New-York tribune., 1908-09-15
THE ROOSEVELT HEIR.

Mr. BRYAN has lost another legacy suit. Since
his nomination as the Democratic candidate Ior
President he has been advancing the rather
yenturesone claim that he Is better entitled to
Republican support than the candidate or the
Republican party That candidate was nom
mated On the theory that he was the one msn
in public life best fitted to carry out the poll
cies of President Roosevelt. He was nominated
with Mr. Roosevelt's approval and support. and
his strength in the national convention was dnc
chiefly to the pressure of sentiment within the
party in favor of a continuance through him "f
the Roosevelt programme. Yet in spite or this
unblemshed title TO the Roosevelt inheritance
Mr. Bryan nominated by convention whose
permanent chairman assailed the Roosevelt ad
ministration as a calamitous failure has been
trying to make it appear that he, not Mr. 1af''
should be recognized as the true heir or tue
Roosevelt estate am the sole beneficiary of the
good will which the present administrator en-
Joys with all classes Of voters.
! Not since Japhet went in search of a father
has so persistent an attempt been made TO cs-
tabIish a kinship at once flattering and prof
liable TO the patrimony hunter. According 10
our valued neighbor, "The New York World,
Mr.. BRYAN has exhibited a highly censurao!e
disregard of legitimate family affiliations sup
pressing his natural claim as the heir OF the
policies of Jefferson. Jackson, Calhoun. Ilden,
Cleveland and Parker TO pose as the loglcai
successor of Lincoln and Roosevelt. THE
World" maintains that Democratic candidate
for President should not dsavow his Democratic
en+ecedents and hide his Democratic label. Out
of respect for his family tree he should not Try
TO prove TO Republicans that he is a better Re
publican than his Republican opponent Sucn 4
course moreover, has it's pitfalls. for when 1t
comes to proving hershp there are always Wit
nesses whose testimony is final and privileged
President Roosevelt must be presumed TO Know
who is politically his next of kin and the IN
heritor of his policies and his emphatic testl-
mony leaves Mr. Bryan in the embarrassing
nostion of a man who has denied his own
household without getting a footing in the COW
eted rival family circle which he aspired to
enter. The only competent court has pro-
nounced his credentials spurious.
President Roosevelt's word on this subject
ought to be regarded as conclusive. We agree
entirely with The World that Mr.. Bryan,
"if he is wise will accept Mr.. Roosevelts de-
cison as final" The President ought TO know
to what extent Mr.. Taft sympathizes with him
in his aims and views. for they have worked
together for years in the closest intimacy Out
of the experience of those years Mr.. Roosevelt
unhestatingiy proclaims Mr.. Taft to be the man
hest fitted to follow him and continue his work.
I There is nothing hestating or perfunctory about
this designation. Intense conviction ana
friendly confidence glow in these words:
The true friend Of reform the true foe OF
! abuses is the who steadily perseveres IN
/ rishtins wrongs in warrng against abuses, but
whose character and training are such that ne
! never promises what he cannot perform, that
he always a little more than makes good What
/ he does promise. and that while steadily ad-
/ vancing he never permits himself TO be led into
! foolish excesses which would damage the very
/ cause he champions In Mr. Taft We nave a
/ man who combines all of these qualities to a
/ degree which other man in our puolc ilIe
since the Civil War has surpassed. To fam
ing hatred Of injustice, TO q scorn of all that Is
( bs se and mean. TO a hearty sympathy with the
! opDressed he unites entire disinterestednesS.
! courage both moral and physical of the very
! highest type and kindly generosity of nature
| which makes him feel that all of his fellow
countrymen are in very truth his friends ana
| brothers; that their interests are his. ana tnat
! all his great qualities to be spent with Law
;sb freedorn In their service Broad
( though his sympathies are, there Is In him not
! the slightest tinge of weakness. No consdera-
ton of personal interest any more than or rear
for his personal safety. could make him swerve
a hairs breadth from the course which he re-
CARDS as right and IN the interest of the whole
people
The Roosevelt policies the President says,
are also the Taft policies, and those who have
followed his own leadership will make no mis-
take in following the leadership Of a man SO
thoroughly fitted to continue what he has be-
gun Mr. Roosevelts letter demolishes the plea
of the false legacy claimant and leaves no
voter In doubt as to who is the rightful Ro0se-
welt heir.