The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-05-12
COUNT ONE ron THE COLONEL.

COUNT ONE FOR The COLONEL.
Some of our friends have been dis
posed to resent the diarial account we
have been giving of the Colonel and
his progress through the old moth
eaten countries OF Europe. and we are
much surprised and panied that we
have caused them the least distress
as much panied and surprised doubtless
as they would be panied and surprised
to know how many other persons with
a fine sense of hunor have expressed
pleasure at the entirely human view
we have taken of "the heir of all the
ages in the foremost files of time"
We know our hero probably as we'll
as any of the protestants and we have
doubtless known him longer than the
most of them; and we know him rather
for his ability to destroy than to build
up. II he is not at ali abashed by his
experiences among the effete civiliza
tions Of an outworn world. we should
not be denied the privilege and duty
of saying how 1T all looks TO us and
Z TO other men who, like us, Will take to
the tall timber as soon as he sets foot
once more on this, my own, my native
land" lie would not have been pos
sible anywhere else, and that ought to
be enough glory to go around. They
say he can't ride, but never was a
horse that could throw him. They
say that he never made that historic
charge at San Juan Hill ON fact, he
has said so HIMSELF, but that Chat
and Tom Platt's desire to put him on
the shelO was what elected him Vice
President. They say" that he is no
sort of a politician, but he is Just a
little ahead OF any other man who has
ever tickled the cars of the ground :
lings.
They said" that he could not make
speech, but he has made more speech
Is and spoken in more languages and
dialects and in more countries than
any other man born in this land OF
free speech. He is ION TO his Job all
the time: but we regard him as the
most dangerous man in all the political
history of this country-dangerou be-
cause he is irresponsible dangerous be-
cause he is not governed by law or
Constitution or precedent; dangerous.
particularly, because he has caught the
temper of the mob. we would have
the people understand him, without be-
ing blinded to his imperfections and his
mortal weaknesses. :
We must say that the Colonel has
done one thing on his present journey
through Europe that was becoming to-
my mothers people" Last sunday
night the citizens OF Stockholm gave
dinner in his honor and after the
dinner was served this is what the
Colonel did:
Before responding to the toast given
by the Premier and answering his more I
than kind speech haze his permission
TO propose a toast nayseif.- i come here
tonight as your guest at q time when
a great nation friendly to your nation
and TO mine is bowed with grief at
the loss of her sovereign. The British |
people mourn the loss of a Wise ruler, !
whose sole thought was for their well |
fare and for the good of mankind, and
the citizens OF other nations can Join
with them in mourning for man who
showed throughout his term of king
ship that his voice was always raised
for justice and peace among the ma
lions. ! therefore propose that we eX-
press our profound sympathy for the
people of the British Empire, our re-
greet and regard for the King who is
dead and our good wishes for the King
who is about to; take his place upon
tho throne of Great Britain by rising
and drinking in silence a toast to the
British people in their hour of sorrow
and trouble
That was well done and it was alto
gether creditable 10 the Colonel. 1t
IS not, however, in his speaking about
the dead of which we find fault, but in
his speaking TO and for the living. 1t
IS in the things that he says and in the
things that he did while ne was in an
thority, and In the things that he
would do ii he should be returned TO
power that he is really 10 be dreaded;
for no man in this country should be
greater than The. laws which govern
the country, and the Constitution upon
which its institutions are established
Yet we must say that he is the most
remarkable figure of these times
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