Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1906-06-29
AFasAln9ton STANDARD
UIANs'Ia. WASH.
FRIDAY MORNING, JlNE %. 1906.
Roosevelt 8 Opportunity

Roosevelt 8 Opportunity.
1t seems to he very generally con-
coded now ty Republicans that it will
take Mr. Roosevelt to beat Mr.. Bryan
in the next Presidential race, and they
the party wants him to accept the
nomination, notwithstanding his ire.
qnent and persistent deuial- that he
Val not do 80 under any cl.cum-
rtancr-.
The strangeet fact in connection
with this trend OF public sentiment Is
that Mr. Roosevelt is honored AMI re-
spected now for support OF precisely
the principles advocated 10y Mr. Bryan
IN ls9G, and which excepting tn" cur
rency issue were embraced in the
Democratic platform OF that year.
Were Mr.. Bryan and his principles
wrong then, or Mr.. Mckinley and his
party in the right at that time? If so,
have circumstances changed 90 as to
make right wrong, or wrong right,
now?
1t seems to us that if people could
divest themselves OF that childish pre-
JUDGE for forms, party names and a.
fliations, that the duty OF present
alignment would be quite simple and
imperative. 1t would appear to be
the part of wisdom to accept the states
manship and prescience OF the man
and party who foretold so unerringiy
the elimination Of events after so few
years for their development. 1t would
appear to be equally decisive to reject
the leadership Of man who totally
reverses at times the policy Of his par.
ty, no matter whether it result in ben
eft or harm, stamping him as being
unsafe, unreliable and, like most other
uman beings, very liable to err.
But is it true that there is any rule
by which it can be reasonably de.
termined that Mr.. Roosevelt's prestige
is impregnable? A little study into
conditions preceding the Chicago Con.
vention, will, we think, show the un.
stable nature of his then apparent
popularity. Long as Mark Hanna
was alive he was the idol of his party,
His death left it practically without
commanding leader so near the Presi.
dential campaign, that it was impossi-
BILE to unite upon q representative
man OF prominence. Mr.. Roosevelts
position as President, was the only
sallying point for immediate action,
and precipitate haste was made to
mount the band.wagon simply because
there was no other vehicle OF any sort
to ride upon. It was not popularity,
but availability, that secured the
nomination by exclamation, and his
election was assured by the prestige it
gave him with the masses who are
never permitted glimpse behind the
scenes when the calcium lights are
turned on. The Democrats were
never more istless and Indifferent
than when compelled to take q side.
step which one.hali the party still be.
lieved to be the wrong policy, and
which the dogmatic telegram OF Judge
Parker the more fully excused from
active part in the canvass. The re-
suit showed that many Democrats, in
stead Of staying from the polls, must
have voted for Mr.. Roosevelt, as did
the goldbugs for Mckinley four years
before, believing him to be the near.
est exponent of their principles then
in the field.
If Mr.. Roosevelt is the man we
thinks he is when in his normal con.
dition, he will surely persist in his
declination, when q man OF the integ.
rity and devotion to principle OF Will.
liam Jennings Bryan is candidate.
If it is principle that he wishes to tri.
umph, be will surely declare that here
is man after bis own heart, who will
carry on the good work of reform in
tho lines followed by himself.
If Mr.. Roosevelt has the temerity
to do this, it will make him the most
unique character in the history OF
moulders of public opinion the world
has ever produced. 1t is his oppor.
tunity for rounding out bis career as
President with the highest degree of
honor and fame. 1t is an opportunity
seldom afforded the leading power of
any nation. Will he avail himself of
the opportunity that only the truly
great can appreciate or embrace?
MORE WOMEN THAN MEN.-It NAV