The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1910-02-18
BACK FROM ELRA.


Commenting on the movement to
have President Roosevelt land at
San Francisco upon his return from
Africa and tour the country, Con-
gresham Champ Clark is quoted as
saying that his tour would be the
greatest show that the world has
seen since the morning stars first
sang together" The picturesque
language of the Missouri Congress
man pretty accurately describes the
situation. Unquestionably tour OF
the character mentioned would be
the most spectacular event that this
country ever witnessed. BY the side
of it the famous journey of President
Grant upon his return from his trium-
phant tour of Europe would pale into
insignificance.
Roosevelt is one of the most re-
markable characters that this coun-
try ever produced. 1t is doubtful If
our political history has ever known
another equally as versatile. He is as
much at home talking race suicide to
a Mothers Congress as he is writing
a trust busting message to Congress;
he is equally as much in his element
delivering lay sermons on civic duty
as when writing to my Dear Harri-
man" for campaign contributions
from the predatory interests. No
power is too formidable for him to
attack; no name too powerful for him
to tarnish with election to his Ananlas
Club; no precedent too sacred for him
to trample under foot with the most
spectacular display.
Although a man of wonderful pow
er: versatile, courageous, able, adj
roit, a student of human nature,
Roosevelt is considerable of a hum
bug. But herein lies no small ele-
ment of his tremendous influence
with the American people. Hancock's
declaration that the tariff was local
issue contained more truth than
Barnums celebrated observation that
the American people dearly love to
be humbugged. The avidity with
which they took in" Cook and were
in turn taken in" by him is case in
point were proof wanting.
Roosevelt left the Presidential chair
the most popular man in America,
yes in the world He had the largest
personal following that any Ameri-
can ever had And events which have
transpired since he left office have
increased his already tremendous
hold on the affections of the masses
of his fellow citizens To them
Roosevelt is the very personification
of reform with capital "R." He is
the friends of the oppressed; the inn
placable foe of predatory interests;
the apostle of the square deal. And
some how the idea is growing all the
time that his successor in office is
drifting further and further away
from the people In the public mind
he is coming more and more to be as
ISOLATED with Aldrich and Cannon and
the other reactionaries.
1t is safe to say that when Roose-
welt does return, no matter where he
may land, the event will be rendered
forever memorable in the annals OF
his country. He will receive a re-
ception the like of which has not been
known since Napoleon returned from
Elba. Whether his political star Will
remain for long in the ascendency or
whether like that of Napoleon 1t Will
soon sink behind the rocky hills OF
st. Helena to rise no more only the
future can tell. But while he does
move and have his being upon the
political armament there is going to
be something interesting to record
and newspaper copy" will not be
wanting.