Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1909-09-17
A pROpHEsY.

That there fell over all, great calm
when MI Roosevelt left for Africa
will not be denied. That the corpora
ton, the trust, the .hief in government
employ, breathed easier as the ex-
president got further and further away
is as true IS the gospels. The calm
still reigns supreme. The present adj
ministrat on has become so nO;seless it
is positively painful. Padded feet,
gum shoes, rubber tires, all sound kill
ing devices indeed, have been brought
into use 81 the seat of National Gov
eminent, until in truth there is such
quiet p tilat:
"a Snow flake falling up in Maine
Is heard in Labrador"
There is of course often an OVERRIDING
CT anything. silence can be made more
painfully oppressive than the din OF
battle, or the most hideous noises
Human beings are not given to too
much quiet. They were given ears to
hear, and tongues to talk. A great
carnival, a good time indeed is never
complete without some cannon crack
ers and other sound making devices or
at least 81 re noise, some hubbub.
Nj Roosevelt has not been gone
more than S. months as yet, and
strange a. it ma seem the &C 1ntry is
beginning to wonder when he will re-
turn. In some parts the people are
hoping it will not be two long years.
In other parts they wish he were here
now that there might be something
doing. The dizziness of the present adj
mir 7trat on is so painfully oppressive
it is beginning so tell on the national
nerves. Americans want action, they
want results they want little excite
ment at least, and just now they are
not getting it. Everybody at Wash
ingtOn has gone to sleep. If hypoder-
mic had been administered last 4th of
March to everybody connected with the
government deeper and more pro-
found sleep would hardly have been
produced. Congress was convened, it
is true, the cabinet was changed and
the heads Of some minor officers have
fallen under the presidential axe. But
Congress created no stir, and melody
stirred it from the outside. A little bit
of message was sent in, about half a
column long, speaking from a news
paper stand point. 1t fell listleSsly on
the nation. 1t was small contribu-
ton OF piatitudes, citing former pla-
titudes, none of which, as the sequel
showed, had the slightest effect on
Congress, or were followed in any par
ticular, or commanded serious atten-
ZION from that body. The most impor-
tant law ever passed by Congress was
enacted. One going into every palace
and every howell; one touching the
most sensitive human nerve, the pock-
ct; one laying a heavier burden on. the
poor than had been ever laid before
even in times Of war, and yet not a
sound came from the White House, it
was as silent as a sepulcher.
This silence still reigns. The corpo-
rations, the trusts, the great monied
interests, whose ears were to the
ground during all the tariff making of
their dictation, have grown bold, and
are coming from their hiding. In four
years they will have again throttled
the nation. They cannot act decently
or clearly, so by that time there will
begin public clamor. Mark our
words. This clamor will be answered
by Mr.. Roosevelt, the public will call
on him 10 take up their fight, Re will
do it, and the South and the West will
be behind him in almost solid phalanx.