The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1908-06-19
THE PENSACOLA JOURNAL FRIDAY MORNING JUNE 49, 1908

man Is Theodore Roosevelt AStflhSt
corruption in every form he has set
mis- face with grim determinaton,
prompt AMI fearless in action anu
with that intelligent leadership Wnlch
has assured the establishment or
better era in which the strong and
the weak alike must submit them
selves to the impartial execution OF
the law There was need OF
strong. courageous spirit to 'restrat1
those destructive forces which have
asserted themselves in this time OF
growth and plenty The story - his
achievements will make I'd one of
the brightest pages in the aISt Try OF
this or any age and will prove that
today, as in any critical hour OF so
cial unrest or of danger, the man VIII
appear who can grapple with the
emergency.
Follows RocseveIfs Footsteps
VINO so fit to take up the tasks
which this wondrOus generation de-
mandS should be wisely and Impair
TALLY performed as his great war
secretary? Since the day wnen, in
Benjamin Harrison's administration,
/ these two first met-the one as So
licitOr general, the other as a mem
Der o. the civil service commission
| they have been bound together by
like ideals and aims, by close ties OF
| friendship, and by the exchange OF
| mutual counsel, each with his own
| individuality and characteristics keep
| ing constantly in view the ennobling
vision of a better and a greater
America. They have not been salts
! fed that the temple of prosperity
Should be decked alone by the jewels
OF the fortunate and the Opulent, but
- -
more abound in trophies which COM
handed Justice and the maintenance
| of that equal opportunity which
spreads hope and blessing even to the
humblezt home. Since the day when.
Hess than thirty years of age, Mr..
fTaft denounced, with burning words,
la member o. his profession who had
sbeen guilty of fiagrantly vicious prac-
ttices and mad demoraliZed the COM
mUnitv. he has ever been associated
with the cause of true reform-With
that reform which will not content
itself with academic dissertation or
hollow words. He has been imbued
with the spirit OF action. His advo-
cacy of sounder conditions has never
arisen from a desire for the exploit
tation of himself 1T mas always
and the courage to speak the truth,
as he understands it. on all occl-
sions, no matter how influential or
powerful the evils which he may at
tack.
Taft's Fitness.
No one has ever vet assumed the
presidential chair who had received
more ideal preparation for the
duties of that great Office. AS judge
in state and federal courts, as solicit
tor general. as governor of the Philip
pines. as secretary of war, which has
included the work of colonial secre-
tary and director of national public
works. he has received his training
and has always shown himself mas
ter OF the situation and competent to
make more honorable and beloved
the American name. There have
been no years of inaction in his ca
reer. He has been continuously en-
gagged in weighty tasks and each sue
cessive service has been characterized
by an increasing influence upon most
vital questions.
In our domestic affairs, In whatever
position he has held, he has display
ed the rare union of a judicial tenn
permanent with an unsurpassed git
for administrative management. To
him belongs tae extremely valuable
faculty of eliminating the nOn-eSsen-
tial from complicated problems and
going directly to their substance His
capacity for work is enormous, yet
quite as helpful is his equable tenn
permanent with an unsurpassed gift
o: life to distract or
hamper him. Although OF an aggres-
Sive personality he possesses an in
finite good nature, charm OF man
ner and a poise which have made
MIN a model for exalted station. In
the final analysis even the highest Of
fcials must be judged as men, and
under this criterion Secretary Taft
is now and will ever be known for
his broad sympathies with every
grade OF humanity and as one invari-
ably actuated by that democratic
spirit which should characterize a
American. And yet no
one can for a moment hesitate to
recognize his severity in dealing with
wron g-doing. While no honest enter
prise need fear him, no dishonest
scheme could hope to hide its face
from the light or 10 escape punish
ment.
More than any other of our public
men he has had to do with our out
living dependencies and colonial rela-
tons 1t was he who took in charge
the prosecution of that colossal en-
terprise on the isthmus, the canal
uniting the lesser and the create
oceans. and under his directing hand
the completion of this most stUpen
dous of public works Is no longer Il
vague and distant hope. but an i'm
minent reality. With his ever-ready
skill as a pacificatOr. he restored
tranquility in the fertile Island of
Cuba, so often distracted by civil
strife. IN the far-Off Philippines, I'M
der d blazing tropical sky. he found
a people of many races and tribes,
degraded by centuries of misrule and
an there too he not only
established the rule OF law and local
control in place of confusion and
bloody strife. but showed the way TO
and new recog-
milton of the rights of man. For peO-
pies and races. like individuals. I'M
der the inspiration of friendly
uujdc NOV 1iTr rhpiP fares heaven