The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1904-08-14
A VENERABLE STATESMAN.
One of Founders of Republican Party
Says ROOsevelt's Election
Would Be Dangerous.

Groton. Mass. Special to New Yorl
some of us who helped to organize
athe Republican Party and many who
Judge Parker as the hope of the coun'
try" said George 8. Boutwell, today
His speech was wise and conserva-
tive. 1t will win strength for him ev-
erywhere. 1t Is a speech that must be
acceptable to all true Democrats; II
contains nothing that serious. thinking
Republicans can object 20, and lt VIII
be Endorsed by the anti-imperialists.
Certainly the election of Mr.. Roose-
welt would be a dangerous thing. No
man can tell what he is likely to do
He probably could not himself tell
what he is likely to do, so strange is
hts temperament. so uncertain his or
bit"
1t was something to sit here today
with this venerable man, now in his
seth year, to remember that he was a
Massachusetts legislator in the for
ties: that he was Governor OF his State
before the civil war; that he was one
of the founders of the Republican Par
ty; that he was one of the seven man
ayers of Andrew Johnson's impeach-
ment trial: that he was Secretary OF
the Treasury under Grant: that he af-
terward represented Massachusetts In
the United States Senate-to remember
that long and brilliant record ana &c
hear him plead in the twilight of his
as measure of national safety.
Mind Active and Eager.
Mr.. Boutwell, is snowy with age. an
gular, bleak, round shouldered ana SLOW
in step, but his mind is as active ano
eager as in his days of power. and hi;
spirit is as tough as old Groton itself
which was burned by King Philips In
dams. afterward sent William Preston
and his neighbors to night at Bunker
Hill and survived to hear President
Roosevelt tell its schoolboys that they
must not get their ideals too high
The keen, dark eyes, the powerful
nose thrust out under the high brow
the alert look. the penetrating question
or swift, compact reply, the wonderful
memory and the sturdy. sensitive Amer
icanism showing at every angle of the
conversation revealed the white haired
and wrinkled leader of the anti npe-
rialist movement as a man of rare aud
Impressive qualities, fully alive to the
every bearing OF the Presidential cam
paign:
Judge Parker should win it," he said.
This will be the seventeenth Presi-
Dental campaign in which have taken
part. In my first campaign spoke for
Van Buren,. My experience suggests
that the Democratic Party should call
on an army of speakers this year. Ev-
cry man who can make a speech should
be put in the field. The newspapers
control public opinion for three years
and eight months. but in the last four
months of the quadrenniaI period they
support the speakers. 1t is the orators
who must lead in this fight There
should be a host of them, and the partv
should pay them. Let us fight to win.
You regard President Roosevelt as
a dangerous man?'
II do indeed" said Mr.. Boutwell, fer
yently. But don't want to be under
stood as believing that his election
would finally defeat the anti-imperial-
list movement in this country. On the
contrary 1 believe that the nation will
more every year. and that sooner or
later the party that stands for IL will
be overwhelmed. I have lived a long
time and have seen a good deal of the
accustomed me to reading the signs OF
the times. They are very plain and
unmistakabie now"