The Richmond palladium. (Richmond, Ind.) 1906-1907, 1906-07-20

fiocks of public interest to the shear
ing sheds. 1t was crisis, one that
demanded a revolution-a revolution
not of bayonet and ball-cartridge, but
by ballot.
In working out the redemption of
their Trust-crushed destinies, the peo-
pie called to Mr.. Roosevelt. He was
young; but he was old in the popular
regard The public had known him
for a quarter of a century 1t had
watched him as legislator. as civil
service commissioner, as head of the
police, as assistant secretary of the
navy, as soldier at Santiago and San
Juan, as Governor. as Vice-President,
as President. He had undergone test
after test, and the people possessed
the measure of his courage, his hon
esty, his intelligence, his power of
initiative.
Knowing him, and knowing the
work in hand. the people made him
President Nor has he fallen short Of
general expectation. Rather he has
gone beyond. and where the people
hoped for an inch he has given them
an ell.
Who are made glad by Mr.. Roose-
velt's announcement of his Presiden-
tial end to come in 1909? Who but
those Black-hags he is fighting. And
yet, If they are to be arrested in their
evil career, and brought beneath the
permanent thumb of law before he
goes, why should they suck comfort
from his utterance? | give our Black
flag folk full credit for knowing thor
oughly their own ignoble needs. They
never fail to gauge a peril. once 1T
threatens them and theirs. If they re-
ioice-as they do reioice-When Mr..
Roosevelt promises to be no Presi-
dent after 1909. it is because they
hope to live and last that space, and
later repair what injuries they have
suffered in their war with him. Their
very JOY should give him notice of
the error of his antiWhite House
ways.
Who, on the roster of the probable,
might follow Mr. Roosevelt at the
White House? OF whom have we been
told? The roll is not long. Mr.. Root
Mr. Taft, Mr. Fairbanks, Mr.. Cannon
Mr.. Hearst. Mr.. Gaynor. Mr.. Bryan
Mr.. Bailey-there is the list. -four
from each party. When one remem
bers the call of the hour. is there one
among them of whom the world is
sure? Who has the heart and the
head and the hand? Who can be coun
ted on to take up and fairly finish
what Mr. Roosevelt has begun?
My best judgment retorts that the
strongest among them couldn't If he
would the weakest wouldn't If he
could. Were I business manager OF
the nation I'd have none OF them
One and all they may be of that STARK
timber from which Presidents should
be carved, but their pasts-so far as
they have pasts-offer no guarantee
And so one harlzs back to Mr.
Roosevelt-to the man that's sure
The arguments for his selection are
manifold and not to be denied. The
politicians do not want him: the rail
roads do not want him: the beef com
bines do not want him; the Trusts dc
not want him; the bride giver and
the taker do not want him: all OF
those blackly yelled influences that
for unchecked years. have been defy
ing law, and buying prosecutors. anc
choosing judges, and stealing from
the people, do not want him. Where
fore, a stripped public. wise to its
plundered generation and what fur
Their pillage threatens it. should re
fuse to give him up.
The people made Mr.. Roosevelt
President; they may if they will
make him President again. BY the
word of the people he came from the
people, and, until the people give hin
| leave, he cannot lay down his trust
Even sectionalism demands him fo1
its wiping out; and South. seeking
to forget the old. striving to overtakt
the new, sees its hope in him who
coming up since the smoke blown
years of Civil War, takes half hi'
blood from those who fought under
the Stars and Bars.
Therefore, oh people. should you
want Mr. Roosevelt, it is yours t
have him, with none to consult O
consider save yourselves. Also Q
this be sure: 1t is a matter whereii
he has no voice. Whether he shall
serve another term or no is for tn
public, not him, to determine. II
truth, he is not entitled to so mucl
as seat in the gallery while tn
business is being discussed. The pub
lie, adopting a lesser doctrine will
not only throw away its privilege bu
| prove false to duty.