The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-12-11
SUNDAY, DECEMBER Il. 1904.
Is Saul Also Among the Pro-
phets?

Is Saul Also Among the Pro
phets?
gF >t,ou. ten days ago William Allen
.,vbite who speaks with an affectionatc
and partially inspired tongue OF tne ~
lure st actions Of President Roosevelt t'S'
sskeeched Ii, graphic and SUCCESSIVE ~
a.ticle the future OF the two great Amer
lean parties. sa
10 the Democratic party Mr. White as
signs the short shrft OF a party OF OPP
:posttion. Whether the party that fought
ss5,no Mexican War, annexed the Louisiana
II! Iurcha Sc and produced such constructive
4 statesmen as Jefferson and Jackson VII
@sbe content with the necessary put IN
ssnopnlar duty OF merely opposing ana
5$$eriticising the Republicans, because MI
White says, so. remains to be seen.
g Iro,. our own part we think Mr.5White
snoka beyond the card in making TINS
assertion, but like Sir Andrew Aguecheek'
"neyertheless, that Is not the matter we
challenge him for" The profound inter- inter-
est in Mr.. Whites forecast Is MS state
,nent tina the Republican party, unknown unknown
10 the great majority OF It's members
and all unconscious ITSELF Is going 70
become, under President Roosevclts lead
gcrship. the party for the enforcement OF
the people's rights. Is saul also among
the prophets? is the natural thought on
reading such a statement, mace N %
vious good faith by one who both ought
Ia know and doubtless does know
whereof he speaks. The incongruity& OF
ssi,ch a future, in view of the past OIL the
Republican party, is apparent, not only.
10 the casual reader, but to Mr. hlte.f
Who thereupon hnstens to explain that
president Roosevelt, III his desire to give
#5l"a square DEAL is going to see TO u
that The Republican party, II he can con-
troll its legislaton shall hereafter apply
%gitself as vigorously to the problem OF talr
R distribution of the fruits of labor as II
heretofore has done TO the much more
attractive problem Of creating wealth by
oriyate legislation, under tho gusc Of
a protective tariff and such like.
This is a large promise. and to the cynic
ii would seem impossible of fulilllment
we're no account taken of the personality
Of President Roosevelt and the undyng
fascination OF ghins 81. square DEAL
was the SAME spirit that drove Martin
Luther to successfully fight the organized
1,owcr OF Rome, and when the final Issue
is drawn, as In every other great move
B tncnt, based and inspired by real morality,
n President Roosevelt will doubtless find
N himself gaining support from unknown
" and undrcamt of sources
S 1t may be we'll that the Republican
n party. when It wakes up to the rcaliza-
u ton of what the President Is trying to do,
Il may refuse TO follow his lead, and, In
u deed 1t would be difficult 10 believe that
al the railroad senators and representa-
8 t!ves. who have so deeply moved the peo-
II pie OF Minnesota and Wisconsin BY their
0 outrageous and constant interference with
s local self-govcrnment for private gain,
can be persuaded or coerced into follow
ing President Roosevelt against the wish
cs of corporations to whom they owe
their elections. Herein lies the crux Of
the situation. Will Roosevelt be slaugh-
H tered in his own camp or will no, like
Sir Robert Peel, be able to change his
politics and still carry enough of his
party with him to work a peaceful reyo
# luton?
@ The statement in yesterday mornings
# Tmcs-D!spatch from Washington by Nh
Glass that he believed Mr. Roosevelt
meant every word that he said and woul,
earnestly and actively try TO curb tn,
# power of the railroads, coupled with tn
s sugg sstion from our own correspondent
that Mr.. Roosevelt would have to look t
the Democrats for help. shows that Nj
Roosevelt. If he continues In his presen
course Of action, may yet find liimsel
carrying out essentially Democratic doc
IL trines by the help Of Democratic repre-
aentatiyes and against the wishes OF tn
Republican party,
AT the bottom. platform and person
atty apart, The Democratic party Tor tn
Mast forty years has stood primarily 70
The rights and privileges Of individuals
while the Republican party, under tn
snlse Of patriotism, union. prosperity an
What not, has sought AT all hazards, /
b aeason and out Of season, 10 protect Ii
Property and Income of vested wealth.
Air. Roosevelt has undoubtedly laid hol
pf,the popular goodwill Of this countr
The question is. ever IL he does II,
change his ideals. can he, within the ma.
&5S l0w space Of four years. make that vi
81 effective, and II SO, Will he not have
hook to the Democrats for large nun
bs,l of The NECESSARY potesf