Fergus County Democrat., 1908-12-22
GIVE US A REST.

be extremely gratifying to a very large
number of the American people II tor
no other reason than that it will give
the nation a greatly desired rest from
the Rooseveltian strenuosities. 10 the
millions who are becoming most awfully
weary of the ever more frequent tan
tumric outbursts of the spoiled favor
ite in the White House, The fourth OF
March cannot come too quickly
The Roosevelt regime of seven years
has been one of the most popular III
the history of the country. The basis
Of this popularity has been the very
general belief that the president is hon
estlv trying 20 bring about reforms de-
sired by the people; that his endcavors
to curb the powers Of the giant money
interests OF the nation are genuine and
that he was not deferred from ms high
purpose by the mendacious assaults OF
the trusts and their allies.
But with all Of his big ideas and high
purposes, President Theodore Roosevelt
has also shown himself capable OF IN
sulferable smallness on too many oc-
casions. His proneness to dip into al
fairs which DO not properly concern him
has shown no abatement as times mas
progressed His Attitude OF the big
bully with a large chip conspicuously
perched on his shoulder, ever ready to
smash the lofty traditions OF his Office
and stullify the high position which he
holds by the suffrage Of the people; hls
childish willingness TO use the big club
which his office placed in his hands to
swat the pates of those who are SUI
ficiently Independent to criticise him,
have at last begun to wear on 5he nerves
even of his most ardent admirers.
1t is fortunate for Theodore Roose
Welt that ne is soon to retire from OF
flee. Had he four years longer to serve,
il seems certain that his popularity
would change to dislike if not to dis
gust His utter lack Of refinement, his
positive brutality in cudgeling those who
have aroused his resentment have at last
aroused a general feeling of anger
against the presidents injustice. AL
though the chosen leader OF the people
he has proven himself utterly unable to
control even himself. Were the Ameri-
can people to take our president as Il
model of personal conduct, the force OF
every police court in the land would be
doubled and dubbed heads and blacken-
ed eyes would be the prevailing fashion
Of the day.
An ability to control his temper does
not necessarily Indicate that one is Il
mollycoidle. Because he refuses to se.
Theodore Roosevelt upon a pedestal and
worship him does not positively con-
Wet him of being an undesirable cit
Ien.
The presidents latest display of an
ungovernable rage was his attack up
On "a couple of newspaper men who dared
criticisc the men chiefly concerned in
promoting the deal whereby this nation
paid $4,000, 100000 for the strip of land
across which the Panama canal is be-
ing dug. There has never been very
clear understanding as to where this big
sum of money went. 1t is generally
considered that William Nelson CrOm
we'll, the Standard Oil attorney wh'
handled the deal, got Il cool million ou
of it, All of the evidence at hand IL
dicates that other parties not concern
ed with the French government got SOM
liberal slices. =
1t was the peoples money and tn
New York and Indianapolis papers az
doing distinct public service in tryin
to get at the bottom of the entire tran
saction. Roosevelt sent special mes
sage to congress excorating the editor
of the two papers for taking up tn
question.
For once in his life, MIR. Rooseve
has got as good as he sent. Mr.. Josep
Pulitzer, editor OF the New Yor
World, one of the papers which are tt
objects of the Roosevcltian wrat
hands the fire eating gentleman at tt
other end of Pennsylvania avenue II
following, which ought to hold him fl
a few moments:
First Case Les Majestic.
''rhis is the first time presidel
ever asserted the doctrine if l.
Majestic or proposed, in the absence
specific legislation, the criminal pros
cution by the government or the co
duct of individuals who may have Ia
dealings with the government. Meth
the king OF Great Britain nor the CT
man emperor would venture to ar
gate his power to himself. John Adam
attempt to enforce the sedition law {
stroyed the federalist party in Ameri
Yet MIR. Roosevelt, in the absence
law, officially proposes to use all t