The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-02-19
WALKING snNsn.

I Rt@&IfAA@&%Et present tendency of many Democratic leaders to represent the President as q | typical Democrat and the disposition Of a continustion of Roosevsltism. 1t | is in my opinion. not only wrong nj | rrinciple, but unwise in. policy. II is both bad patri.otism l and poor tactics, <. ]. | initiative and abdicates the historic, | characteristic and benefcient doctrines | of the organization. It obscures the | to involve us in endless commitment to extravaRant expenditure and the tndefi- nite multiplication of the functions of government.
 Theodore Roosevelt it's doctrine of the greatest good to the greatest number, and it can so on championing the well 1 est of the few without relinquishing 1 it's great principles of home rule, local self government the preservation of the autonomy of the States. ana an .h tne 5es- ses- ance among the coordinate branches of the national government. Not only is there danger that we may be guilty or tions Of American constitutionaiisra. but believe it to be poor party policy l to threaten tn country with four years more of unrest uncertainty. and ana sap- I itic must. like the physical body nnq some repose after Q prolonged period os strenuous exertion and nervous excite- ment. 4.-z. --l-. .4.L
 believe that the country. while de- termined to take no backward step m maintaining the rights of corporatiops, Is inclined to pause 2 while ana ,.s taae ment I believe the people are rsady to welcome President who would pc content to enforce the laws without i beiisve. in short that it would be both patriotic and polite for the Demo cratic party to promise the nation lucid interval of Constitutional govern ment.
 There are strange phases in politics especially of late years. as all know who have kept up with the alterations and flounderinss of parties and party leaders. but one of the strangest to our own mind Is this continual en- dorsement and praise of Roosevelt by thoss who set thensefyas up--or are set up by 4heir foiiowsra--as leaders of Democracy and Democrats. It is to be regretted that Mr. Bryan himself is one of the greatest sinners in this respect, but he has plenty of imitators. To praise Roosevelt the man. Roosevelt the President and Roosevelt the poii- tician. and to extoI his methods and policies as Democratic is not only . travesty on language but is 2 down. right insult to the old Demoerats who have kept the faith and have striyen so hard and So earnestly to hold the |
 party in the correct path.
 Theodore Roosevelt lacks as much of being Democrat as any man who ever occupied the position he holds. Roosevelt's policies ana methods and actions are as far from Democracy as were those of Hayes or any other Re- publican President. It would be im- possible for man of any intelligence to be such marrow partisan that he would never advocate or accept any thing that the other party believed in, and it would be difficult for Repub- lican President fo refrain from say. ing and doing things that would be in line with Democracy, but such oe- caslonal deviations from strict Rspub. licanism would not entitle him to wear the badge of Democracy or to receive the plaudlts of Democrats.
 What, in heavens name, can our party gain or hope to gain by this almost unqualified praise and adulation of Roosevelt and his actions? Ii Roosevelt is such good Democrat, fl he is such wise President. and if he is engaged in carrying out and estab- fishing the principles of Democracy, why make any change at all? Why go
 to the trouble and expense of trying to elect "a man to displace one who is doing what we believe in and desire done? If Roosevelt deserves all the | praise and endorsement that some Democrats are giving him. why not let him be elected--or some man of his own kind-and not make any contest over 1t?
 Do Democrats want the presidency merely for the power and patronage 1t carries with ii? or do they want it for the higher and better purpose of bringing the government back to the old moorings from which it has of late become so widely separated? If the former. let us adopt any method that will promise success; if the lat ter. let us put up the best fight that is in us for Democracy, pure and un- defled. and quit the absurd plan of trying to advance our own cause by praising Roosevelt and his dangerous policies. AIT
 As Mir. Towne says. Democracy does not owe Roosevelt anything, nor is it under any obligations to him. There is yet such a thing as real Democracy. or there is not. If there is let us stick to it and strive to bring 1t into power on the strength of it's own prin- ciples and not by endorsing Roosevelt. If there is no longer any better Dem ocracy than is represented by Theo- dore Roosevelt then the sooner our party disbands the better. We are heartily sick of hearing praise of Roosevelt from men who ought to be