The Delta independent., 1908-04-17

In that dark hour of universal sor-
row following Immediately upon the
death of our beloved President Nc
Kinley, Vice President Roosevelt was
notified of the Presidents death by
| the members OF Mr.. McKinley's Cab
| met, then present in Buffalo, and ad-
vised to at once take the oath of Of
flee as President. The reply of the
then Vice President is significant:
Il shall take the oath at once, in
| accordance with your request, and
in this hour of deep and terrible ma
tional bereavement | wish to state
that it shall be my aim to continue
| absolutely unbroken the policy of
President Mckinley for the peace and
prosperity and honor of our beloved
country"
This declaration quieted the fears
of the people that there might be
change in the policy of the admin
istration. the uncertain nature oi
which would have a tendency to up
set, to a greater or less extent, the
HhduAldA anu NOLllltiNldA llNtLt ISIS VI
the country. In line with his solemn
declaration, the President requested
the members of McKinley's Cabinet to
remain at the head of their respec-
tive departments and constitute his
official family. as they had constitute
ed his predecessors. This invitation
was accepted. What Mr. Roosevelt;
is pleased to call his first term was
in reality, the second term of Presi-
dent Mckinley, by Theodore Roose-
welt, acting in capacity similar &c
that of an administrators with the will
| annexed. 1t may be conceded that
during those three and half year:
the people obtained some intimatioI
of the character of administration
Mr.. Roosevelt would inaugurate
should he be elected President, and
thus become free to carry out his owr
policies. As a matter of fact. how
ever. he never lost sight of his declar
alton. made in all solemnity at Buff
alo, Ito carry out absolutely un
broken the policy of President Nc
Kinley." How. then, can his re
election violate the substance an;
more than it does the form of the Gus
tom? 1t violates neither.
II the great mass of the American |
people, regardless of party affiliation.
himself, and | believe they do. IN |
questionably, it would be folly foI |
them to regard the statement of Mr. |
Roosevelt as conclusive The Office |
of President of the United States is |
so exalted. and its administration Sc
affects the welfare of all. that the |
people will never concede that any
citizen can refuse to accept it wher
rendered,
Mr.. Roosevelt, however, has no;
declared that he will decline the of |
flee should he receive the electorate |
vote of the nation. We need not feal |
that he would think of refusing it |
He is too good soldier and too pa |
triotic an American to refuse to ODE! |
the command of the people to stay in
the harness until he finishes the good
work he has inaugurated.
If the American people will stop to
think for a moment they will realize
that, barring death or serious ill
ness, President Roosevelt must au6
will be selected and elected for n sec
ond elective term The people arc
with hin, n h. haS
undertaken. They have the utmost
faith in his honesty of purpose. They
appreciate his transcendant ability to
deal with the great problems now
confronting the state. They realize
his courage. his initiative, his vast
experience. his tremendous capacity
for effective work. They believe in
his purpose to enforce the law i'm
partially, without respect to person
wealth or station. They have an
abiding faith in the ultimate gooo
that will result to this nation from
his persistent campaign against legal
and moral wrongdoing. They COM
prehend the value of having such
nan as Chief Executive.
No other man has such hold upon
The confidence OF the people. No 9TH
sr man can gain such confidence
without years OF trial. The people
know what Roosevelt Is: they do not
know what some other man may be
come. The policies Of Roosevelt are