Smyrna times., 1910-04-13
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER
Sharp and Crisp Stories of Questions
Dealing of National Importance

Sharp and Crisp Stories of Questions
Dealing of National Importance
1t is an interesting and suggestive
fact that the parsonage most discus
sed in the press and VIII rever men
and women are gathered together at
the present time is not the President
of the United States or any civil po-
tentate, European or Asiatic, but an
ex-president, who after a year of
isolation, ami imolation as far as
politics is concerned, has barely
emerged from exile. He no sooner
reached a modern city than he re-
sumed his role of preacher and teach
er to the half-mutinous subjects of a
Mohammedan ruler, restless under
the suzerainty of a nation that only
a few years ago snatched them from
barbarism and bankruptcy and did
more for them than their rulers have
been able to accomplish in 5000 years
or since Egypt was the most highly
civilized and progressive country of
prehistoric times. A thousand years
is but day in history, and it is still
doubtful if any country on this planet
is fit for self-government. Since only
one man here and there can govern or
direct his course with wisdom, where
is the logic in supposing that the
mass which is notoriously ignorant
and unwise can govern itself? Of
course, certain agitators among the
Philippines, the Cubans, the East
Indians and other countries, under
the benign rule yearning for free
dom and nationality, than which
there are no words more bRguiling.
But to return to our ex-President.
He leaves Cairo in a ferment and
landing at Naples, finds himself in
controversy with the Roman Catho-
lie Church which to him, as to all
Protestants, is not "The Church, 3"
out ga church,, but to all Catholics
it is "The Church" The effect of
the controversy will be to strengthen
the popularity of Theodore Roosevelt
in this country The President who
appointed a Catholic Bonaparte, in
his cabinet, who has appointed Cath
olics to high judicial positions and
to high diplomatic posts, who has
received their most distinguished
prelates at theWhite House, who has
addressed them from their churches
and assisted in dedication of thel1
institutions cannot be placed in an
i1imical false position to real Catho-
licism. A few more such episode!
as those in Cairo and Italy will keel
interest on the qui vive. if such stim
ulation can be imagined necessary
but can do little to add to the top
notch popularity of the most popular
man in the world.
Presidential Material in Both Parties
Neither of the two great partie
will lack presidential candidates i
the election which is to take plac
two years hence. The great state
of Ohio and New York each hav
more than one candidate for bot
parties. Gov. Harmon, of Ohio, i
a strong candidate for the Democrati
nomination, and has materially game
in popularity since his election a
Governor. AS lawyer of great ex
perience and member of the Cleve
land cabinet, and as holding a hig
: executive Office in one of the frs
States of the Union, he has all tn
qualifications of preparation an
experience. There is perhaps n
Democrat in Ohio who will effectivel
rival or oppose him, but besides Pre-
sident Taft, there are Garfield an
Burton and others who measure u
to presidential requirements. In Me-
York the Democrats have the Me-
York Mayor Gaynor, while the Re
publicans have an ex-president elig
BILE for two more terms and Reput
lican governor who has attracted I
his support all that is worth savin
in the Republican party. There al
many other states and many otht
distinguished men who measure up
the presidential standard.