The sun., 1907-03-19

temptst ton to which they are exposed ~ the very
abundance Of the bOunties OF Providence and the
very happiness Of their own condition
| Here we have perfect picture Of our pres
| ent situation. Prosperity. aided by PreSi-
dent. has produced a licenti0usness OF feeling
and action, a desire to enjoy the fruits OF
other mems labor and the promulgation OF
agrarian doctrines; complaints of oppression
and the perniciOus influence OF accumulated
wealth have provoked hostility to estao-
lished institutions, and outcries against the
combining of small capitals to produce bene-
hcHl results bid fair to choke up the fountains
of industry and dry all its streams. Already.
as an immediate effect of whirlwind of hos
tile legislation melted throughout the coun-
try by the declarations of the President and
the warnings" Of the Secretary OF State,
capital has withdrawn its essential support,
money cannot be had to provide adequate
means OF transportation. railway companies
are called upon to make bricks without straw
and all enterprise is at a standstill in the face
OF the Official boast of so much already done
and the latest threat of further "girding up
of loins to do more" Because few have
done wrong all must suffer; just discrimina-
ton has been thrown to the winds. and the
end Is not in sight. The President reiteratee
the assertion that he is still unconvinced of
the necessity of serving a third term, but
authorizes the positive announcement that
lican nomination. Andrew jackson alone
OF all the recent Presidents was strong enough
to name his successor at the end OF an ad-
minstratIOn Curously like the present one in
impetuous defiance OF restraint and in the
ferocity Of its assaults upon what Mr.. Webster
aptlv termed the fountains of industry.
That MIR Roosevelt is equally potent. so far
At least as his own party is concerned. there
can be no doubt.
What will the harvest be? Let us turn for
a parallel to the pages OF history recording
the immediate sequence Of the Jackson Ad-
ministration and read as follows:
A few days after Van Burens inauguration the
country was In the throes Of the worst and most
widespread financial panic II has ever seen. The
distress fairly appalling, both In Its intensity
and In Its universal distribution. Al the banks
stopped payment and bankruptcy was universal
The efforts made by Benton and the other
Jacksonians 20 stem the tide NJ public feeling and
direct II through the well worn channel OF suspl
CiOus fear Of and anger at the banks as the true
authors OF general wretchedness we're unavsinR:
the stream swelled into a torrent and ran like q
mill race In the opposite way But few
years before tho JscksOnians had appealed 70 a
senseesS public dislike Of the 10 called money
power" In order 10 help themselves to victory, and
they had the Chagrin of seeing only less
Irrational outcry raised against themselves IN turn
and USED IN oust them from their places The people
were more than ready 10 listen 10 any one who could
and the for the cAlAmties that had befaIen
them. Their condition was pluable. : Trade
WAS At a complete standstill; laborers were thrown
out Of employment and left almost starving: farm
crs. merchants mechanics. craftsmen OF every sort
- sll alike were IN the dlfCSt distress.
Such ia the veracious chronicle Of Theodore
Roosevelt. historian, of the aftermath Of an
administration in all respects stTikinRly
similar to that under which we now live
similar in methodical attacks upon property,
in appeals 10 envy and unCharitableness, in
wanton extravaganza, in the domineering
characteristics OF the Chief Executive, in
his aloOfnesS from the conservative branch
OF his own party, in his determination TO OBJ
tain new constructions OF the Constitution
from Justices appointed by himself, in faith
in his own ability TO make the people happy,
in his assumption that he was constituted
by them not their mere executive Offcer
but their tribune. in his very personal popu-
laTity and power.
The HARM adds the historian. was
largely due to causes existing throughout
the civilized world. and especially to the
speculative folly rife among the whole Ameri-
can people; but. he Significantly concludes.
1T Is always an easy and a comfortable thing
TO hold others responsible for WHAT is primarily
our own fault"
Thus spake the historian. Pray God that
a like evasion of responsibility may not be
forced upon historian become President!