The morning journal-courier., 1908-02-05
POWER OF THE PICTURESQUE.

POWER OF THE PICTURESQUE.
 The running debate Tn the lower l house of the congress between the ora tors of the two great parties shows that the opening battle has been begun. From now on until the election is held in November we shall be treated to a continuous rapid-fire discussion with Rooseveltism as the theme. The debate in the house on Monday between Rep resentative Hepburn and Representa- tive Cochran showed clearly how the congressional mind Is moving and what the national legislators expect the is- sue to be. There is no doubt what ever of the adjustment of the Demo- crats to the all powerful Bryan move ment. The Republicans, while they mention the name of no one of the candidates, confess that the latest message of tho President has made his policies the platform upon which they must go before the country.
 The more one considers the situa- ton, therefore, the more apparent 1t be- comes that it Is not inconceivable that President Roosevelt will necessarily have to be renominated against his protest if the Republican party is to remain in control of the varied reform movement MT. Bryan has frankly commended him for the policies he has advocated with such strenuosity and has threatened to run for the presidency as their advocate if in abandoning MT Roosevelt the Kepub- licans abandon his programme. This makes it apparent that MT Bryan is convinced that the President cannot even with his great will power. clothe another with his political raimcnt If he is not to wear 1t himself MT. Bryan claims it as his property. It Is this un-
 
 paralleled situation in the political history of the country that absolutely upsets all calculations and makes anything possible before the summer has half run it's course. With the Dem ocrats in the house of representatives and in tho senate deliberately cham pioning the Presidents attitude and courage, with the Republicans in both houses wing with their enemies in praise of him, and with Mir. Bryan preaching everywhere the doctrines of the White House the logic of the sit uation would appear to inevitably de- nand the nomination of both Mir. Roosevelt and MT. Bryan, and from the Republican point of view in par ticular the nomination of the former in order to escape the election of the latter. Mir Roosevelt may not want the honor, as he has said he docs not. He may yearn for private life, which he
 
 has intimated would be to his liking but as has been said before in the edi- torial columns of The Journals Courier 1t is conceivable that his personal pre- ferences will have to be set aside foi what will be considered the welfare ot an historic party. No Republican poll. tician will make it easier for MT Bryan to be elected
 It is at this point that the power o the picturesque to shape the immedi ate future of the United States comes in for consideration: that is the powel of the Roosevelt Bryan campaign methods to fascnate the American voter Considerable of revolution hal been wrought in the life of this coun try since 1896. The angle point O many things has changed even though fundamental principles remain as un disturbed as ever. She lid has beer removed from the seething caldron Q life and In consequence knowledg, has been gained which las given fore, and substance to radical reform lin dertakings. It is wholly out of thu question. for example, to expect re turn this year or four years from now If ever again, to the uuieter method of consideration and administratio, Kinley and all of his imciediate ore decessors since the organization of tn Republican party. Vested interest may pray Tor il, the calm philosophe may add h.s sAite to the expression D it's demands and the man behind tn handbook may preach it's necessity Now that the great American clector ate has tasted of the sweets of aEita ton and beccrla convinced that it cause is being fought by two pictur esuue men employing picturesqu means to win the vict iry, it is in II mood to be told that regeneratio must he sought ': conservative meth ods. The pc ,rIo have shown in mum her or impressive ways that they ar under the fascination of the pictui euue crusader :, od so long as th-v cor tinue to sLo" q prcfeicICe fol 1il the practice, r .litician. whose trad ii to win battles not to quarrel ove