The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1905-01-04
A TRIUMPH OF PEACE.


The war between Japan and Russia
especially since the capitulation o
Port Arthur, may be historically cele
brated as the leading feature of 1904
But. as an evidence of human progress
under free institutions, the election o
Theodore Roosevelt to the Presidency
in the last analysis. is even more sig
nificant. Mr.. Roosevelt would un
doubtedly have been elected through
the political strength of the Republican
party and in that fact alone there
would have been nothing to invite
special comment. His election, how
ever, by the largest popular majority
ever secured since the Government was
founded, was of transcendent impor-
tance, because that result could not
have been achieved on merely political
issues but was due TO the high moral
standard of the American people In
some respects his administration had
been unique for he availed himself of
such opportunities as no other Presl-
dent has had, practically to raise the
level OF citizenship. Instead of using
his great office to subserve his per-
sonal ambition, he stood inexorapIy
for the Constitution and the Laws and
for the nob1est conceptions of duty EN-
bodied in American civilization. Free
from sentimental emasculation and
the nation. he reduced exalted theories
to practice and, without subscribing the
designs of wealth, whether individual
or corporate on the one hand, or
catering to the aggressive and illegal
elements in labor. combinations on the
other, he held the balance evenly and
simply enforced the law. The poorest
man in the land felt that Mr.. Roose-
Welt was his friend The richest man
in the land found that he could not
be used.
Official corruption was uncompromis-
fngly exposed and punished. Unlawful
combinations Of every sort were
brought to the bar of equal justice
In all directions, not only by official
action but by personal appeals. the
pride and the honor of citizens OF all
classes were charged with a respon-
sibiIity that could not be evaded nor
Ininimized. Every speech that Mr..
Roosevelt made on public occasions
was replete with manly and American
conceptions of the family, of the home,
Of pure social conditions, of business
Integrity in the midst of strenuousness,
OF the rigid accountability of public
officers, OF the just blending in the
national advancement of energy. en-
terprise and economy, of education
reaching the heart and the conscience
as well as the intellect, of honesty and
discrimination at the ballot 0ox.
The Panama Canal was assured. The
Philippines were pacified and stirnu-
lated towards the capacity for self
government. In our foreign relations
arbitration was steadily enforced as
a substitute for war. Domestic tur-
tween capital and labor settled.
These palpable evidences of full and
accurate comprehension of progress
siye and constitutional Amer1canisna
wrought their natural effect upon an
educated and aspiring population,
without distinction of party. Citizen
ship responded to the demand Tor
better national life. The narrowness
ocratic organization presented no cor !,
responding inducement Mr.. Roose-
Velt's letter of acceptance, clear, frank
and incisive, has never been excelled.
MES was no less telling. The popular
movement was irresistible. The cleo
ton proved the soundness of our form
of government and honors were equal
Iy divided between the successful can
didate and the voters OF the republic.
Thus, the result of an ordinary presi-
Dental contest in the United States.
became entitled to recognition as the !
most conspicuous event of a crowded !,
year, and showed, as numerous pre-
ceding incidents have demonstrated.
that full reliance can always be placed
upon the American people
The hunorist of Punch ridicules the
werld wide ideas of a new fashion
icurnal and remarks that IL will soon