is to that record he will be
held during the canvass and ut the
polls.
From now until November Mr..
Roosevelt will be obliged to bump
the bumps" And the bumps on
the slide are many. He must come
in contact with public distrust in
spired by headstrong egotism and
an incurable arrogance. His con-
tempt OF law; his substitution OF his
own royal will for the constitutional
action of Congress; his affronting
and threatening attitude toward
our sister republics; his hasty and