The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-01-01
1905.

IN one continent anu luIedJcncu III an
other and with a cloud darkening the
prospects of more than one Latin-Amer-
lean republic as regards the continuance
Of the license which has been so long
abused. Even some Of those relatively
fortunate and highly enlightened coun-
tries which have no cause to apprehend
a serious disturbance Of their foreign
relations are certain in the twelvemonth
that begins to-day TO find themselves
upon the threshold, il they do not
actually cross it, of important political
or economic change.
The American people, without regard
to social, sectional or industrial divisions,
are deeply interested in learning what
in the quadrennium now unfolding will
be done by tine Republican party and
the Republican Chief Magistrate with
the responsibilities and powers that have
been confded to their hands by vast
majority Of the electors. By the self
denying ordinance issued as soon as the
outcome Of the contest at the ballot box
was known, the promise not to become
a candidate or to accept nomination
for the Presidency in 1908, Mr.. RoosE-
vELT offered an unexpected but most
acceptable guarantee that in all his
official words and deeds he would be
swayed neither by personal motives nor
by partisan interests, but by high
minded and single hearted purpose to
subserve the welfare and promote the
- H. 1Dn.fIaraI n
whole. So long as that guarantee Is
fulfilled 1t is wellnigh certain that tho
President at the end OF his second term,
even though some Of his plans should
be INSTRUCTED and some of his accom-
plished purposes should disappoint his
hopes, will be followed to private life
by honor esteem and confidence and
by well founded assurance that he viii,
at some later and critical conjuncture,
be recalled as a good and faithful servant
TO the White House by his compatriots.
That would be a unique and magnificent
already has the distinction Of having
broken political records. 1t will not
prove easy, but singularly difficult, for
one OF impulsive and ardent tempera-
ment to keep his eyes fixed upon goal
never yet reached by Chief Magis-
trate. because the attainment of II exacts
the unwavering exhibition OF absolute
justice and impartiality toward every
section, every class and every interest
in the American community.
Not few recent incidents have con-
tributed to the belief that experience in
high Office has brought to Mr. RoosE-
WELT the discipline of self-control, and
that. If he ever could, he can no longer
be led astray by the vanity of wilfulness
or blind consistency, but that he has
learned the superlative wisdom Of hear
ing argument and sitting proposes
sions, of reconsidering intentions, re-
casting plans and revising judgments.
We have often pointed out, in view Of
the elastic and tremendous powers of
President for good or eSll, that he needs
for their right exercise not only the ex-
pertness and the energy of a great adj
but also some OF the quail
ties that would equip him to fill worthily
a place upon the highest judicial tri-
bunal. 1t is not enough for the ship Of
state to have an executive oificer-she
wants a pilot as well. Pilots, like Presi-
dents. are made, not born and the mis-
takes which they are bound to commit
in their first essays at pilotage serve but
as hpacons to point the way to ultimate
and triumph That the three
or more years Of practice in Presidential
functions which Mr.. ROOSEVELT has en-
joyed have been turned TO much account
is patent, though it remains to be seen,
OF course, whether when his second term
shall have closed, he will take place of
eminence beside his most illustrious
This. at least, is sure that
he is to-day n larger, graver, better
poised and further sighted man than he
was when he took McKINLEY's seat.
Those who honestly wish Mr. RoosE-
WELT well and who feel that the full
filment of their wishes for his personal
renown would inure to the good of the
republic have marked with lively salts
faction the serious and cautious temper
in which, during the last six or seven
weeks the President has approached
certain momentous economic problems.
Soon after the November elections we
were told by some persons, who
were supposed to be intimate at the
White House, that the President was in
clned to send a special message 70 the
present Congress, informing it that in
his opinion the tariff should receive re-
vision at the earliest practicable moment,
and that to this end he purposed early
in the spring to convoke the Fifty-ninth
Congress in extra session. Since then,
however Mr.. ROOSEVELT, instead Of
being rendered headstrong by opposi-
ton, has hearkened TO argument and
seems to have recognized the eIpediency
of postponing REIMBURSEMENT of the
customs duties until the first regular
session of the Fifty-ninth Congress be-
gins in December next, in order that in
the interim legislators who have been
reelected and who are peculiarly quail
fed for the task, may dgree upon a list
of changes, which, on tho one hand,
might be made without unfair discrimi-
nation against any industrial interest, and
which, on tho other hand, would have