The Republican. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1903-1909, 1908-07-04
MY CON ,EPTION OF TRF PRESIDENCY

fBy WILLIAM rArr Noxx REPUBLICAN
PRESIDENT or UNuED STATES
In the four years that | have been member of
the cabinet have become familiar with the response
bties and burdens of the presidency to know that
man can afford to unduy seek that great office If he
is attracted by honor and power alone without the hope
of being useful he is unworthy of the honor and unfit
for the use of the power He must prefer for the sake
of his own peace of mind never to be president to be-
ing poor president. Confident that the platform
which he stands is for the best interests of the nation
he is untrue to himself and his supporters if he does
not fight vaianty for election after he accepts the
leadership But, of course, he must draw the line at
any compact which will not leave him free of promises
and of the control of any faction.
The presidents duties clearly outlined by the con-
sttuton have grown broader in their Interpretation
with the growth of the country. He should be in the
prime of years, health and vgor. The capacity for
hard work is better equipment than genius in master
ing the essentials of all the departments of the govern
ment and undergoing the strain OF countless interviews
He should look not only to those in office but to those
out of office in all branches of private activity for IN
formation and opinion in order that he may arrive at
the truth when he is surrounded by the conflict of in
terests which come to him with the fair words of the
special pleader.
the loniest in the United States Elected directly
by the people, their representative head from them, in
the sober thought of the majority he will get his best
counsel They as a WHOLE view public affairs unseE
ishly. Though Indifference preoccupaton with prl-
vate affairs may keep them from attending primaries
or scanning closely either candidates measures they
can center the president their instrument tor the
expression of their wishes He should always be near
the people in thought and near them in person as his
position will permit In common with the people, he is
human and he must ask their charity for his mistakes
When they have ceased to believe in his sincerity and
uprghtness of purpose, his is cherries task Once
convinced that he has OWNED and is carrying out their
real WISH neither elated by any ephemera ouburst OF
applause nor diverted by any outburst of censure he
must proceed unwaveringly always by lawful methods
to the accomplishment of the popular will.
From Washington he may learn nobility, fortitude
and forthrghtness Lncolns life and speeches must
be his source of inspiration when he is misunderstood
and he has to say to himself Patience and cheer" 1t
is easier since had Lincoln than was before to be
good president He set standard.
It remained for Roosevelt to prove how the people
will respond to strong and true leadership when the
hour has come for great reforms The policies which
he naugurated must be continued and developed They
are right and they the policies of the people For
that reason his may well disregard any charge
of lack of originality if he does not make entirely
new program of his own.
president at this time has work before him clear
" defined The enforcement of the law equally against
high and low the powerful and the weak should be his
first thought The danger to our country from laxity
or fayortism this the greatest we have to face
The conservation of our national and their
development for the of all along the lines of equal
opportunity too must command his immediate attention
It should be his aim to give high tone to his adminstra
ton as Mr.: Roosevelt has by surrounding himself with
men of earnest enthusiastic interest in the public veal
and of the cleanest but most effective methods
er's Weekly.