The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1910-11-01
THE DANGER.

Fvow az drtcis ~ wnliam Carro6 Byossa ia Ne
No~ta Assrean Rsvsr for Ssssnssr
our own founders limited the term for
which = President could be elected 90 four
years. and they also undoubtedly Intended
the device Of an electoral college TO operate
As check upon popular impulse. That
device failed But when Warrington re-
tired at the end OF his second term his sx-
ample WAS quickly seized upon and con-
verified into precedent "A precedent which
has hitherto proved strong enough 10 keep
any OF his successors from serving longer
than he did.
That precedent has undou btediy had
great weight with the electorate. but It
has also had the effect Of sn admonitioc and
an appeal 10 washin ston's succs lsors them
selves. and 10 not one 81 these has it ever
appealed 70 logically a. II does to-day tS
Theodore Roosevelt. All that . have said
and all that can he aid In praise OF his
character and his achievement merely
mAkes IL 30 much tho moro applicable TO
bis case. For tho Kind OF danger con-
templstsd In the apprehension which hiss
made that precedent % effective could no;
como from . weak man. but only from .
strong man. II could not como from an Nm
popular man or man generally distrusted.
but only from man grown too popular.
Q man trusted too widely and too sla vishly
or course too he man to he feared mnst
first to last bsen aeenly ambitious even his
admirers do not deny. He has proved
himself not merely ambitious but OF an
imperious and arrogant impatfencs with
whatever binders or stays him. whether
IL comes from men or from laws. With
men he has again and sEain displayed. now
a tyrannous and coarse violence. now an
indirection and sharp practice which sim
ply cannot he coudoned. However one
nQtI aaafsh mas L. H. Ia wssh
Quay and Plat and Hartman or his brutal
fury with his critics Of the press and with
Judge Parker and othsr political rivals or
his entire behavior concerning campaign
contributions in 1904 or the bullying and
unfairness with which he has repeatedly
met opposition. .-~'s republican inssincts
and ones instis-'s a. q gentleman are
equally outraged. With laws he has bsen
even more high handed than With men.
From FIRST 20 last he hiss been esrssiously
lacking In that scrrpulous and reversnt
sense OF law. Of prscedeuts. Of institutions
which has been hitherto tho rule OF both
American and English statesman ship and
none Of his public utteranc~a shows the
lack Of that sense more Slariugly than his
recent setting forth OF the New NATIONAL
ism. OF all his predecessors in the White
HOUSE only Andrew Jackson can be COM
pared to him In this respect. And Jackson.
dsmoralizins as his reign Was. never was
half 60 really dangerous. For Jack son
had no sich consuming ambition. no such
sweeping designs Of change: and when he
came into national power he was already
elderly and inf,rm. Should Roosevelt
again take che frst place In tho republic
no ono would expect 10 see him conduct
himself as an ordinary President in tims %
peace. HE power would be greater than
Jackson's At ta height and there 10 every
reason 10 believe and none 20 doubt that he
would WELD 10 with q worse than Jack sonian
Disregard OF legal and constitutional limi-
tations.
One may have the armess faith in our sys-
tern and still shrink from submitting IL to
such q strain. No doubt Lord Moriey's
observation IN -CompromiSe- 10 sound /:
A reasonably healthy state has immense
strength. /, has abundant reserves Of vi
fality TO throw OF disease and recover
from shocks and COMMISSIONS and deranse-
rnents Of lie order But every departure
from its right order. every lapse from its
essential principles leaves II more oren
to the nest. I do not believe that R0ose-
welt. ! do not believe 'hs; Napoleon vT
Cirsar could in day or a generation sub
vert IN. inst .tutions NJ this country. hut
not for that r~asoH ought Napoleon or q
Cesar to b.- welcomed. and no, for that
reason should any intelligent American
disregard the danger that there IL in Roose-
-,