The Washington herald., 1907-09-19
Take Roosevelt at His Word.

An oyster Bay report says that the
President, in a forthcoming speech. in
tends to emphasize anew and in the
strongest possible manner his frrevocable
determination not TO be a candidate for
reelection.
Il IS TO be hoped this is true Further
more it is to be hoped that the Republi-
can party will take him at his word this
time and put an end to the movement for
a third term or a second elective term.
II Theodore Roosevelt will consent. OF
can be forced TO carry the party standard
again. the Prudential nomination is his,
This is 10 be taken for granted. But if
he is sincere in what he says-and no
body should question his sincerity-then
the sooner the country comes TO a COM
plete and hnal realization of the fact the
better il will be for the country
A clearing OF the political atmosphere
is altogether desirable Nobody expects
the President 20 eliminate himself from
the political equation He is not built
that way. But he can remove ali un-
certainty as TO the course he means %
pursue. If under any conceivable circum-
stance-a thunderous call from the peo-
pie, as his soD-in-law lately suggested.
or a contingency preCipitated by his enc
mics. as oyster Bay visitors now init
mate-he is to change front and make
the race. everybody may be very sure
right now that that conceivable circum-
stance or contingency will arise AT the
proper time Then he viii be nominated
and. no doubt elected.
The Washington Herald. while by no
means enamored Of Mr.. RO0sevelts ad-
ministration as a whole. has given
its ardent and unqualified approval 10
the paramount policies-d0mestic policies
that have distinctly marked his tenure.
His courageous stand for public and cor
porate honesty deserved the hearty COM
mendation of right-minded, unseldsh peo-
pie which it has received. The ends
aimed al and achieved if not the means
employed. challenged admiration in the
very nature of things Sins of omission
and commission in the administration
unpleasant episodes and controversies
that surely viii not be analysed with
credit by the calm historian-have been
cOmplaceutly overlooked these past few
years because Of belief in Roosevelt the
man. No other President Of his genera
ti0H ever exercised so wholesome an in
hUence upon public sentiment; none was
ever SO closely in touch with the masses
of American mankind
But is 81 continuation of an admiuistra-
ffn4r ar,ro~ V..a.--11+ TT~.- -l..r.F.1 o.. ..,.-
welfare ana prosperity? Our honest
candid opinion is that it is not Giving
him the fullest possible credit for his
signal achievements. recognizing the wide
spread influence for good his personality
has exerted. It is nevertheless daily be-
coming clearer that a change March T.
1909 viii not be without its reassuring
and beneficial effects.
There is 10 De no turning backward
There can be no such thing. Remote IN
deed Is the danger of a reacronary at
tanning power Problems yet 90 be solved
viii be solved. and solved right But IL
in their solution less exciting methods
the methods OF an unspectacular Hughes.
for eXampIe-be employed. unaccompanied
by UuseemIy quarrels ou the side and
forced recruits 10 the Ananias Club OF
men who perchance happen 10 have minds
of their owu-the country. it seems now,
is bound 20 be the gamer thereby
Therefore il IS not out of place 20 hope
that Theodore Roosevelt viii say il again
and say II good and strong, and that the
masses universally viii take him at his
word