Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1907-04-17
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Roosevelt and Arl.tocracy

l.. Roosevelt and Aristocracy.
The national Democracy has gath
cred momentous impetus in the last
year or two and the greatly increased
vote for Democratic candidates for
Congress and the election of Demo
cratic governors at the last election is
the proof of its increasing favor with
the people. Ten years ago they called
our ideas insanity" said Mr.. Bryan.
speaking at Boston, yet on no ques-
ton that we ever discussed have we
been more indicated than on our idea
that more money would make higher
prices and better times. The Repub-
lican party has been in power for ten
years, with undlsputed rule. II 1t
hasn't done anything that ought to
have been done, it is Its own fault.
What is the result? We find the Re
publican party not so popular to-day.
The party has gone on the toboggan
slide, SO that now it has just one man
whom 1t regards as popular enough to
be the candidate for President. Why
Is it that the President alone has es-
capped the paralysis that has fallen
upon all the rest? There is only one
explanation, and that Is that his popu-
larlty is due to his following the Dem
ocratlc doctrines" This may be true
Of some things that President Roosevelt
has done, but he still falls far short
Of being Democrat, or doing all he
could have done for the people. He
has allowed the influence of The pro-
tected interests over the Republican
politicians to prevent him from recon-
mending tariff reform. Thus he has
protected the trusts in being able to
continue to charge enormous profits and
keep up the present high cost of liv-
ing. He favored the ship subsidy bill,
although one fourth Of his own party
In Congress voted with the Democrats
to defeat 1t. and those Republican men,
bers who voted against his recon-
mendation were the most ardent sup
porters of some of his other policies.
He favors and has done more to cen
tralize power in the federal govern
ment than any of his predecessors,
which is not only undemocratic. but un-
constitutional, and his efforts In that
direction eau be, used as precedent
for further executive encroachment. In
the hands of some President in the
near future, whose ambition may over
top his patriotism, this action Of Presi-
dent Roosevelt may lead to worse ends
and consequences than at this time.
1t is well for Democrats to remember
the great gulf between the political
creeds of Hamilton and Jefferson. The
Hamilton policy was, and is to-day,
that the great mass of the people are
unfit for self-government and require
strong central government to man
age them. That Is why bosses develop
like weeds in the Republican party.
The Democratic policy has always been
the rule of the majority and local self
government in the States and minor
political divislons-that Is, home rule
and State rights, for the least govern
ment is the best government for the
lowest taxation possible to keep order
for the protection of the individual in
his rights and property is the Demo-
cratic ideal.
President Roosevelt, whatever his
good points may be, sadly lacks the
invisorating tonic OF Democracy. His
Ideas are extravagant, he wants every
thing on big scale. He has demand
ed and obtained greater salary than
any Of his predecessors; the expense
Of the government has mounted up I'M
der his administration to double that
In former years; he is natural born
aristocrat, with the dIctatorial manners
OF absolutism and yearns for military
pageants, with which to amuse or over
awe the people If they become trouble
some. He is constantly and vociferous-
ly demanding square deal, and vet
no former President has ever been more
domineering, or one-slded, and 1t is
only necessary to cite the dismissal Of
the three companies of colored soldiers
without honor, when the evidence is
strongly in their favor. The Repub-
llcnns seem to like to be so bossed, but
1t would be impossible to find true
Democrat that would peacefully submit
to 1t. The gulf. therefore, between De-
mocracy and this modern Republican
Ism is great and impossible.