The Brattleboro reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1907-1912, 1907-04-05
THEODORE |.
randolph Herald and News

man! Ruled as no European nation -
even despotic Russia-is ruled by its mon
arch. Perhaps no man since LOUIS MY.
could more truthfully say, 81 am the
state" than the present occupant of the
executive mansion at Washington, Theo'
dore Roosevelt.
It's simply wonderful Here we have
eighty millions OF freemen, liberty loving,
Jealous of any enCroachment on their civil
rights, who would resist to the utmost
the monarchal idea. A century and a
quarters priceless heritage of free self
Government is theirs. This people, with
out thought of surrenderlng anything
they hold dead, have apparently found a
trustee of their rights, duties and PRIV
leges, and have turned the whole bust
ness over to him to manage, with CON
tidence that he will not abuse the tIust.
America has had great men before,
great statesmen, great presidents. But
who, of the long, illustrious line, has
ever so won the popular heart, and who
has been able to do the things that Theo-
dore Roosevelt has done: Not Washing
ton, despite the halo of his greatness,
Tor he was continually ybeset by enemies
and opponents, with his motives con
stantly impugned. Not jackson, who en-
countered resistance that required all his
power to shatter Not even Lincoln, who
had but Just risen to his deserved place
in popular esteem when struck down, The
lovabe Mckinley had strength and vIr-
tue. but not like Roosevelt. No, there
is not a single one of the whole list who
would have dared to undertake the things
that Roosevelt does every day.
1t is interesting to examine the lniiu-
ence this man has had upon. the public
and public affairs since he took the helm.
Fear and trembling seized many good PEG,
pie when the steady, conservative hand
of Mckinley dropped the tiller, and the
human enigma, Roosevelt, took 1t. The
new president, all will remember, did not
| enjoy a reputation for the calmness, the
dignity the poise, that we had come to
expect of a president. People, SAID he
was over-active, snapped his judgment,
talked too much didn't get along with
| folks loved a scrap too well, and hadn't
the breadth OF intellect required. We
know better now. His virtues stand out
strong. and what were deemed his defects
mostly come in as compliments OF his
virtues. Thus his wonderful energy helps
him in doing what he knows ought to be
done: his quick Judgment generally cor
rect-enables him to get the Jump on
rivals or opponents; his freedom OF speech
keeps the country acquainted with ms
inmost thoughts he does love fight well
enough to undertake one fearlessly when
needed. but the knowledge of this quality
in him deters the other fellow from pro-
vokng him, and he has the kind OF peace
that seems to work best-his own way all
the time.
In a nutshell the reason why the
American people have seemingly abdlcat.
ed their power, and turned the Job OF
running their vast affairs over TO Roose-
welt, is because they have found that, he
does things for them rather better than
they could do for themselves To be sure
they haven't formally resigned in his IA
vor. Congress sits, but largely to ac'
uuiesce in whatever the White House pro-
poses Even the supreme court, we I'M
agine, might hesitate to hand down an
important opinion contrary to the presl
dents known views. The people look on
approvingly, backing up Roosevelt when
ever he needs support. No opposition at
present has ghost OF a show against
him. So we say Roosevelt rules the Unit
ed states. Doesn't he?
Well. why shouldn't the people trust
him. He has proven to them that he is
their friend and champion, not by words,
but by deeds. He is looking for trouble
all the time-and when he finds it he
rectifes it; He searches the highways and
byways where no president or statesman
ever ventured before for this kind OF
trouble. What other president, for in
stance would have "butted in and set
tied the coal strike? Would have "butted
in" and made peace between Japan and
Russia. or done police duty in Central
America, or had the United States take
part in the Morocco conference? Would
have "butted in and reformed football,
even tried to reform spelling! Would
have "butted in" and fixed up the deli
~ Il do
ing to wave the big stick" over the leg
stature of that great state, telling it
what not to do? Why, if any other presi-
dent had attempted to do half the things
Roosevelt has not only attempted, but
DONE he would have been impeached. HUI
man nature is such that it makes great
difference who does things and under what
conditions.
1t has reached the pass that when i'm
portant matters come up, or are, likely
to, the president must be Seen"
Railroad stocks Hurried recently. Re,
suit, a trip to the White House to find
magnates of the country begging the OPP
portunity to call. A hostile word from
Roosevelt and values go tumbling.
When he smiles, stocks soar. If he should
be troubled with Indigestion and growl
out a threat-panic. But he isn't dys-
peptic.
There is this comforting thought. The
American public, wearied somewhat by
the mol of tiresome responsibility, may
have temporarily cast it upon the shout
ders of willing and trusty servant,.,but
it is the boss still! As no president
ever had the power of Roosevelt, so no
president ever stood in the searchlght as
he does. He holds his place only by and
during good behavior. The people CON
fide in him on the strength of what he
has done and is doing. They will even
overlook little things in him that do not
please. But let him abuse their trust,
let him tempt their favor or judgment
by acts that will disprove his fitness,
and Roosevelt, Great Roosevelt, would
be-the worst shattered idol of all his
tory. The American people is after all
the master, and no man knows it bet
ter, or will be governed more fully by that
knowledge, than the present occupant of
the White House.