The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1907-10-25
NO AMERICAN EMPEROR.

A short time ago we read in Golfers
Weekly of a man who advocated we
make Theodore Roosevelt emperor Of
the United States, arguing that that
was the only way in which we could
keep such a good man at the head Of
the government. Golfers gave space
to this mans argument because OF the
oddly of a citizen of republic advo-
eating the transformation of his gov
eminent into a monarchy.
Aside from that phase the matter is
not worthy of consideration. The
United States has no need of mon
archial form of government to retain
a good man at the head of the govern
ment. We can, if necessary, re-elect
him as often as we like and that means
as long as we have need for him. Then
when his usefulness to the republic is
done with we do not have to continue
him In power nor hand over the power
he welded during life to his son after
death.
Turning to Europe for examples Of
ficult to see the faults of the system
as compared to our own. We will grant
good executive is retained for life. But
history, the great guide for compari-
about one capable monarch for every
ten or fifteen incapable ones. That
is, during the successive reigns of the
members OF a sovereign family out of
fifteen kings, only one was really a Ca
pable ruler. And for the sake of hay
ing that one capable ruler, the country
over which he ruled, had to put up
with fifteen Indifferent or bad rulers.
In the United States. however, if, at
the end of four years we find we have
elected an incapable president we hand
him political lemon and make him
a member of the ex-presidential family.
Just how well our system has worked,
a glance will show. Out of twenty-six
presidents only two have been so in
capable that the country suffered I'M
der their administration. The re-
naming twenty-four have been men
under whom the country has advanc-
ed and prospered. Consider the fact
that the United States has done in one
hundred years what it has taken Eu-
rope five hundred years to do, and you
will see another phase in favor of our
form of government. The republican
form of government as administered in
the United States, is conducive to the
greatest possible advancement in the
shortest space of time.
Every crisis this country has faced
has brought forth the man to pilot us
through the stormy times. Lincoln
took us through the great crisis Of
the civil war. Today President
Roosevelt is taking us through the cri-
sis of a rebellion against oppressive
and dishonest finaneiers who have
threatened to displace our representa-
tive government of, for and by the
people, by a government of their own
monied plutocracy. Yet for this,
there is no more need to make Theo.
dore Roosevelt emperor than there was
to confer that title and honor on Lin
coin. The republic must face other
and possibly, greater crises during its
existence, and when it does it must be
in a position to afford the opportunity
to the right man. who always puts in
an appearance, to come forward and
take hold of the government. We must
never be bound down by the handi
cap of reigning family and one gool
ruler out Oh fifteen, when we are in Z
position to command good ruler
practically every four years.