The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-09-09
THE SAME ROOSEVELT.

Rooseveits speeches in the West. now
the subject Of general press comment-in
the East with unsparing criticism and in
other sections with qualified approval or
ardent commendation-as a matter OF fact
are quite in keeping with all his previous
utterances.
He is no more radical to-day than when
he was President Of the United States.
The ideas he is promulgating are neither
newly-conceived on his part nor original
with him; but. clothed in new form and
fitted TO situation peculiarly tense and
unique double significance attaches to
them, nevertheless.
Il Is his taking the leadership Of the
progressive unconventional his views,
which are as Bryanesque as they are
Rooseveltian-that is fraught with ma
tonal political Importance.
He has made no partisan political
speeches. it is true, but in going into the
very heart Of the insurgent country and
identifying himself with a party revolt
he took a step at once momentous in its
influence upon his own and his party's
future.
Only few short months ago he told his
countrymen that William Howard Taft
would make a better President than he;
that 20 him. Roosevelt. had been given the
task Of pioneering and clearing the way.
but upon his chosen successor would de-
volve the more important work OF con-
struction. and for the performance Of
which his training and experience had
equipped him, Taft, in extraordinary de-
gree.
Everybody knows shat Taft has pro-
ceeded with that duty as It has been
given him TO see that duty. and positive
achievements have attended his efforts
But Roosevelt, either dissatisfied with
the progress made and convinced that
further pioneering is necessary, or. after
reflection in the African forest. led to the
conclusion that he, and he alone, can do
the work. IS again a dominating factor In
the situation.
How else can his talk be construed
than that he expects TO be called back TO
power? Mark his continued and threat
ening use Of the personal pronoun-"I
will do this" I will hurt them" &c
especially as emphasized only yesterday
in his Freeport speech.
II st mean, as It seems. that ne will
again seek the Presidency. after declining
a second term. he will encounter a resist
ance within his party such as leaders
great as he have been unable to overcome
in the past. AS at present constituted
the Republican party viii not nominate
him-at least not without a split as wide
as that which rent the Democratic party
asunder in 1896 and left it stranded for
fourteen years TO come
But to return to his speeches.
II he now attack the courts. did he not
months ago fay Circuit Judge Hum.
phreys for a trust decision which he dis
approved?
If he now manifest Impotence will
constitutional restrictions. did he not wher
President show ready disposition to over
ride that sacred instrument to reacl
executive ends?
II he be now decrying against richie.
that benefit not the community in tn,
accumulation or the spending thereof. di,
he not thunder out in the past agains
swollen fortunes "malefactors OF grea
wealth." the predatory interests. an,
the like?
II he talk about crooks to-day, did h,
not also talk about crooks in other DAYS
A comparison Of his speeches since h
came upon the public stage reveals NJ
startling change Of thought. no glarin,
Inconsistency or ineXplicable contradic
ton.
lie is the same Theodore Roosevelt h
has ever been-radical and given to pic
turesque epigrammatlc language as pr
vate citizen and ex-Presldent, Just as h
was radical and given to the same thin
when he was President. II there be
difference, it is in the present effect Of hi
words. not in the words themselves.
Perhaps the country, in progressivel
working out its destiny. is less inclined t
accept his preachments and assent to hi
contributions TO national discomfort. Ger
tainly this is the case in the East-evet
in quarters by no means out Of sympath
and accord with the insurgent movemen
and its aims
Or, perhaps. Theodore Roosevelt skill
ed in the art Of politics as few men ar