Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1904-12-08
THURSDAY, DECEMBER s, 1904.
MnAI is The MEANiNG2

u
the tone of the Southern Democratic press
and its treatment of President Roosevelt.
The hot and bitter diatribes that had been
so common in Southern papers were dis
carded, and terms Of adulstion were
adopted in their stead. 1t is true that an
occasional thorn is seen among the roses,
but its presence, apparently, comes
more from accident or force of habit than
from present intention. This change Of
tone has been so prompt, 30 uniform and
intense that it ls entirely reasonable to re-
gard it as preconcerted or produced by
political psychic suggestion. There is
seemingly very great alteration in the
sentiment held by the Southern press and
Democracy for Mr. Roosevelt He has
expressed no change in bis views on any
great public question that may account for
such revolution in the conduct of the
hostile press and leadership of this Sec
ton.
We see tie effect, what is the cause2 Is
it contrition, or apprehension, or dissimu-
lation? Necessarily it must be one OF the
three that is the producing cause. 1t is
hardly possibly that our Democratic con-
temporaries in Virginia, and at the South
generally, could have become repentant
so soon after they had been rebuked by
the American people for prosecuting a
campaign of extreme vili6cation and
Misrepresentation against Mr.. Roosevelt.
The idea of penitence will, therefore, have
to be dismissed, though we should he
glad to believe that our friends the enemy
are being moved by that commemorate
sentiment.
If generous regret has not produced the
wonderful alteration in Democratic feeling
at the South for the President, can it be
that apprehension has done sO2 Can it be
that the bold and bitter spirits who so re-
Gently we're not afraid to declare Roosevelt
dangerous and wicked man, an imper'
ialist, a corruptioni5t, wanton violator Of
the constitution and a South.hater, are
now cringing from apprehension? The
Richmond Times-Dispatch in a very long
editorial headed: "The South's Interest
in Roosevelt" eaid:
1T is greatly to be hoped that in his
future dealings with the South during his
next administration he will be governed
by none of that spirit which moved the
leaders of reconstruction ***$ but that
he viii be governed by his sense of justice
and fairness, and, as we have already
said, that be will give the South a square
deal"
We do not believe that the motive is
caused by apprehension that the Presi-
dent may resent the unjust treatment he
has received at the hands OF the Southern
Democrats by punitive policy toward this
section. While he was being 30 cruelty
misrepresented he showed no resentment
by either words or deeds. Those who
madsnniust charges against him had no
reasonable grounds for believing them
true then, and their after-electiOn de-
clarations show that they do not believe
them now. Then, the conclusion must be
reached that the fear that the President
NAV be bitter and vlndictive in his deal
jnes with the South is not the prime
cause of the conciliatory spirit now being
manifested toward and for him.
If neither regret nor apprehension has
produced such radical change in the at
tituje of the Southern Democracy to the
President, there is but one rational motive
left to be assigned as a cause-a spirit OF
discrimination, with an Interior object in
view. 1t looks like the Southern Demo-
Gratis are trying to hoOdwink the President
by suggesting Reconciliation, though still
insisting that be shall take the iniative by
confeesing that bis policy toward this sec
ton has been as improper as they have
represented 1t. The methods they are
using to accomplish their end are so crude
that even the shallowest political trick
ster will see through and be amused by
them.
Along with the urgent suggestions that
the President shall come South to
familiarize himself with Democratic South
ern thought and conditions there is dis
closed a scheme to create dis,ord in the
Republican party by provoking quarrel
about the tariff. 1t is limited by the
schemers that the President is enthusiastic |
for an early revision of the Dingley tariff
law; and that many, perhaps a majority,
}of the Republican leaders in Congress do
ut agree With Mr.. Roosevelt. 1t is sug-
Aed by the Washington correspondents
tain newspapers at the South that
esident will not have enough Re-
IN members in accord with him to-
larry out his ideas of tariff revision; and