The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1907-12-25
APPRECIATION OF ROOSEVELT.
New York World Gives Utterance Il,
Remarkable Editorial.

In another, column we reprint from
the New Yosk Sun a most extraordi-
nary editorial. which describes Presi-
dent Roosevelt as a constituencies and
reckless demagogue and, not for the
first time, says that his mind is un-
hinged.
The presidents assailant in this
case is not an irresponsible yellow
journal, gutter sheet written by
men of no ability or learning. On the
contrary, the Suns editorial page is
made by most cultivated, experienced
able, intellectual writer's. It's constit-
uents are business men, lawyers doc
tors men of letters, professional
people Of all classes, who represent
the educated Of the community The
Sun itself sail of Mr.. Roosevelt the
day after he became president 'He
is the most sterling embodiment Of
contemporary Americanism; is Of
,spotless honor and unconquerable fl
deity to the loftiest and sternest
ideals of public duty"
In such circumstances it's studiously
shocking and offensive, attack upon
Mr.. Roosevelt deserves. serious consid-
Grafton. 1t is sign of the timer. For
what the Sun says openly and public
ly, thousands of the cultivated and
property-owning classes are unques-
tionably saying privately. This we
know. In their opinion privately ex-
pressed, not only on the stock and
other exchanges, but heard in all ths
clubs and at social meetings and dim
ners, Mr. Roosevelt has been trans
formed into a dangerous demagogue
and the republic is at the mercy of
his mental delusions.
For instance, at the banquet Of the
chan; Der of commerce, at the dinner
Of the st. Nicholas society, at the
dinner Of the Minnesota society night
before last, the usual toast to the
president of the United States was
drunk in studied and significant si-
lence. while any mention Of Governor
Hughes evoked STILL more significant
applause
The World has criticised Mr. Roose-
welt freely, and will continue to crit
icise. him whenever he deserves It. He
has in our conviction committed
many mistakes in his clampr for rev.
olutionary legislation, for bigger
navy, a bigger army; in his constant
talk Of war-.war; in his appeals TO
the lingo spirit, to populistic passions
and class hatred. No president be-
fore him, not even Andrew Johnson,
has used such incorporate, intoler-
ant. speech. No president before him
has appealed so much to the passion
ate feeling rather than the dispassion-
ate reason Of the masses. He has
shown strange judgment ii carrying
out his corporation policies, using
the. pickaxe where the delicate knife
Of the trained surgeon was impera-
lively nee ded; bur there never was a
president in the White House who
was shrewder politician, whose
mind was less unbiased or more cap
able Of witlstanding any tension
strain or burden to which it might
he subjected. His physical mental,
nervous. temperamental strength is
little less than marvellous. If Mr..
Rocsevelt's mind is unhinged. Crom-
Napoleon died from the effects of
paresis.
The presidents unreasoning admir-
ers and unreasoning opponents refuse
to see that there are actually two
Roosevelts. One of them is an amaz-
ingly resourceful. calculating poll
tician, not. over-accurate or over
scrupulous or Overtruthful, seeing
clearly what he wishes to accomplish
employs to reach his ends.
The other Roosevelt shares Lin
coins mastering desire to serve the
people and leave name that will
shine forever in American history.
This is the Theodore Roosevelt who
has grappled with trusts and corpora
tions, terrorized cowardIy Wall street,
smashed the money power. and, but
for Cortelyou. Bacon and Root, has
almost broken the shameful alliance
between predatory plutocracy and the
government of the United States.
This is the Roosevelt that appeals
so effectively to the imagination of
the masses.
We do not agree with the Sun The
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