Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-08-27
FOR ROOSEVELT.
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10 know or what L speak.
"In all my experience I never have
met a man in authority who has less
pride of opinion in the judgments tha'
he has formed in respect to situations
presented to him for action than mas
Theodore Roosevelt. / have never met
a man who was so amenable to reason
SO anxious to reach a just conclusion
and so willing to sacrifice a previously
formed opinion as the present President
of the United States. He has wonderful
quickness of apprehension and Keen
ness of perception. He weighs every
argument which is brought before him.
and if by reason of the limpid charac-
| ter of his nature, which leads MN "
speak as he thinks. he gives instant eA-
preston to an opinion which SUISSE
quent facts show him to be erroneous
he changes, as only man can chahSe
who is an earnest seeker for the truth
with the sincerest desire to do right. ne
is not a tryant, but he is a leader.
Does the American nation OBJECT 10
this? Light is made of his views vi d
strenuous life. He does believe IN 40
| ing things. He does not belons 10 the
nil admirari class that find no function
| in life save to stand by ana crltlclse
those charged with responsibility, VINO
are undertaking to lead on 10 progress
and a higher civilization. He IS lover
of nbysical and mental exercise. He
believes that a man who is given brain
and muscle is charged with the respon-
s;h;lity of making the most of them
and doing az much with both as posi-
hIo for his fellowmen. He represents
ga high a type as there is in the coun-
try of energetic American manhood. He
| is an American. He is patriot. He
loves his country, and he does not blush
or hang his head in saying so. He
loves his wife. He loves his children.
His is a typical American home"
HE sympathiZes with the laborer
and the man of wealth both when thay
snow themselves worthy of the civili-
cation in which they live and of the
country whose protection and security
of life. liberty. and property they en-
joy. He is opposed to fraud. He hates
shams. He is in favor of fair dealing.
| equality of opportunity. and a grateful
appreciation on the part of all who en-
| joy the benefits of citizenship in this.
our magnificent country. He is honest
| and frank, because he does not know
how to be anything else. His candor
| shines out of him. and no one who ever
| came in contact with him could be
| for a moment unConvinced that his
| ideals are honor. honesty. justice, cour-
age. industry. and force and that he is
| faithful to those ideals.
NO man ever sat in the Presidential
ohaid more anxious to avoid war or
conflict with foreign nations than does
he His impulsiveness of manner and
his uuiciness of thought and speech
coexist with a real conservation of ac-
ton that makes it as certain as it
was under Mr.. Mckinley that no policy
will be followed needlessly exposing the
interests Of the country to the peril of
war All. hut it is said, wait until he
has a free hand after the election, then
you will see him in his true light It is
difficult to answer such a gratuitous
suggestion. founded as it must be on
the assumption that a man like Theo-
dore Roosevelt. whose honor and hon.
esty are so patent that he almost
thinks alone. has been playing a part
for three years and is only awaiting
the success at election to throw off the
mask 1t is too ridiculous for discus
sion.
But now, what specific things IS Mr.
Roosevelt accused of? First, it is
charged that the influences legislation
and transgresses the line which under
our constitutional system should exist
between the executive and the legisla-
tive branches That it is unconstitu-
tional for the President to confer with
| hn Of Inc nd r.
and seek to influence them with respec.
to legislation is a new doctrine in this
, Republic. In the firest place. the Con.
stitution gives him the express power
and right to communicate with Con-
gress in giving his views with respect
to legislation. In the second place, he
. ie made co-ordinating factor in the
legislative branch of the government
for he has the power to veto any act
: passed by both houses and it cannot
: become a law unless it is repassed by
both houses by two-thirds vote ir
each House.
s "Ncw, then, IS 1t possible that II
+ conversation with members of each
: House he may not repeat the recon-
| mendation made in his communica tior
to the House in writing, or that ir
: view of their joint responsibility fol-
legislation he may not advise will
= them at any time and convince them
e if he may, of the wisdom or unwis
: dom of the proposed legislation? Crit
~ cism founded on such proposition il
I evidence of the weakness Of the posi-
tion of our adversaries.
4 This brings me to the criticism o
the President, that he has departet
=, from his former high ideals in tn
n matter of politics. No change is NOR
' unfounded than this. He is as much il
= favor of clean methods. he is as niue,
opposed to the spoils system, he be
lieves In honesty and efficiency in tn
administration Of Government and IL
the enforcement of the civil service law
as completely as he ever did or eve
proposed to do. He is doing everythin,
a in his power to maintain his ideals
<. Where he to take the course marke,
y out as the proper one in such criti
Is cism and ostracise, so far as conference
e, wit hhim il concerned. the members O
d his party whom the mugwumps do no
n approve. he would divide his party