The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1904-12-08
FOUR TYPICAL AMERICANS

FOOH ltPlCAl AMehlCNNS
More humanity significant and more
far-reaching even than the political
issues involved are some facts which
developed in the election just closed
concerning the personalities of some
of the men elected to high places in
the gift of the people. These facts
are worth careful thought, says the
Baltimore American, for they throw
a bright light on the feeling and the
tendencies of the American people.
| Theodore Roosevelt is a man of ac-
| ton, of broad and human sympathies.
of initiative, disposed to adopt the
method of cutting gordian knots, of
taking the straightest possible line
between Two points, and of breaking
through the barbed wire of restrain
ing red tape when quick practical ac-
ton seems necessary.
Governor elect Folk of Missouri,
the only candidate who survived the
| defeat of his party and whose survi-
val was in the nature of triumph,
was brought into prominence by his
nearly single handed fight, when
states attorney against the political
boodlers who were using their official
position to rob the people. With an
entire subordination of personal feel
ings and of personal obligations to
the sanctity of his oath of office, he
put aside every other consideration
did his duty fearlessly and ably, and
stTuck.a heavy blow at official corrup-
ton i'll his state by not only turning
the rascals out, but also sending
them to prison.
Governor elect Douglass of Massa-
chusetts, also won his own election
over a strong Republican tide, and
will go into Office literally as the pop
ular choice. He is seif-made man,
who built up big business by sheer
dint of industry and energy, and won
good will generally by remembering
in his prosperity the days of his own
adversely and treating others as he
would then have wished to be treat
ed himself.
Governor elect Johnson of Mime
Sofa who also won remarkable vic
tory, had his family history dug up
in the course of the campaign, and
the facts circulated widely to preiu-
dice him that his father had been in
the poorhouse, and that his mother
had taken in washing. The fact that
when mere boy he struggled
against such odds. and took the sup
port from the toiling mother as soon
as he was able, to awake a perfect
torrent of enthusiasm for him, and
turned the miserable weapons of
attack upon him against the enemies
using them.
These men won because they were
typical Americans. They were all ell
ected upon their personalities, with
out reference to the issues of the cam
paign, to party feeling or to political
divisions. Their triumphs point to
the significant fact that what appeals,
above all other things, to the Ameri-
can mind is character, and that the
man displaying is the man to win the
honest heartfelt support of the people,
be he of the lowest origin, or be he
sprung from the ranks of wealth and
family. 1t makes no difference to
the people what mans family has
been: what he is himself is the only
thing material which appeals to the
American people and their sense of
fairness is as eager to appreciate gen.
uine manliness and character when
ever display as it is quick to resent
the fact of early poverty and obscru-
ity bravely overcome being held up
as disgrace and handicap in land
Boosting equal opportunity to all.
The man of character is the man of
the people, and the man of his day.
That is one of the most impressive
lessons of the campaign recently end
ed.