The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-02-06
THEIR EYES BErNG OPENED.

ImGAA EhEo 1EAN0 UFEHEU.
 It is encouraging to note that some of the most rabid Republican newspapers In the country are becoming restive under the encroachments on the consti- tutional rights of the States. which are continually being made by Roosevelt and endorsed by his party friends The Buffalo News Is a late example, and few newspapers go beyond it ;n upholding the acts and policies of the President. It refers to the dangers of such iegls- fation as that proposed in the Bever- idse bill and says:
 If such Legislation Is within the scope of the constitution, there IS at once an immense broadening Of the field of Congressional Legislation, marked wiping out of state lines oi control of domestic affairs. In fact no line appears over which Congress may not step to promote other social reforms or changes that maJority may regard as reform Temperance, political equality for women. educa- tion. police formation, ballot changes, direct nomination and even local nood abatement are subjects not too remote for the eagle vision and inspired treat ment of a Congress of Bevefidges.
 II is easy to see that undue concen- traitor in Washington IS a double danger 1t tends to bureaucracy, the curse of Russia and Germsny, ana ~ leads to congestion and So to bad gov ernment all over the United States. Our population is increasing at a tre- mendous rate and the public business In an even faster ratio. As much of 1t should be done in the States as is practicable fin order to have 1t well done and to have those things done, also, that certain portions of the peos pie desire for themselves as long as they pay for 1t.
 The News is correct It is such legislation as Beveridge proposes that opens the way for still further innova- tions and encroachments. and there would be no end and no limit. If not stopped in time, the Federal constitu- ton, with all it's safe guards and linn itations might as we'll be laid aside and forgotten But while The News is cor rect in its position, 1t is far afield when 1t asserts that Tt has been the cardin- al principle of the Republican Party since 1860 that the rights of the States should be maintained as carefully, and as rigldly protected as the national au- thority is itself upheld within it's prop CT field"
 i That sounds we'll, but 1t has the de- merit of not being strictly in accord ance with the facts. The Republican Party, as party, has not shown itself the defender of the rights of the States, but has continuously sought to mini mlze those rights and privileges and add to the powers of the general gov ernment. The only real defender the States and the constitution have had has been the Democratic Party. While 1t has at times wobbled somewhat, and has not at all times stood to it's guns as stoutly and patrioticaiiy as might have been wished. 1t has in the main been the only buIwafk between auto cracy and constitutional government. The News should not have added that paragraph to its editorial.
 The Kansas City Journal Is another of the staunch Republican organs that is not pleased with the trend of politi- cal events. 1t practically endorses the speech of Senator Rayner, and while it tries to lay the natterihg unction to it's soul that Roosevelt is honest and that no danger is to be apprehended from him, it admits that s had man. may some day be President and in that case such official would have the pre- cedence of Roosevelt to violate the very terms of the constitution that were adopted for the perpetuity of our form of government. The standardization of vast powers in Federal commissions and. departments that should be vested in the States themselves Is dangerous tendency and contrary to the spirit of the constitution. The American people pie are not yet ready to tear that docu- ment into bits even to accommodate President who means well but who entertains an exaggerated notion of what government is for"
 The Journal is not precisely consist ent It affects to believe that Mir Roosevelt is not to be feared for his centralizing proclivities. but it admits that a really dangerous President would take Roosevelt's acts as a precedent. 1iO" tdh Wiub hhC picsGHl eAeC0NlNo does be a dangerous precedent unless those acts are dangerous within them selves? The Journal should drop spe- cious reasoning and admit that Roose- welt is proving himself to pc about the most dangerous President the coun- try has known. He is dangerous, both for the bad examples he sets and for the consequences of hrs own acts and policies.
 We repeat that 1t is encouraging to find strong Republican newspapers pointing out the i'll effects that must inevitably follow the course pursued by Roosevelt and those who stand by him . It shows that partisanship has not en- tirely blinded them, and that some of them have the independence to speak words of criticism and warning. And 1t may be added that newspapers of this kind have no sympathy with the move
 ment looking to a third term for Roosevelt. They know that to elect him again would almost be national 1 suicide.