Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1904-06-23
PUBLIC OPINION CHANGED.
Men and Women Who Love Their
Country Now Regard President
Roosevelt Askance.

The changed attitude of the Ameri-
can public toward Mr.. Theodore
Roosevelt is the most patent fact in
the present political season. Were
the fact not already plain beyond the
necessity of proof, any man in Is min
utes might substantiate it for himself
by asking questions on the streets.
There were plenty of Roosevelt enthu-
siasts when he stepped into the presi-
dency. Then the grief for Mckinley
reacted to some extent in the form of
a considerable sentiment for the new
president. The average man particle
pated in it and the sentiment was laud-
able. Now it has died out of the pub
lie altogether, and a questioner in a
crowd will have to canvass for some
time to find a genuine pro-Roosevelt
expression. He will hear a volume of
adverse criticism.
The explanation of the changed mind
toward Mr.. Roosevelt is simple. The
wise skepticism of a practical people
came to their rescue. Mr.. Roosevelt's
fictitious self lost its attractiveness
and his magnifed propensity for dis
play naturally raised an Interrogation
as to the reality. The American gaze
penetrated his heroic guise, his i'm
posing aspect as the moral censor and
his superficial and strenuous states
manship, to perceive the inner ambi-
ton, narrow egotism and blind impet-
uosity of the real Mr.. Roosevelt.
The st. Louis Republic says that not
the least of the actual qualities discov-
cred to closer scrutiny was his want of
seeing sympathy with the peoples mo-
tives, with national purposes, with the
spirit Of American life. Mr.. Roosevelt
Is seen not to be imbued with the ira
ditions which are a part Of United
States experience. There is in the
Roosevelt mind obviously no linking
with the past in American history, no
deep respect for institutions which
have required generations of states
manly guidance in the upbuilding and
in which are bound up the true mo-
tives of this country and which point
the only true course for its future.
Mr.. Roosevelt is not touched with
the broad purpose of American devel-
opment. He lacks the sweeping COM
prehension which can regard the fu-
ture as having its foundation in the
history which has been left behind. He
would disregard the bearings for the
nations course established by past ex-
perience. He would swerve them into
an "imperialistic" career. Mr.. Roose-
welt Is an experimcnter and he bids the
country follow him in a career of ex-
perimentation. The public mind de-
clines the invitation.
To this mind the Roosevelt person.
ality fairly bulges with dangers. He
revels in the thought of war. No
man has ever heard from the Roose-
welt lips the exclamation that war
Is hell" To him war looms as glorious
opportunity for the exploitation of per-
sonal valor and he constantly breaches
knight-errantry to the American SOL
diery. He frankly despises the soldier
WIN uO6S EOL lUF6 Wal lOT It's OWN
sake and laments the fact that there
was not enough of the Spanish war to
go around" MI. Roosevelt writes
books on war. He thunders war in his
presidential messages. NARROWING and
headstrong, impulsive and impatient of
remonstrance, Mr.. Roosevelt as the
commander-in-chief of the army and
navy incarnates a menace which could
not but affect the minds of a civilized
and Christian people which hate war
and hold peace and it's normal accom-
paniments above mere military ag-
grandizement and foreign conquest.
Mr.. Roosevelt has given the people
abundant cause to consider the heavy
responsibilities of the presidential Of
ice-the most important in the world,
demanding of its occupant the highest
ability, the broadcast experience in the
worlds affairs and a fine discretion.
Mr.. Roosevelt has demonstrated the
necessity for a man of trained wisdom,
sober opinions and discriminating
conscience to balance the executive &C.
ton.
Vary Tnconsiderata of Canada