The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-09-13
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10. 1904
Roosevelt Un111asks.

. q. l. /
Mr.. Roosevelt's letter Of acceptance IS
most remarkable, example OF arrogant
self-laudation. His entire letter, which
reads like stump speech. is one long
paeon of praise for the Republican party,
its past, present, and future. its policy,
politics, and politicians. 1t Is very gratl-
flying to Mr.. Roosevelt, doubtless, to feel
/ that he is the divinely accredited agent
'for tho uplifting Of mankind and the
safe guardian of the American nations
K heritage of Individual liberty. Not only
does Mr.. Roosevelt believe, but he tru-
culently boasts, that his party is the
only one within whose keeping the well
fare Of the country Is safe.
~ To read his letter under the strong
white light Of his own selt-satisfaction
would naturally leave the reader under
the impression that no party but the
4 Republican had ever conceived or exc
cuted anything Of value for America,
IL but, according to Mr.. Roosevelt, you
deprive the. American nation of the
guardianship of tho Republican leaders
& you will immediately expose 1t to In
evitable and terrific failure. History,
however, does not bear Mr.. Roosevelt
out, and 1t will not be pleasant to the
American people as whole to read
h this lecture from the hands of our
strcnuout and accidental President.
There are multitudes. of people who
neither desire nor intend to upset bust
ness by sudden and radical reductions
of tariff, who yet believe that some form
of protection. such as that which has
81 been granted by subsidized Republican
congressman to favored industries, is in
its essential characteristic nothing but
legalized robbery.
But TO this class of patriotic thinkers
Mr. Roosevelt applies the eplthet, "in-
sincere and Incompetent" There are
multitudes of voters also who. do not
believe and, from the nature Of things,
cannot believe, that Mr.. Roosevelts adj
ministration Is perfect 1t will be a
shock TO this class of voters TO find out
that their sole hope for the future is
TO be only such measure OF freedom
as Mr. Roosevelt in his graciousness has
accorded in the past.
Like Pharoall, Mr.. Roosevelt has hard
ened yet more his heart. and, like Pha-
raoh, he may yet find in the dsorganized
opposition the source Of his ovcrwhclm-
ing defeat.
The Republican party has been sim
gularly fortunate in its policy and oppor-
tune in it's actions, but greater parties
than the Republican have failed through
self-rightcousness ard self-confidencc,
and greater men than Roosevelt have
A come to naught by their over-weening
dissatisfaction. No doubt but that Mr..
Roosevelt thinks that knowledge will
perish with him, but his declaration
OF faith does not make pleasant read
ing for tho voter. The common sense
Of The American people tells them that
this country can and Will prosper after
Mr.. Roosevelt has been RELOCATED to that
nervousness from which he was rails
ed by accident and no self-respectins
citizen relishcs the fulsome praise which
Z Mr.. Roosevelt has hcaped on himself and
his party while pouring equally voluble
abuse upon the men who oppose him.
The public will not be slow TO mark
the difference between Mr.. Roosevelt's
speech of acceptance. His speech was
so mild, conservative and digniiied, that
men wondered what had come over the
spirit of the young Lochinvar. He then
appeared to be a mild-mannercd phioso-
pher clad in the tunc OF righteousness
and peace. But Mr., Roosevelt, has thrown
{ off tie mask and now rides into the
ring booted and spurrcd," armed to the
teeth. waving his hat. yellirg defiance
and warning his opponents 10 get out of
the way II they would not be run over
lie forces his personality TO the front
and makes II the issue, He challenges
criticism. He has no apologies to make.
lie acknowledges no errors He "points
with pride" 10 every act of his admin
istratlon and declares that 1, Is per-
feet lie promises nothing better Than
that which he has given, IIc promises
no reforms, because none is needed.
There is 10 be no change In the tariff,
but protection is TO be established as a
fixed principle; there is to he no step
backward In The policy OF expansion,
but there is intimation that as We have
been SO successful in exploiting Hawai-!
il and tho Philippines, the work Of be
nevolera assimilation" is TO be extended
y he promises no curtailment in govern