The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1904-09-24
ROOSEVELT AND oLIGARcHY.

1t is time that party which disregards the
spirit and letter Of the Constitution should be driven
from power. True and exact compliance with con.
stitutonal principles must be demanded by the peo-
pie Of the peoples governing agents. Nothing less
than literal and careful compliance be accepted
from the governing agents il the constitutional form
Of government is TO be preserved in ell its integrity.
Constitutional principles cannot long be disre-
garded without fatal results: certainly violations
cannot continue without disastrous influences upon
the republican form Of government. In SO far as
deviation from the peoples Constitution and laws Is
committed the United States as a democracy suf-
fers.
Under the circumstances now existing every de-
parture by the governing powers from the strict
ter and spirit Of the great document marks the en-
croachment and growth Of olgarchy Especially is
this true when the violations relate to the presi
dental function, the tendency Of which during re-
cent years has been to expand and overbaance in
power its coordinate functions the legislative and
judicial.
Concentration Of power in the executive func-
tons has been related and largely due to
tration Of political power and machine" develop
ment. The Federal machine Of the Republican par
ty centers the force Of suffrage In few leaders who
exercise an enormous influence, amounting frequent
~ to absolute control Of the President We have
observed numerous instances Of this operation dur
ing Mr.. Rooseveirs three years Of incumbency. To
some extent his Official actions and to q considerable
degree his political positions have been determined
by machine influences.
Such conditions tend toward oliearchy. The
statement is repeatedly made with . large ground
ing in fact and reason that this nation Is governed
by two dozen men-a President, q few legislative
charmen and as many campaign managers Meas
ures are made or unmade, laws are passed or de-
feated by q few individuals. These control both
political" authority and ruling power. When this
power, centered and ncarnated In the executive, de-
parts from the constitutional plan Of government It
moves by so much toward oligarchic usurpaton: Il
10 . further concentration Of power, a dangerous
development With each unconstitutional move the
moving force gains impetus while the resistance is
weakened Repeated violations virtually nullify the
restraints Of democratic principles.
When to the dangers Of concentrated power in
the executive function under such 4 system Is added
the danger Of cratic. reckless and domineering
personality in the President the menace to constitu
tional government is greatly increased.
The people should consider Mr.. Roosevelt's per-
sonaliry in relation to his powers and to the ten
dency which he typiaes. Indifference to the Con-
stitutions lireralness would be ntolerable in any
President though he stood apart, detached from
machine influences and independent of oigarchic or
other destructive tendencies; but when the danger
Gus personality embodying the usurping motive and
tendency manifests not only indifference to the Con-
sttution but contempt for its spirit and traditions
and a violent intolerance Of Its restraining limita
TONS he must be viewed vitality inlmical to ma
tional sxfety.
The President who cannot be curbed by the Con-
stution be curbed by the ballot II the country
would readjust itself to its normal constitutional
base and pursue its democratic course.