The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-04-16

1UtY can aInak0 DuA the At6UAt6t BftOW OE defense when the Democrats hold them Thus it is the Republicans are for once in a dozen years deeply interested In what the National Democratic party proposes
 to do this year. They realize full well that there Is throughout the country a
 demand for a return to a conservative
 administration of the government They can but deeply feel that there Is in every
 business community in the land senti- ments nervous with apprehension over any prospect of four more years of Roosevelt administrations The Repub- licans in Congress are most con cerned over their own individual salvation. They are interested in the Roosevelt administration extension only in so far as 1t will preserve their own power and security. To save their own skins they are praying for trouble to ob- tain within the Democratic ranks and fervently hope that 1t will break loose at St. Louis.
 On the Democrats side of the question of presenting candidates and issues to the country there Is no lack of thorough. widespread earnestness. They are well aware that the country is awake to the importance of presenting in both candi- dates and platform reasonable answer to the national demand for a conserva- tive administration. The majority of them believe that they have found the man in the person of Judge Alton B. Parker. of New York. and that the signs are highly suspicious for the choice of the party to fall upon the New York tsfrish is now quite unmistakable.
 As soon as 1t was fairly learned what manner of man he was Democrats throughout the country cordially turned toward him. Continued inquiry as to his character and attainments has happily confirmed the best of the first impress sions divuiged of him, and. what Is more, the unshaken self-poise and dignity. the irreproachable good sense of the sub iect of general discussion have well and widely impressed the people with the superiority of the present greatest ob- feet of Democratic attention. It now looks so much like Parker for the nom ination at the head of the ticket at St. Louis that leaders of the party are now devoting most consideration to the construction of a platform. They will not be deterred from intent to achieve result by mere elamor of the fellows who dwell in mortal dread of having something to recant. Conser- vative Democracy Is in command and the South holds the van of the battle array.
 People calmly disposed are inclined to contemplate with equanimity the racket made over the possibility that President Roosevelt had hand in influencing the recent naval court of inquiry upon the causes Of the collision between the bat tleships Illinois and Missouri for the req son that his brother-in-law, Captain Cowles. was involved in the responslbil- ity for the accident. However indiscreet the President may have been in other matters, it is not credited that he has seriously infringed propriety in this in- stance.
 Captain Cowles has meritorious rec ord of his own covering thirty-eight years. which Is worth something. That Mr. Roosevelt should be interested and concerned deeply in the case of his brosher-ih-law is no more than natnral.: EviryboAy kfAs zbeen pleased t5 be con- vtrced that the chargee and innuendoas are siailderous ana justified by nothing that has been divulged by the court of inouiry and the word of other officers interested They are pleased for Captain Cowles's sake.
 It is remembered that President Roose- welt has not gone far out of his way to magnify his kin folk. He is too much the head of his clan to exait them very much. It is true he brought Captain Cowles into fame by referring to him in the Roosevelt work "rhe Rough Riders in Cuba" It was where the author spoke of the pistol with which he shot a fleeing Spaniard at San Juan HUI as a present from his brother, Captain Cowles This was the same pistol also with which Colonel Roosevelt threatened to shoot the first negro who went to the rear from the trenches before Santiago.
 But be that as 1t was, nobody about Congress is at all inclined to criticise Mr. Roosevelt for anything at this day in connection with his brother-in-iaw. Captain Cowies has been a very wellrbe- haved gentleman officer. notwithstanding his relations with the President Pos sibly he would not have given Colonel Roosevelt the gun if he had imagined what use might be made of 1t at San Juan Hill Anyhow he doubtless did not dream that it would go Into Roosevelt history.