Bryan daily eagle and pilot. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1909-1918, 1910-10-25
ROOSEVELT SKINNED.
(By John Brisben Walker.)

We ourselves are responsible for the
conditions which prevail. A republic Is
lust as enlightened as its average citi-
zen. II he is selfish and narrow
minded, the laws will be unfair II he
IS ignorant and dishonest. the laws
will Le reflex Of his condition.
II, indeed. the average type in re-
pubic should prove TO be mentally in
dolent, seldom rsading and never a
student of national problems, his mar
row mind intent only upon an imme-
date advantage EXPRESSED in dollars,
thea it might not be impossible for
some popular idol to take advantage
OF such state OF affairs and make
himself a dictator, in fact, IL not in
name.
or course it would not be an ordi-
nary man who could do this 1t would
require some supreme demagogue,
some quintessence of fate, some en-
bodied manifestation of an egotism
able TO reach the prejudices and pas
sions of the multitude; some eloquent
uttefer of platitudes capable of pass
ing off the Ten Commandments as his
original discovery some one equipped
with an unblushing >effrontery capable
of putting into the Ananias club every
man or woman who would analyze his
attempted receptions; some practical
politician who has learned the art OF
being all things to all men; who can
wear Chaps" on the plains. puttees'
on the Nile aud "spats in London;
who can be an enthusiastic progressive
in Kansas and write an endorsement
of the Aldrich tariff into New York
platform; who is a republican in Colo
radu and monarchist in Cairo, filled
with furious denunciation of patriotic
Egyptians struggling to throw OF the
slavery Of England along the Nile, as
our forefathers did in Massachusetts.
Such a man need not have an iota of
consistency in his career.
Appealing 70 the followers OF the
prize ring by press agent stories of his
prowess with the gloves, and to the
Methodists by his declaration of fol-
lowing the gentle teachings of Jesus
Christ; entering into cabal with
Roman prelates to reward political SUP
port With cardinals hat, and, when
detected, sacrificing lis near relatives
and close woman friends to escape re-
spcnsibility: loud in his denunciation
and unstinted and unsparing OF his dis
approval Of every new governmental
reform then. after the people had
grown clamorous for its adoption.
quietly appropriating II, and so adroit-
ly that half the public believed it the
product of his own deep anxiety for
their welfare
The Most furious enemy, ON the !
stump, Of corrupt interests, and all the (
time holding out his hand to them for |
cash largess to be used in securing |
fifty thousand votes. necessary to
carry the election in New York, who
could not only refuse TO pay the rail-
ways the hundred thousand dollars OF !
he owed them. but
lightly turn aside bills for liquors and
cigars used IN his private cars, for
which the railways have demanded !
payment In vain; who could pretend to
attack every trust and never curtail
the activity Of one by so much as
lair's breadth. never put one malefac-
Tor OF great wealth within even the
shadow of jail; who could appoint TO
great offices some of the most noto-
tious political crooks in the cuntry. q
md, when the corruption of their de
)artments became public. take to him
self credit for an exposure he could
lot suppress.
OF Course the public knows no such
nan as ! describe unless he has in.
side information as to some character
Unknown to the multitude. No such
of monumental faker and
colossal egotist. OF hypnotic fascina.
ion upon the ignorant and restless
'nerey as a uuick-change artist; of ,
TO sacrifice friend or foe
o advance his own steps while play
ng 10 the gallery. willingness to use
itch or whitewash fire or ice, fiat
cry or bullets; one who is willing to
De a political iuggler of such expert.
less that he can turn an accidental
into more .inds of pergenal ,
apital than Hermann can take rab- /,
'its out OF hat II such person +
bculd spring up. without beliefs and
without policies, with power to capture
he imagination of.the unthinking null
itude. such a man might ultimately !,
chieve the position of a Mexican Diaz
md leave us the she'll OF republic