The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1904-08-19


has Polonius warn his son:
Beware
OF entrance to a quarrel; but being in,
Bear t that the opposed may beware
of thee.
What should Roosevelt have said?
"Speak loudly and carry little stick. Z"
or Speak softly and carry no stick at
alls" "Speak softly and carry a big
stick" is good advice. 1t is exactly
the kind of advice which, if followed,
would keep us out of, rather than lead
us into trouble.
Now, as matter of fact. since he
has been president has he showed any
disposition to fght2 No. He could
have got into war with England and
Germany over the Venezuela matter if
he wanted to fight. That would have
been fight of the first order. Or he
could have got us into fight with
England alone over the Canadian
boundary question. He could have got
into fight with Russia about the open
door. If, however, he had wanted
victory, glory and territory at low
price, he could have picked fight with
any of the South American republics
at any time he wanted to.
If Roosevelt be judged by what he
has himself done and by what he has
himself said, there is nothing wherefor
to accuse him of wishing to get this
country into war. If, however, he be
judged on what his opponents have
said about him, there were every
reason to suppose that he had already
rushed us into one or two wars, and
was running for the Office on the terse
platform of "more blood"
SO much for the charges against his
administration. What, positively, has
he accomplished?
He has handed over to Cuba the gov
eminent of the Cuban republic.
He settled the anthracite coal strike,
which for half year had demoralized
the industries of the country.
When Great Britain, Germany and
Italy were attacking Venezuela he in
duced them to desist, thus preserving
the inviolability of the Monroe doctrine
The three commissioners appointed
by him to discuss the Alaskan boun-
dairy question gained complete victory
for +ha confantin,,
The Cuban reciprocity treaty, which
had been defeated by one congress,
was passed in subsequent special
session, because Roosevelt insisted.
BY the creation of bureau of COM
MERGE and labor, for which his infu-
ence is solely responsible, the president
has taken the first definite steps toward
the solution of the trust problem.
Light will be let in on the management
of the trusts. Then, when their evils
are definitely, not vaguely, ascertained
proper corrective can be applied.
The door to China's trade has been
kept wide open to our trade.
But the most enduring benefit the
president has brought to the country
has been the assurance that the Pan
anna canal would be finished. IN the
isthmain imbroglio the president acted
always within the treaty rights of this
nation; his official conduct was eminent
ly correct. But were it not for his
exceptional adroitness and vigor during
the crisis the prospect of the inter-
oceanic canal would still be years in
the future. For nearly 40 years man
has dreamed of piercing the American
isthmus. But it remained for President
Roosevelt to bring these dreams within
sight of realization. History will re-
cord his connection with the Panama
canal as the most momentous feature
of his first term.
Thus Theodore Roosevelt has been an
upright and painstaking, vigorous and
useful, honest and patriotic president.
1t seems both wiser and fairer for the
American people to re-elect him rather
than to elevate in his place an untried
jurist, who, however exemplary his
personal character, has had practically
no experience whatsoever,to fit him for
the most difficult position in the world.
SO much for the leading issue of the
campaign. The secondary issue is
this: Is Senator Fairbanks or Mr..
Davis better fitted for the vice-presi-
dency?
There can be no question between
these two men. One is in the full tide
of middle life and senatorial activity.
The other retired from the senate
twenty-one years ago. and will be in
his seth year when the next presiden-
tial term expires. Since the first
Harrisons term one-fifth Of the presi-
Dental terms have been filled by vice.
presidents. The chances, therefore,
would seem to be one in five that Par
ker, if elected, would not complete his
term. 1t is almost certain that Mr..
Davis, if he succeeded to the presidency,
would be unable to discharge for any
long period of time the exacting and
duties of that Office. Either
xx,o,,1I I,.t T.. A. x,1.x..coI ,~~oo.Iock