The daily morning journal and courier., 1907-11-09
The turkey isn't stepping as hign as he was, but the price Is.
THE FALL ELECTIONS.

THE FALL ELECTIONS.
 If the President of the United States is within the proprieties of his office when he officially expresses his gratifi- cation with the>outcome of the cleo tions this fall no particular comment need to be made upon MT. Roosevelt's public statement It has nevertheless been the custom of the occupants of that office to hide their satisfaction with things partisan behind gracious
 mask. thus keeping alive the not dis agreeable fiction that President is so far removed from emotions, passions and ordinary motives as to be beyond the influence of an election, whether for or against his policies of govern ment
 Without dwelling at any serious length upon the possible impropriety of President Roosevelt's avowed glee, the fact cannot be suppressed that upon the whole he has tangible reasons for being extremely we'll satisfied with himself and with things as they are. Even those who, like Professor Sum- uer of Yale and John W. filling, believe .conscientiously that the prevailing want of confidence in the value of things is directly traceable to the Pres idents insistent batting of the corpor- ations cannot question the disclosures of the general elections, They will search in vain in them for the neees- sary testimony to indict him as an of- fender against popular conviction. The New York World is entirely right in this contention: However anxious we are to find encouragement for the Democratic party and evidence of brighter Democratic prospects, the re- turns refuse to assist us. On the con- trary, the figures justify President Roosevelt's exultant boast that the re- turns are extremely gratifying and that as whole the showing has been an improvement over what it was four years ago and eight years ago. !"
 A dispassionate study of the returns must carry others to the same con- eluston whether that be pleasant con clusion or not But this Is not the only phase of the elections this fall which must command attention. Even though one finds reason for rejoicing in the popular support given President Roosevelt and the party he so easily dominates, one will look without en- couragement upon the demoralized condition of the Democratic party. It is not enough in this country to have the popular party and popular leader approved. The best condition can only be said to exist when the party of op- position, whichever 1t is, Is a potent force in the maintenance of high poli- tical standards, What we see, with such a modification in emphasis as fa9hioned Democratic hopefulness may insist upon, Is thus set forth in the editorial columns of the New York Sun: Year in and year out the Dem- ocracy proves it's title to the distrust of the people and is the prey and sport of demagogues. The -brained lead it, sordid knaves betray it and it struggles blindly on to failure after failure. Only when the Democratic party sends it's fanatics and mounte- banks to the rear and restores men of sanity and character to command will it be possible to mobilize it's discord- ant factions and effect an organization which will be of use to the country as an opposition party and may hope sometime to deserve the confidence of the American people. Intelligent Re- publicans as well as conservative Dem ocrats deplore it's degeneration and |impotency"
 We cannot see how the actual sit- uation as fashioned by the fall elec- tions could be more impressively stat 
 ed, nor can we see Row it can be view ed with other than subdued satlsfac- tion. It carries its lesson to both poli-
 tical organizations, and it is upon their 'conduct next year when the time comes for the selection of standard bearers that the future political history of the country depends. The enthusi- asm and loyalty and patriotism of real
 men of stature will be needed to meet the emergency. Are they ready for the necessary sacrifices? We shall see.
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