The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-03-27
RoAsTs FoR ROOSEVELT.

BOASTS For ROOSEVELT.
President Roosevelt, who can below
louder, abuse more roundly and de-
scribe more pungently than any pub
lie writer in America. has ceased to
objurgate. After the roar of the
mighty Hon, the gentle coo of suck
ing dove is sweetly restful. Where
fore the weakling. the craven, the
mollycoddle, the ruthless blackmailer,
the criminal rich, the predatory
millionaire and all the piratical and
pusillanimous crew which he has so
valiantly harassed can breathe in peace.
New York is rubbing it's eyes at the
White House.
Says the New York American:
If the Presidents message is to be
construed, as it must be, into an APP
peal for the passage of the Hepburn
bill, 1t Is fair evidence. that the panic
has hit the White House and carried
decentralization to the Chief Executive
1t Is a long jump which the President
has made in a night from the idol of
the plain people of the country to the
smiles and cheers and adulations Of
the great thoroughfare which the peo-
pie have never learned to love or
trust.
Nor is the Presidents position likely
to be satisfactory to the laboring men
of the country. 1t adds nothing to the
advantages which already belonged
to American labor, but it distinctly
takes away some OF the vantage ground
already enjoyed. We are inclined to
think that the Chief Executive will
hear from the leaders of the labor
movement before the week is over.
And the New York World comments:
In other circumstances it might be
difficult to believe that the hand which
no longer ago than January 31st pur-
posed to cut out rottenness from the
body polite" is the same hand that is
now so gently massaging all the sore
spots in the elements of political in
fluence The message fully confirms
the report that a Republican national
convention will be held June 18th and
that there will be a presidential election
in November. at which my policies are
to be submitted to the people.
If anybody who votes or contributes
to a campaign fund was overlooked IN
the preparation of this special mes
sage it was not because Theodore
Roosevelt does not aim to please.
While the classic, dignified and
esoteric Evening Post sums up the
situation thus:
There will doubtless be flippant re-
marks on the contrast between the gen
tie roaring of the Presidents message
to-day and the cataclysmic violence of
the one he sent to Congress on Jan
uary 31st If this is the right tone
for n. state paper, that was distinctly
the wrong one; and 1t is. as Lord Pal.
merston observed the tone that makes
the song in public utterances. But we
will not dwell upon the condemna-
ton of his own previous methods which
is implied in the quiet communication
which Mr., Roosevelt makes to Con-
gress to-day. He inevitably recalls
that servant of Sheridan's who dropped
a plate warmer with a crash, but who
fastened to assure his master that
nothing was broken. do you mean
to tell me- demanded Sheridan, that
you made all that noise for nothing?"
All told, the message and the poll
teal negotiations which lie back of
it are to be taken as intended to set
the Republican party in battle array.
Democrats who had been foolishly
thinking that Republican divisions and
quarrels would give them an easy vic
tory must now see their blunder. The
Republican genius for political gen
eralshp Is once more in evidence. IT
has even been equal to inducing the
Rough Rider to get off his horse and
turn his Big Stick into an olive branch
From this multitude of counsel and
comment energies one indubitable fact
the Republicans will remain in power
| ii platforms, planks and messages will
keep them there.