The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-08-24
WEDNESDAY. AUGUST "a, 1904,
Are We CoWaTdS?

The New York World prints what
it intends to be a singing campaign
document, in a two-page collection of
extracts from the speeches and writ
ings of President Roosevelt, in which
the words coward" craven" and
''weakIing" are printed in blackfaced
type wherever they occur 1t is some
what difficult to discover what the
World" expects TO make by thus APP
psrently holding up to scorn a man
who does not like towards. Does the
World" pose as the champion of
timidity?
There is, of course, reason to OBJ
ject to a man who. pToclaiming him
self brave and fearless person, gives
utterance TO threats which are mere
brag and buster, but another utter
ance of Mr.. Roosevelt to which the
World" appears to entertain quite as
strong an antipathy is a quotation
from cowboy lore: Never draw I'M
less you mean TO shoot"
We have had statesmen who have
made the eagle scream, or, rather,
squawk, and have threatened war
with England when every sane person
knew that nothing of the kind would
happen. and they have won applause.
We have had a war with Spain in the
Administration of a man whom no
body could possibly call rash, and it
was brought on by affairs which,
strictly speaking, were none of our
usiness-certainly no more of our
business than affairs in Central Amer
lea or Peru or Venezuela might easily
become if the Monroe Doctrine is
not maintained.
Mr.. Roosevelt thinks that to make
Grafton about the Monroe Doctrine
without the ability 70 maintain it is
not only rather foolish, but rather
cowardly. Such an Grafton would be
real Drag and buster, and, unfor-
tunately, this country has done a
good deal of it at one time or an
other. Until recent years there has
been no strong reason to apprehend
interference with South America by
EurOpea.s countries, for the simple
reason that it was not worth their
while. Improved means of commune
cation and the overcrowding of Eu-
rope may make it worth their while,
and then we shall have to be ready
to maintain the Monroe Doctrine in
earnest, or give it up.
International affairs aside, what
earthly reason is there for abusing
man because he despises towards
and admires bravery? If there is one
thing which we, as a people, need. it
is courage-not individual courage.
for Americans, confronted with a
recognized danger, have no lack of
that-but civic courage, moral cour-
age, the courage to do what is right
in the face OF the risk Of losing our
jobs.
IL we had had courageous officials
in the Postofice Department would
that gigantic system of fraud evolved
- ~'AAANAANAA anu 4DEcl " q > nave Dd0 a
chance to grow up? II we had not
had a courageous man in the White
House would not Machen and Beav-
ers be in the Postofice yet?
Courage in civic life, courage TO say
and DO the right thing, whatever the
majority happen 10 want, has been for
half a century the rarest Of qualities
among our public men. Perhaps any
one OF them, il put 10 the test, would
have risked his lie 70 save a child
or woman, but when il has come
TO rislling their careers for the sake
II civic honesty, few OF them have
been willing 10 do Il.
This IS what Theodote Roosevelt
has done repeatedly. since his en-
trance into public life. and that is
why a lot Of men who have not had
the backbone 70 do what he has done
are nov trying their best TO stab him
in the back.