The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1908-11-25

Department across the little asphalted
street, into the White House Office
building.
Washington had a prejudice against
Roosevelt, It did not take to him es-
pecially while he was serving here as
an official of the Harrison administra-
ton and of the first Mckinley admin.
lstratlOn. The politicians. who congre-
gated in Washington, had little except
seorn for him and his methods. They
laughed at him, treated his prospects
lightly, thought the country would soon
get wise" and all that sort of thing.
But Roosevelt fourished in spite of
their dire prophecies. He has never
won the sincere regard of voteless
Washington, although he has made the
politicians bow the suppliant knee.
Prospect of Popular Support.
Mr.. Taft 5 advent here as President
will be far more suspicious and. as the
years of his administration pass, it re.
mains to be seen, whether he wins the
enthusiastic support of the people, Post
master General Meyer said the ether
day that he noted, while ont on the
stump recently, that one could no longer
interest an audience by ringing the
changes on the distinguished names of
the Republican party. One could not
hold the attention by descanting upon
the great career of Lincoln and by COM
, ing down the line with Grant, Garfield,
| Mckinley and so forth, as the party
orators have been accustomed to do.
The audiences wanted argument and
reasons and they wanted to hear dis
eusson of latter day issues.
This may mean that the intense
fondness of Americans for political as
well as martial heroes is passing. 1t
may be more difficult hereafter for
one in public Office to hold the blind
devotion of millions, because he hap
pens to hold high place and does things
that fill the public eye. And yet there
is little reason to doubt that Mr. Taft
might make himself exceedingly pop
ular by the course of his administra-
tion and by his handling of the ma
tional questions of the hour that come
before him. There is still a large por-
tion of the American people who dear
ly love to worship at some political
shrine and who love to throw up their
hp4c 60 n4aL -,
fancy. These are the people who are
ALWAYS ready to substitute a new name
in the trio of great American presi-
dents. Eight years ago it was Wash
ington, Lincoln and Mckinley. Six |
years ago it was beginning to be |
Washington, Lincoln and Roosevelt, |
and that is how it stands today. But |
"a year from now, or two years from |
now, it will probably be Washington |
Lincoln and Taft. A great number of /
the American people must idolize /
someone, and they will be glad to idol
ize Taft, if he makes it easy for them,
as he probably will Roosevelt name
will gradually be retired from promi-
nence, Just as McKinley's has been.
The orators will use it less and less
glibly and the masses will shout for
Roosevelt less and less Justify as Taft
grows in their idol-loving affections.
Welcomed by Business World.
No President-elect since Mckinley
has been so cordially greeted by the
business world. The moment the
wires, on election night, made it plain
that Taft had won, the captains of
industry began to link his name with
a revival of prosperity. Ever since
that election night there has been a
great newspaper prosperity boom. Man
ufacturers have been announcing how
they were about to open their mills.
has been promised for
everybody at an early day. Every
and evening issue has teem-
ed with statements about the building
of fires under furnaces and the giving
of large orders to factories.
All this should help the new Presi-
dent, especially if the return of pros
perity is FASTENED. Probably times
will be better. Capital may be less
chary now of investment. Cuisines
believes in the new President. It
wants to be friendly with him, the
while it makes money. Therein he has
an advantage, for when Mr.. Roose-
Welt came into Office "business was
afraid of him. was far from friendly
and accepted him grudgingly.
How much a greater prosperity can
be made to order will be demonstrated
n the course of the next few months.
The success of the effort will go far
coward making or marring the admin
straton of President Taft 1t should
De borne in mind, however, that the
revision of the tariff is one of the first
asks to which the new administration
$ committed. It has been a favorite
Republican saying for the last decade
hat the tariff should not be revised
because it would disturb business, be-
.ause business would have to wait till I
he schedules were fixed that it might I
know on what basis of prices it had J
0 proceed.
Test Coming During First Year.
If this Republican saying be true,
t will be something of marvel if
business really gets into a high
inks and prosperity again touches !
Ugh water marks for year. For it
viii be midsummer before the new
ariff law is upon the books. Import
rs will not give their orders abroad