The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1908-01-02
Roosevelt and the Gbird Germ.

against the use OF his, name Tor the
second place on the national ticket.
How his nomination was brought
about is also well known, how the
great West insisted that he should be
the candidate, and carried it's point, is
now history. His enemies were dis
mayed at the success OF their scheme,
as thru it was revealed the wonderful
popularity of the man and the hold he
had obtained upon the hearts Of the
people, This popularity came to him
because he had always tried to be on
the side OF the right, and because he
was known not to be q self.seeker.
/ do not believe that any fair. minded
member Of this circle will say that he
has ever sacrificed his conceptions
of duty to. advance his per-
sonal interests. The circumstances
under which he became president i'm
posed upon him the duty of following
In the footsteps Of the 1amented Nc
Kihley and forwarding the avowed
Mckinley policy. Whether he car.
ried out that policy am unable to say,
but know that he SO carried himself
as to become the popular idol and to
secure in 1904 an overwhelming vote,
electing him President of the United
States, for the people believed in him
and trusted him.
If, IS governor Of New York he con-
suited only his own conscience and
considered only the public good, there-
by losing the much desired renomina-
tion to that Office, ID it likely that he
would act otherwise in his present
high Office after his repeatedly ex-
pressed purpose to retire at the end OF
this term? ] think not! Further
more, do not think that anything is
likely to happen which will move him
from it.
As I have already stated that GER
tain policies which must prevail SOON
er or later have been instituted by him,
l bel eve that were he to stand aside
for time and watch from the outside
the working of these policies that be
would get 9 clearer view of what he
has accomplished. AS mentioned be-
fore, these policies do not and cannot
depend on any one man; they are fun
damental, and the meaning of them is
that all are amenable to the law, that
justice must prevail, and that equality
Of opportunity must be preserved.
It took extraordinary courage to
turn these maxims into working prop
ositions, not courage as it is generally
understood, but the far rarer courage
which enables man to break with
friends, traditions and surroundings
for the sake of his convictions. IT
took determination of no mild charac-
ter, and sound common sense to carry
thru in the face of unrelenting otposi-
tion course of action which touched
the pockets of the most powerful men
in the country. These qualities our
president has shown, and he deserves
the gratitude of the American people
for it. Probably he was the only man
who could have accomplished what he
has. Such men always arise in Ameri-
can history when required, but to say
that, once under way, these policies
cannot continue except under one man
is to doubt the integrity and intelli-
gence of the American people. It is
we'll that we should prove to ourselves
and to the world that when once the
way has been made clear to US we can
follow it.
Without everyone appearing to rec.
ognize it, we are now at the beginning
of revolution, not to u fought out
as was that of the civil war, but not
less important and as far reaching in
its results. Not long ago one of the
most influential land / might add
most lawless) of our railroad magnates
said to q prominent citizen that the
railroads thru their alliances intended
to dictate the policy Of the nation. Nc
less question is now beforesthe Amer.
lean people and as the president, not.
withstanding his masterful spirit, has
made party leadership phase of his
business he cannot be the leader.
In conclusion 1 wish to cay that he
would do well to adhere to the spirit
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