Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1906-01-05
soion Herald special

Boston Herald special
Washington, Dec 81 President Roose-
al. returned today from short
,scotion at the family's country retreat
y Virginia, refreshed for the work of
zoos. which may be the most Hateful in his
history.
.ome Of whom are Mr.. Roosevelt's fiat
terers and some his critics the President
4 appnosching the most critical period in
M eauer. He has been for the last six
wears the darling of American politics.
on no head IN the history of America
have so many favors been showered as
IN his He was inaugurated governor
al New York Just six years ago; within
Two wears of that time he had been elected
iee.President of the United States;
within three years he had succeeded to the
Presidency; and two years more saw him
elected TO the position of chief magistrate
nv majority so great as 10 eclipse any
thing ever before known in Presidential
elections.
Since he entered the arena Of national
notifies as governor he has been the
sver-present problem in the affairs of
American parties. He has been in the
thick Of every discussion He is actually
the one man around whom all Ameri-
can thought on public questions seems
10 revolve. He has swept aside party
lines. He has invided the territory of
Ms political enemies, the South, and
come back with a long string OF scalps
dangling from his belt.
His action in taking the initiative
which resulted in the peace treaty at
Portsmouth made him easily the most
popular man in the world. He only had
10 let It be known that he was opposed
10 certain politicians in certain States
in the last election to insure the burial
Of these politicians under an avalanche of
votes
No President has ever been so posi-
tive before. No one has ever so relied
on bis own opinions and his own strength.
No one has ever had higher or more
patriotic pTetensions. Never before sat
s man in the White House who so abso-
utey dominated or ignored his cabinet.
He has been the finest example Of UNI
adulterated independence Of action the
country has ever seen.
Never popular with Congress. and fail
ing in most instances to obtain from that
branch OF the government those things
which he recommended, he has managed
to get along very well without the help of
Congress. He has acted repeatedly with
out consulting it, and with a calm conf
dence in his own ability 10 take care of
matters without any one else taking any
responsibility at all, except to provide the
funds
But it would seem that there is now to
be a test entirely different from any to
which the President has been subjected
His acts as an executive are now under
scrutiny by the legislative branch of the
government. 1t is a long lane that has
no turning, and the turn in the lane has
been reached Mr. Roosevelt must now
answer TO Congress for certain of his acts
asa business manager Of the greatest cor
ponton IN the wOrld-the government Of
ne United States He has stepped out
boldly in two particulars spending
large sums Of money on the Panama Canal
and IN committing the United States.
without the consent of the Senate. to a
new departure in connection with the
financial affairs of another sovereign
country.
That Panama and San Domingo will
pay an important part in the doings of
congress during the next three or four
months, no one can doubt That the out
come OF these questions soon to come to
tne forefront Of discussion may have a
serious bearing on the popularity of the
PRESIDENT and on his stability and capacity
business man is admitted even by
tnose close to the chief executive.
Even as this review Of the President S
ACTIVITIES Is being prepared two Of the
qolest men in the cabinet Secretaries
hoot and Iaft-are anxiously discussing
lhe nature Of the accounting which shall
le made TO Congress regarding many acts
IN IN connection with the construction Of the
Ianama Canal. Everything that has
oeen done there is an act for which the ad-
niInnlstration must take responsibility.
me Spooner law gave the President the
plues. latitude in spending money. The
resident took the responsibility. Per-
maps ne iell into a trap. Most men would
nave hesitated about accepting it. Not
y Mr. Roosevelt. He was so eager
70 nave the credit in history Of
having constructed the canal
slat ne leaped into the ditch. so TO speak
gress. i'-' "
The cid" is to be taken off Panama.