Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1907-02-15
Presidential Usurpatioh.

patronage of his high office at his
DISPOSAL, that he is very naturally
surrounded by sycophants to and,
although without any very weighty
party leader since Hanna's death, to
say him nay. 1t is but natural, UNI
der these circumstances. that OPPOSE
ton is slow to come to head, and
that he seems to be carrying things
by storm. This is undoubtedly what
has made him over-confident and de-
veloped that impetuouS desire to rule
which has become the marked char
acteristic of his life.
1t opens up, however, most prom
Using chance for his political over
throw. when his collapse will be as
marked as the brilliant flash upon
the political horizon, with no adverse
current in his own spell-bound party,
to disturb its onward flight. He has
been guilty of enough usurpations of
power, however, and trampling upon
the traditions which have served to
keep the fires of Patriotism afame,
that a bare narration may serve at
the proper time to arouse the opposi-
ton to perform as patriotic duty as
ever inspired the act in Independence
Hall, which gave birth to our hither-
to great and prosperous form of gov
crnmcnt.
1t is not often enough that the
leaders of public opinion call atten-
ton to the trend of Mr.. Roosevelt's
ambition for imperial power. More
is the pity. The germ of liberty is
of too tender growth, when brought
continually in conflict with the cold
currents of selfishness in human ma
ture, not to be dwarfed by exposure.
Its care should be matter of watch
full solicitude. Hero worship is too
common, and covers too completely
glaring moral defects, to tolerate,
without close observation and the
most ample investigation acts that
seem justified by fortuitous circum-
stances ordinarily resulting from
what is known as luck, and estab-
lished notOriety that passes for
fame. This disposition aids very
materially in justifying the adage:
Nothing succeeds like success;
and that it is sometimes made the
measure of virtue and vice is shown
by the magnitude of crimes commit
ted. Rob a banker of a million dol
lars, and the operator may snap his
fingers at public opinion, but let him
steal loaf of bread from the bakers
window, and he hears the cry of
stop thief" and speedily finds his
way behind prison bars. Such i'm
munity should not be accorded, and
meet with immediate, vigorous and
persistent protest.
So much by way of introduction to
a speech of Senator Rayner, of Mary
land, in the upper branch of Con-
gress, on the 31st ult. He first pays
his respects to Secretary Root, who
some weeks ago advocated extension
of Federal power at the expense of
the States.
regard this doctrine" said Mr..
Rayner, thus announced, adhered
to and emphasized, as a most dan
gerous and insidious attack on the
institutions of the country. The
President is laboring under the hon.
est impression that he is responsible
to the country for the legislation of
Congress"
Mr.. Rayner denounced the Santo
Domingo treaty, which had been
practically carried into effect without
consulting the Senate" He then
turned his attention to the Judiciary,
which ought to be entirely free from
Executive interference.
The criticism by the President of
Judge Humphrey with reference to
his decision in the meat packers
case" he added, was an invasion of
his judicial prerogatives. We can
not tolerate such intrusion on the
rights of the courts. The courts are
not responsible to any President of
the United States for their judg-
ments. A Judge would have been
perfectly justified if he had declined
to submit in silence to a rebuke of
the Executive. He could well, with
dignified and calm defiance, have pro-
claimed from the bench: L am a SOW
ereign here; you have no greater
right to interfere with me than !
have extra judicially to denounce an
act OF yours as usurpatiOn.
Mr.. Rayner then criticised the
Presidents intrusion" upon the
States, talking for example the note
of the President to Gov. Guild Of
Massachusetts, in which the course
of the Governor was commended in
the carrying out of the death sen.
tence against Charles L. Tucker.
I" / never know q communication Of
this sort to be sent by President tt
the Governor of State since the
foundation of the Republic" said Mr.
Rayner, and I deeply regret ant
deplore the occurrence"
He contended that it was q prac
tical announcement that the acts o
State officials were subject to the ap
proval or displeasure of the Fedora
Government. The turbulent time
in the Senate attendant on the pas
SAGE of the Railroad Rate hill war