The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1904-07-27

Power. To those who, like ourselves
warm to the greatness and glory Of the
country-who dearly love to see the
bunting salute the rise Of the morning
sun and travel with his beams even to
the other isde Of the Universe-Who
dearly love to sound the bold anthem
and to hear the eagle scream through
the air and all that sort of thing lndl-
eating primitive patriotism and pro-
vincial simplicity-who literally yearn-
ed for sectional peace and unihcatlon
that consummation devoutly to be
wished was at last achieved amid the
drum beats and pulse-beats not only Of
hopes fulfilled but of hearts triumph
ant.
We saw in it the hand of God. In
good faith We accepted the idea Of
benevolent assimilation. Modern
invention vas annihilating time and
space. The very earth was shutting
up like a telescope. Why not in the
Philippines what we had done in the
Louisianas? There, at least, we stand
today. But, does the President? Does
the Republican party? Let US dismiss
the shade, the memory Of Mckinley.
Let us take the cord of Roosevelt,
him and his, and all that they imply.
1t seems almost trnisn to say that
the Gentleman in Politics becomes the
least scrupulous Of men when he gets
down to his work; but we need 60 no
further than Theodore Roosevelt for
an example of qualification seeking
by artful contriyance and honeyed
words at once to satisfy the demands
of the partisan and to blind the eyes
of the unthlnking.
The average American loves brave
man. He hates coward. Great stress
is laid upon the courage Of Theodore
Roosevelt. Yet there is limit set upon
daring, which even SO ambitious
bronco buster as Macbeth recognized
pity he didn't stick to it!-when
his good lady, yet more ambitious than
he, urged him on.
"Prithee, peace;
I dare do all that may become
man;
Who dares do more is non e.'7
NIf Mr.. Roosevelt could join hands
with Quay and Addicks to accomplish
any purpose; if to show his power, he
could take two Adnairals, such as
Dewey and Schley, across his lap and
spank them like children, grossly,
brutally insulting Miles the while; if
to exploit his Administration, he
could ssteer hy-by-night. Republican
Panama into being, playing directly
to the lead of the Gray Wolves in Con-
gress and the Stock jobbers of Paris;
il to .hatter the old soldiers he could
by sweep of his pen convert himself
from an Executive into Legislative
Department, and to cozen the negro
vote at the North ne could precipitate
anew the race Issue at the South-the
which stand as illustrations Of his sur
passing courage-then there is nothing
which the exigencies of his ambition,
or the promptines Of his temper, may
not at least undertake. Ecce ignum; );
should he be given four years more in
the White House on his own account,
with the four additional years for
which be will begin at once to provide
in case he is elected-making twelve
consecutive years N ali-what may
the country not expect IN 1912, the
third-term tradition dissipated, the
power of the President over his party
absolute, and the power of the party
intreuched and enlarged? 1t does not
require very live fancy to conceive.
All the old perspectives Of Democracy
shut out by military appliances, col
onial machinery and commercial ap-
paratus, the trail c& the trademark
already too visible-over every avenue
to prefs.ment and power-such public
men as linger about the throne con-
yerted into race of Medician princes
without the learning, or the arts OF
Florence-the sign manual of the Pluto
cracy blazing above every voting both
maybe intervening wars and certain
ly the disappearance Of slf< healthful
and INDEPENDENT oppos tion-what is
to hinder Diaz and the Diaz dynasty?
And, Why not ? Shall we look to be
exempt from human experience? Are
we, though earthly habitants, to be
translated beyond the bounds and
dreams of mortality?
The Republican party is 70 better
than the Democratic party which pre-
ceded it. The Democratic party,
though long tenure, grew strong
enough 10 MAKE los eAie 41oLA pO"oA
the signal for a dire, bloody and. as
we CT the South row know, senseless
war. Historic Democracy, at its
worst, bad YET the claim that it was
the Party of>the Constitution. Modern
publicanism is merely an aggrega-
tion of the comufecialism of the time.
1t is the logic of the trade max. In
telligent, unscrupulous, indefatgible,
give it unlimited license and we shall
have nothing left except Splendid
Government following IL the footsteps
Of Greece and Rome.
Already it suggests new Recon
struciion of the South. Already it in
yites a war of races North and South.
| Already, under its ministration is the
Senate a clique, controlled by the
President, the House close corpora
tion controlled by the Speaker, the
Government itself a syndication of
those giant business interests which
have fastened the tbieving tariff upon
as aud grown rich levying tribute up
on the So ubstaDce Of the people.
Is it not time to stop and to take
account of our assets, just what we