The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1904-11-12
ROOSEVELT ENDORSED.

ana Jne greatest electoral majority
ever given to a candidate, by a ma.
iority including every northern state
"a thing which has happened only
in the case Of President Washington
Theodore Roosevelt has been cleo
ted to succeed himself. Every indica-
ton has pointed to this result for
months. The country has been at
peace and the people, II not prosper
Gus, have at least been busy. Ours is
In a peculiar and essential sense a
commercial civilization, and elections
have become very much more an
index Of business activity than Of
either the constitutional or the
economic convictions of our citizens.
Parker's failure was fore-doomed,
not from any fault in the character OF
the mar or the principles Of the
party, Bryan, Cleveland, Hearst or
Cockrell would have been defeated
this year upon the same platform or
upon a platform the reverse 10 its
essential particulars of the one
adopted at St, Louis. The country is
prosperous, and the people do not
want the stable equilibrium disturbed.
Tt is a mistake to suppose that the
result has come about from any
special popularity Of the president.
President Roosevelt is not particularly
liked even by his own party. His
party distrusts him-distrusts him
more than it should. Republicans
know that Roosevelt is at heart a
free trader-as much so as he was a
few years ago when he was an active
member OF the New York Free Trade
League and an honorary member Of
the London Golden Club. His party
is only beginning to realize that
Roosevelt is first Of all a politician
and that he knows the thousands and
even millions Of his own party who
hold to the same economic theory as
an intellectual conviction are not
willing to endure the temporary dis
turbance Of business which the put
ting Of these theories into practice
would entail. Being primarily a
politician, President Roosevelt is not
dangerous man. except 10 the
matter Of international relations. II
an insult or a gun shot could be taken
back as gracefully as his trust and
tariff principles Of two years ago,
when be had the boil on his leg, Mr..
Roosevelt could not be distinguished
from Mckinley or Arthur except by
his impulsiveness and angularity Of
manner.
If hard times come during Mr.
Roosevelt's administration, the re.
publlcans can be defeated next time
by the opposition party upon any
fairly reasonable platform Of prin-
ciples, just as Harrison was beaten
by Cleveland and Cleveland's party
in turn by Mckinley. But it was
never reasonable to suppose that in
time Of business prosperity any party
could enrapture the nation over such
dish Of cold potatoes as Imperialism
and the az issue. Democratic posi-,
ton upon these issues is correct to the
point Of being unbeatable. But the
nation was not interested 10 them al
campaign issues, The people are COM
pletely absorbed in the occupation Of
making all the money they can and
spending all they can make. But
when the business depression comes,
when from the standpoint Of trade
the earth is as iron and the sky al
brass the people will turn to am
Speck upon the horizon nc larger thar
aman's hand. And this condition o
the public mind is likely to last a
long as ours remains fundamentally /;
commercial civilization. There is u
occasion for Encouragement to demo
Gratis, No nan has a tooth pullel
out unless it aches, no matter hoy
positively the dentist assures hin
that 1t is going to ache shortly an.
that the old stump is Of no goo
anyhow.
The Kansas City Star says proud
Of the First and adjacent districts 4