The sun., 1907-03-19
CAV PRESEDENT ROOSEVBLTNAME
HIS SUCCESSORP
HOw It Looks TO q Writer In . Leading
EnKIish Review.
From ne National Rspisw for March.

From he National RSpiev for March.
Can President Roosevelt name his sue
cessor? That is a question a great many
politicians are asking, and the answer means
much more than the mere question would
imply. II President Roosevelt is powerful
enough to be able to control the decision
Of the next Republican convention he will
continue to be President in fact-assuming
the election of the Republican candidate
although not in name; the Roosevelt
dynasty" may be interrupted, but the
Roosevelt policies will continue without
break. But IL the convention acts without
regard to his wishes, rather in opposition to
them, the next Republican candidate will be
what Mr.. Roosevelt terms "a reactionary,"
and what his opponents call by the more
pleasing name Of "a conservative To the
conservative Mr.. Roosevelt is intensely
radical, too radical in fact, for their peace.
To Mr.. Roosevelt the conservative is
-reactionary.7 one who would destroy all
that Mr.. Roosevelt believes he has accom-
plished since he has been in the White House.
How much Mr. Roosevelt has already ac-
complished is not to be determined while
history is in the making. and criticism I'M
softened by the perspective of time needs
the verdict of the contemporary historian
cannot be safely ignored. The SUN, a
Republican newspaper, reaches the con-
Clusion thar the President has done incal-
culable harm and thus arraigns him:
Look at the state OF the country. Glass is ar
rayed against class. The relations between the
employer and the employed destroyed and
cnmity and hatred have taken their place. The
rich are held up 20 universal eGccratlon and arc
aSsailed in the pory which Mr.. Roosevelt has bullt
for them. All over the land there Is lmpatience
with the law and intolerance OF Judges. The con
stituted authorities are set al defiance.
From whom did the people derive their new found
hatred OF wealth?
Who seduccd organized labor from the paths Of
industry and sanity, Who became its selt-consti-
tutcd champion when he wanted to secure Its vOes'
Who Joined a union and prostituted himself and
his high place In his lust for ONCE
To whom do we owe the growing contempt for
the law and the widespread Impatience with Its
processes and dsreSpect OF It's oncerS that we see
throughout the country Can q more shocking or
dangerous example he set before the people than
that OF the President Of the United states rebuknV
an honest Judge for rendering opinion accord
ing 70 his conscience which opinion was distaSteful
to him. the President, personally?
When the President OF the United States inveighs
against wealth and casts about publicly for means
70 pull II down he invites violence. His idea I'm
plies violence. and the Imagination Of the people,
already most unwIseIy innamed will give practical
issue to H.
reaction in our prosperity may not he due for
some time but Mr.. Roosevelt Is seemingly bent on
pTecipitating IL.
II il generally admitted that Mr.. Roose-
welt will not again be a candidate. The
decision which it ia believed Mr.. Roosevelt
has reached is variously interpreted. Some
men believe that Mr.. Roosevelt is himself
conscious OF the fact that his popularity |
has reached its zenith, and for him again |
to offer himself as a candidate would be to |
run the very probable risk Of defeat, which |
would be an inglorious ending to a notable |
career. Other men do not concede the |
wane Of Mr.. Roosevelt's popularity, but |
fear two things may outweigh even the |
popular approval Of his course. One is |
the still virile tradition that two Presi- |
dental terms must constitute the measure |
OF any mans ambition. and in a third term |
lies the menace to the liberties and free |
institutions Of the Republic; the other is |
perhaps not i'll founded belief that all the |
power OF plutOoracy will be exerted to pre- |
vent Mr. Roosevelt serving another term. |
From these premises think this conclusion |
can be reached: II Mr.. Roosevelt is power |
ful enough TO name the candidate he may |
perhaps be powerful enough to secure his /
own nomination, but whether himself or |
another, it will be a man who thinks as he |
does and who will take him as his model; |
and if the convention is deaf to his voice /
N will be because the country has again /
become frightened of radicalsm and wants /
time to catch its breath. That has hap
pened before. America is at heart con-
servative, with an almost Unsuitable desire /
to try radical experiments; but it stops /
experimenting when the border line Of |
danger is approached.