The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1904-09-10
:. COLONEL RoOsEvELTs BIOLOGISTS.

Why will the Republican eulogists engage in the
absurd attempt to paint Mr.. Roosevelt as a pale.
tame, bloOdless affair? That is precisely what a
number of them doing. Senator Beveridge. for
example, gives us a portrait of veritabe anemic
who does nothing but seek advice TREMENDOUSLY and
pursue the mildcsr course. He. Mr.. Roosevelt. is
a most advisable man. told and consults
the opinions OF more statesmen. sages and piloso-
piers a given proposition than were ever con-
suited by any other President in all the history
Of the world. That sounds a good deal like twadde.
Every eulogst has Roosevelt all bis own. II
really does seem improbable that there could be SO
many different kinds Of ramby-pamby Roosevelts.
Mr.. Alfred Henry Lewis however. is eulogist
who doesn't think that the subject has milk-and-
water veins and a backbone Of fried mush Mr..
Roosevelt is New Hickory" to Mr.. Lewis-only
more 30. Mr. Roosevelt is, judge from Mr..
Lewis's article, the sheer embodiment Of all the
fighting propensities ever developed in the human
raca We Judge that be not only thinks "a battle
ship Il the best ambassador" cannon balls the
iron dice Of destiny" that Providence fights always
the side that owns the heaviest artillery and
that you go pretty far with big stick no mat
ter how loud you talk: but that Napoleon was a
mere child In the cult Of force beside the gentle
man in the White House upon whom rests the great
constitutional responsibility. As between the two
views Of Mr. Roosevelt the average man will prefer
the latter, although 1t may be just trifie over
drawn. Certain it is that Mr.. ROosevelts actions
viewed in the light of his vouminous utterances
make him executive rather to he dreaded than to
be nourished with pap nerve foods.
We cannot understand, though why Mr.. Lewis
should mention in connection with his sketch OF Mr.
Roosevelt the tremendous responsibilities and
dangerous powers lodged in the executive function.
Can It be that the writer intending practical
joke on his subject when, having given him fuse
lie disposition he enumerated the explosives which
lay near him?
Be that as 1t may. what Mr.. Lewis says Of the
vagt almost awful. powers Of an American Presi-
dent il true-so true that every man who knows his
country will agree:
He rules; he isn't ruled: ne listens but
he decides His veto is equal TO two
thirds Of Congress He arbitrarily con-
trolls 10000 underlings of government who
draw aggregate annual salary Of two
hundred millions An English King may
hardly his cook select his coach
The President Is In absolute COM
mand Of the army and the navy. and
may order them to attack anybody or
anything. at home abroad. and they
will obey that order. Legally. he has
power declare war: but since. in fact
he may provoke 1t. begin IL. and end IT,
one sees that the Constitution. while pro-
vding q distinction. has forgotten to pro-
81 vide q difference. Every department Of
government il under the presidential
thumb He IL. II not above then beyond
the law; for the highest court will not
issue its wr1ts Of summons. subpoena at
tachment, mandamus. quo warranto. in
junction. certio.ari. contempt against
him. There but two checks TO your
- President-pubic opinion and the congress
sionaI power OF impeachment. The latter
has been resorted but and then
Il failed A recital Of the things men,
;ioned above be called valuable only
Is displaying the freedom OF thought and
deed wherewith a President il invested,
and which permits him. in what 10 great
as well as n what is little. TO be ever his
true real self.
Inevitably the reader asks, Can afford to have
the real self Mr. Roosevelt in such place Of power?
Irruch place the real Mr. Roosevelt is known to
be.dangerous.
a 1urist recently answered the question publicly.
HSymg discussed the Roosevelt Temperament and