The Savannah morning news., 1904-06-24
rHE RErunrrcAN rIcKrr.

NH AAAhSAN AA1REAs
There was no enthusiasm in the Re
publican National Convention and the
ticket IL nominated will be received by
the country without enthusiasm. There
would of course be some enthusiasm
over the nomination of Mr.. Roosevelt
if he were not already the President.
Although the leaders of his party did
not want him nominated there is no
doubt that he has a certain amount of
popularity with the Republicans in the
ranks. 1t was this popularity that en-
abled him to bring about his own nom
nation, Notwithstanding the hostility
of the leaders. The people have had
three years of Mr.. Roosevelt and they
know what sort of a man he is. 1t is
probable that they regard him as hon
est, but lacking in the judgment that
is necessary for the administration of
the great Office Of President. He likes
to surprise the public by doing unex-
pected things. 1t doesn't matter to
him apparently whether he keeps with
in the limits of the constitution or not
in the policies he adopts so long as he
maintains his reputation for doing
things.
His admirers have praised him great
ly for the part he took in settling the
coal strike, and there is no doubt that
he brought to an end a situation which
was threatening and full of danger, but
didn't he make a precedent that will
be the cause of great embarrassment
to the government at some future
time? There are good reasons for
thinking he did, and ii is not improb-
able that it will eventually turn out
that what he did in that matter was
harmful rather than helpful to the
government. And the same may be
said in respect to the Panama canal
affair Many of the ablest men OF the
country are of the opinion that, al
though we obtained control of the ca
nal property quickly by the means
adopted by Mr.. Roosevelt the time
will come when we will regret our
hasty action in that matter.
The country has been on the anxious
seat ever since Mr.. Roosevelt has been
in the White House. There is a feel
ing that he may do something at any
moment that will jeopardize great
financial and industrial interests or
that he will involve the country in a
foreign war. Notwithstanding the fact,
therefore. that his nomination was
unanimous, 1t is by no means certain
4ln~n q
no enthusiasm in the convention which
nominated him there is not likely to be
much for him during the campaign.
Senator Fairbanks, the nominee for
Vice President. adds nothing to the
strength of the ticket, except, perhaps,
in his own state of Indiana. His re-
spectability is so great that the masses
of the people have never been able to
get near to him, and 1t is practically
certain they will not find him approach
able in the present campaign. He is a
good subject for caricature, and his
solemn face and attenuated form will
appear often I'm the comic papers be-
tween now and the end of the cam
paign. He was a candidate for the first
place on the ticket until it became APP
parent that he had no chance for get
ting it, and then some of his friends
came to the conclusion that he might
help the Republican party carry In
diana if he were named for the second
place.
With the Republican leaders indiffer-
ent in regard to the ticket Mr.. Roose-
welt win have to do a vast amount of
work himself. in the management OF
the campaign, in order to inspire conf
dence in his success. If Mr.. Roose-
welt and Senator Fairbanks travel
around the country making speeches
they will draw a crowd wherever they
appear, because the contrast between
them is so great.