The Washington herald., 1907-04-29
DILEMMA OF DEMOCRATS.
Might Have 20 Nominate Roosevelt
IL They Convene First.

From the New YoFs Sun.
Mr.. Roosevelt, by all present indiea-
tons, is TO control the next Republican
National Convention. He Is 10 control
It absolutely. He Is TO write its platform,
to dispense with its deliberations. and TO
nominate its nominee. It is everywhere
conceded that the choice Of the conyen-
ton necessarily will be Mr.. Roosevelt
himself, but that inasmueh as the nomi-
nation cannot be forced upon him a man
must be chosen who viii be satisfactory
to Mr., Roosevelt, who can be depended
upon 10 perpetuate Mr.. Roosevelt's IDEAS,
practices, and policies-a man who VIII be,
so far as we may say without impiety,
repetition Of Mr.. Roosevelt himself
The entire and the sole duty. therefore.
Of the next Republican National Conyen-
ton viii be enthusiasm coupled with
alacrity. At the present time there is no
dispute as TO these conditions. They are
Of universal acceptance wherever they
are not obscured momentarily by the In
sistence that Mr.. Roosevelt himself must
be the nominee.
This last We have regarded as form
OF popular paranoia, transitory rather
than chronic. and certain 70 dissipate
itself long before the convention meets.
For holding this opinion we have been
called gravely 10 account by many per-
sons, but We continue TO adhere 10 our
conviction. We have pointed out re-
peatedly that Mr. Roosevelt could not
accept the Presidency again without per-
sonal dishonOr. and a very gross and
repeilent form Of dishonOr at that. We
are met by the lmputatiOn that our esti-
mate Of Mr.. ROOseyelt's character is both
narrow and uninteligent, and that We
are incapable Of understanding his ex-
allied sphere. No question of personal
dishonor can attach 10 Mr.. Roosevelt.
One might just as we'll think Of impugu-
ing his veracity, or indeed, any of his
other spiritual endowments. We are to
understand that ne moves and has his
being in a higher realm. where merely
paTochiai considerations Of honor, truth,
and integrity do not intrude We pre-
sumo that it is our moral perceptiyity
rather than our intellectual stability
which it Is sought to impeach.
Adhering, therefore, to our conviction,
IN which we are sustained by restricted
but highly intelligent minority, we hold
that it is impossible that Mr.. Roosevelt
should be renominated, but We unre-
servedly admit that he viii utterly con-
troll the convention; and we find ourselves
forced TO accept the authoritative pro-
gramme which Includes and defines the
functions Of that body and the quality
and the duties Of Mr.. Rooseyelt's sue
cessOr.
We may venture TO take it for granted
that Mr.. Roosevelt will see 10 il that
the Republican National Convention is
held before the Democratic National Con-
vention. He has doubtless f0reseen the
grave embarrassment that would other
wise be entailed, because It is impossible
al least. impossible al this tuneture-to
conceive how. in the event that the Demo-
Gratis met before the Republicans. they
could avoid nominating Mr.. Roosevelt.
Calamities that are fOreseen seldom
happen. but it must be confessed that
such a contingency might impair Mr.
RoOsevelt's control Of the Republican
convention-that is. II any merely human
or mundane influences could have any
effect upon IL