Weekly independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1887-1914, 1907-11-08
THE KIND OF
PRESIDENT WE NEED.


Several yeLrs e the learned Or.
Quidde OF Germany wrote a satire on
Kaiser Wilhelm in the guise Of "a stud,
ut the Roman Emperor Caligula. There
was not a WORD about the Kaiser IN the
book; there was no breach OF the law
known as lesemajeste; yet all Germany
was soon laughing yer the close and
startling resemblance between it's W
sovereign and one of the most detestable
OF Roman iDperatores. Both had the
same intolerance Of opposition; tho came
conceited estimate OF their " import
ance; the same mania for making
speeches; the same ionduess for sports
and the same desire Tor military glory.
But il this study by the learned DR..
Quidde had appeared in this country,
would not the people have found a close
parallel between the nnenvied Caligula
Of Rome and our own President? Has
not Mr.. Roosevelt revealed the same
conceited estimate Of his own import
ance; the sunie desire 10. military glory;
the same mania for making speeches;
the some fOndness for sporif; the same
intolerance Of opposition, that are said
to have be IN characteristic Of the
ancient RouaL?
But 1t may well be questioned whether
the c0antry ueeds a President oi .his
kind. 10 be q master OF the plaltoI IN
and a mighty bear hunter are all very
well in their way, but craftsmanship
may be most conspicuously absent
where these things are most IN evidence.
New York cnce elected John Morrisey,
the pugilist, to Congress, and John L..
Sullivan was once mentioned for Mayor
OF Boston, but a nation that so forgot
itself as to worship brute force and to
elevate it to the highest position in the
land would be far down IN the scale OF
decsdence.
Nevertheless n great deal OF the hero
worship that las been accorded to Mr..
Roosevelt has been based on nothing
more substantial than his supposed
physical proves. lie was elected
governor Of New York, not because Of
any craftsmanship he was known to
possess, but because he was believed TO
have killed a few Spaniards in Cuba
who were dong their level best to get
out OF harms way. And it is highly
probable that not a little OF bis popu-
larity today with certain nincoDpoops is
due TO his slaughter Of a few bears.
The kind OF President the nation
needs, however, ia not one who is
lannon's M Mr.. Roosevelt is famous.
One CLEAN Of real craftsmanship in the
most obscure man among us would be
worth more to the country han all OF
MIR. Roosevelt's knowledge OF pistol
shooting, btxinR, bears, nature takers,
Irish cages, the Dumber OF children a
man ought TO have, ETC., etc. Mr..
Roosevelt may know II great deal about
these things-we will give him the bcue
tit OF the doubt, Mt any rate-but his
knowledge or theso thinRP, IL he have
knowledge, is not OF the kind that
makes the President wo need.
The kind Of President this country
needs is n man who knows that there is
such Il thing M the constitution Of the
United States; that the nation itself is
composed Of 40 Statcs, cach one OF
which his certain rights that oven q
Pre1idont IL bound to rcspect; that a
protective tariff is n synonym for legal
lied robbery. Such a President, we
repcat, Ia the kind tbis country needs.
-Kaneas City Post.