The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1908-11-27

tion and of the first Mckinley admin.
istration. The politicians, who congre-
gated in Washington, had little except
scorn 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's 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 other
day that he noted, while out 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
cussion of latter day issues.
This may mean that the intense
fondness of Americans for political as
well MS 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-
ton and by his handling of the ma
! tional questions of the hour that come
before him. There is still a large por
ton of the American people who dear
| ly love to worship, at some political
shrine and who love to throw up their
hats for man who can catch their
fancy. These are the people who are
always ready to substitute 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. great number of
the American people must idoliza
someone, and they will be glad to idol
ize Taft, if he makes il easy for them,
as he probably will. Roosevelt's name
will gradually he 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 MS 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. Ihe 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.
Employment has been promised for
everybody at an early day. Every
morning and evening issue has TEEN
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. 1t
wants to be friendly with him, the
while it makes money. Therein he has
an advantage, for when Mr. Roose-
welt came into office "businessD was
afraid of him, was far from friendly
and accepted him grudgingly.
How much greater prosperity can
be made to order will be demonstrated
in the course of the next few months
The success of the effort will go far
toward making or marring the admin.
istration of President Taft. 1t should
he borne in mind, however, that the
revision of the tariff is one of the first
tasks to which the new administration
is committed. 1t has been favorite
Republican saving for the last decade
that the tariff should not be revised
because it would disturb business. be-
cause business would have to wait till
the schedules We're fixed that it might
pSnow on what basis of prices it had
to proceed.
Test, Coming During First Year.
If this Republican saying be true,
it will be something of n marvel if
"business" really gets into high
links and prosperity again touches
high water marks for a year. For it
will be midsummer before the new
tariff law is upon the books. Import
ers will not give their orders abroad
before the signature of the new Presi-
dent is attached to the Forthcoming
Payne law, factories will hardly run to
their capacity till their owners know
Just how much or how little protection
they are to have against foreign com.
petition. Confidence has already re.
turned to some degree, which is en-
couraging. But if the new President
Epanc tha anuntrN, nm an a,-a,, Eaa1 Inr-