Los Angeles herald., 1906-12-15
OUR HrApsTRoNG PRESIDENT

Republicans ridiculed the Democratic
idea that Theodore Roosevelt's head
strong character would make him a
dangerous chief executive. Now there
10 a commotion in the Republican camp
because the dangerous characteristics,
pointed out by the Democrats, are
rapidly developing.
A speech delivered I'm New York last
Wednesday night by Elihu Root sec
retary Of state, is regarded as a pre-
arranged outline Of position that the
president will take in a special message
to congress which will be submitted
next Tuesday. Mr.. Root Is recognized
as the personal exponent of the presi-
dent I'm matters of public concern. In
the New York speech Mr. Root took
advanced ground in favor Of federal
Capitalization, directly antagonizing
both the letter and spirit of the federal
constitution i'm regard to reserved rights
Of the states.
Now the report is allowed to leak out
in Washington, evidently with the OBJ
ject of further paving the way for the
presidents purpose. that most decided
ground in favor of Capitalization will
be taken in the message to be sent to
congress next Tuesday. 1t is given out,
as a foretaste of what is coming, that
"the president will no longer occupy any
middle ground as to the right of the
federal government to be supreme in
all matters in which the affairs of
foreign countries or the welfare of the
American people are concerned"
The stand thus to be formally taken
by the president is in line with the
astonishing intima ion in his annual
message concerning the Japanese
school question at San Francisco.
Therein he declared, substantially, that
he would use the whole power of the
army and navy, if necessary, to over
come state opposition to the policy of
the federal government.
How far the president may go in
maintaining the position now ascribed
to him is a question yet to be de-
veloped. 1t is evident, however, that
directly in opposition to article 10 of
the constitutional amendments and to
all the early traditions of the republic.
The underlying idea of the president,
in his conclusion that the federal con-
stitution is obsolete in respect to the
abridgement of federal authority, is
that the very foundation of tie repub-
lie is misfit in this progressive age
In this respect our impulsive chief
executive differs radically from the
sentiment in Webster's impressive ad-
monition: "Cling to the constitution as
the shipwrecked mariner clings to the
last plank when night and the tempest
close around him.
In a general sense, perhaps no one
will question the declaration by Sec
retary Root that mo state has a right
to exist unto itself alone" even as no
individual has a right to live unto him
self alone. But these are questions of
moral obligation, rather than of legal
cognizance. To say, at this late day,
that the federal government must have
the power to regulate the school sys-
tenn of San Francisco or of South Caro-
lima; that the federal government may
go into the different states and see that
similar laws are enacted to meet dis
similar conditions and dissimilar peo-
pie, is to uproot the genius of American
institutions. What Massachusetts may
determine to be right and proper with
respect to her philanthropies and char
tiles, for instance, may not be forced
upon Illinois or Louisiana at the die
tum of any power-short of the man
on horseback" and when he shall come
the trouble will be of an all-pervading
nature.
1t is true that the American people
have, since 1861, been pushed, showed,
persuaded and cajoled very far away
from the old and exacting doctrine of
states rights. Much has been con-
ceded in that direction, but the people
generally-north, south, east and west
will rise en- masse against the Roose-
veltian idea that states have no rights
not conceded to them by the federal
government.
California Republicans, particularly,
are not. in present mood to ridicule
Democrats for pointing out the danger
incident to the headstrong and self
sufficient character of Theodore Roose-
welt.