The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1904-11-26
Travelling the Same Path.

Hf3FG4MS tHe SAINT II atAs
II is very apparent that the Demo
cratic press of the country, and more
especially Of the southern states, is
travelling the same path with reference
to President Roosevelt that it pursued
ia its treatment Of the late lamented
President Mckinley. During the cam
paign that preceded his election in 1896
and 1900, Mr.. Mckinley was criticised,
denounced and abused with no less
severity and rancor than has chareter-
lied Mr.. Roosevelt's treatment by the
opposition press 10 the campaign OF
this year. Mr.. Mckinley was declared
to be plant tool of the trusts and the
creature of Mark Hanna, and all sorts
of dire misfortunes were prophesled as
inevitable consequences OF his eleva-
ton to the presidency in the first in
stance, and his continuance in Office
for a second term. Immediately fol-
lowing his reelection, however, an
s'era Of good feeling" began. Papers
and politicians that had been foremost
in heaping obloquy upon the president
became quite as prominent in testify
ing to his virtues and good intentions,
and when the hand of the assassin laid
him low few months later, the sorrow
and horror begotten by the foul deed
were no less universal and sincere
than the recognition Of the mar
tyred presidents patriotism, probity
and purity Of character. He is all but
canonized in the hearts and memories
of his eountrymen, without distinction
Of party or class, and scarcely shred
of recollection survives to recall the
partisan attacks to which he was sub
iected il the heat OF the political CAM
paigns that preceded his two elections
as president.
To the most casual observer OF
present-day events and indications a
similar change of tone and temper is
manifest 10 the comments OF the Dem
ocratic newspapers concerning the acts
and utterances Of President Roosevelt.
The overwhelming Endorsement he has
received atthe hands of the people prob
ably tends to hasten the acknowledge
ment of his merits by the minority
that opposed him, ard his declaration
that he will not be candidate for re-
election doubtless exercises much in
fiuence in the same direction.
It is quite safe to predict that within
the next year at farthest the absurd
accusations that the president is less
friendly to the south than to other sec
tions of the nation; that he believes in
the social equality OF the races, and
that he is an egotistical and lmpulsive
man whose inordinate ambition is
likely to involve the United States il
iInbroglios with other countries, will
be releg ated to the campaign ash-pile,
and Mr.. Roosevelt will be generally
regarded as safe and sane pres
ident as any of his predecessors.
AS matter Of fact, President Roose-
welt has done no more than President
Mckinley did to warrant the imputa-
tion of unfriendliness to the south.
The Indianola postofice incident was
the counterpart Of an incident of the
Mckinley administration. More ne
groes were appointed to office under
Mckinley, and possibly under Cleve-
land also, than under Roosevelt. The
Booker Washington luncheon in the
privacy Of the executive Office was
very far from possessing the social
significance attaching to the partici
patton Of Fred Douglass and his white
wife in Democratic President Cleve-
lands wedding reception at the White
House. No president has ever chosen
better class Of officials in the south
ern states than Roosevelt's appointees,
and none has made SO many selections
from the ranks Of his political oppo-
nents. In all of the numerous posi-
tions of trust and responsibility he
has been called upon to fill Theodore
Roosevelt acquitted himself with credit
aud honor, and an overwhelming ma
jority of his countrymen have already
expressed the conviction that be has
done and will continue to do equally
we'll in the presidency.
AS these facts permeate the minds of
the people who have hitherto been
blinded by partisan prejudice and mis-
representation, kinder and iuster
judgment Of the presidents course and
character will be formed, and if his
life is spared, it may be accepted as a
foregone conclusion that he will be-
come in the south, as he already is il
the other sections Of the country. one
of the most popular of the nations
chief magistrates.
4o $780, n