The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1910-09-29
THEN-BEF0RE.

tFrom the Free Press. Sept. 3D.
MIR. Roosevelt has rarely been ST.
lent for more than q minute or two
since he left college IN the early Sos,
and after term as legislator In New
York betook himself to the western
ranch where he finished his eduoa
ton. But his rare silences are more
eloquent than his many speeches ana
writings. After his return from Eu'
rope. he stopped talking for two
whole months to give himself some
time TO think. He thought exclusively
OF himself and his political fortunes.
His war on the fauna OF Africa was
the Gallo episode In his rolo rs
Caesar, and he must now take ac-
| count of his political stock and de-
termine whether his partisans at
home were strong enough and bold
enough to carry him to the dictator
ship to which he secretly aspired. and
! OF which a few suspected him when
he laid aside his last consulship. He
had had his emissaries going ana
| coming across the ocean aud keeping
him informed. All OF them were All
thongs and offered him the crown.
What he said In reply Is known only
TO him and them. bur he determined
| to look the ground over for himself
before he said one word in the public
ear, precisely like his great prototype.
He formally announced that he would
not speak aloud for two long months.
During that period his threshold vas
worn by the feet OF his partisans from
all parts Of the country, bringing him
information OF the temper OF the ma
ton.
Before his eyes proceeded the dis
ruption OF the Republican party which
had raised him TO power. The presi-
dent he had imposed on the party
| and the country TO keep the seat
warm for his return had grown upon
the country and seemed to be able
TO live without him. He did not at
tack. but he did not defend Mr.. Taft.
He watched while his own partisans
heaped insult and injury on the pres
| ident. and did their utmost to ruin his
administration. He was silent. Not
a word OF sympathy, but not a word
| OF condemnation. He was not ready
TO strike the blow, because there was
still doubt whether such q blow
might not recoil on his own head.
Quietly he made arrangements for
his western tour and II was an
nounced that he would make speeches
at certain places In the fall In
surgency. which, as one of his admir-
ers said, was born OF the Roose, cit
administration, was growing before
his eyes, Offering him the crown, and
inviting him TO blow the trumpet that
would bring all his legions to arms
He grew confident, or reckless, and
determined to risk all to win all. He
was not on the road q week before
he substantially declared himself q
candidate for another consulship,
which must be a Dictatorship lie
crossed the Ru5icon, and his follow.
ers have taken him at his word. and
swarmed to his side.
II Is not merely the presidency he
now asks for, for In his hands tho
presidency must become imperial He
asks that the constitution be made
more plastic, SO that 1t can be changed
at convenience: he denounces the
highest court In the land as an OBJ
stacle to progress; he openly antag.
onizes the administration he created I;
he repays the almost too faithful 10y
atty of an honest president by the
basest ingratitude, and he rallies his
mob OF fatterers for an assault upon
the party which made him all that he
was, but not all that he would be.
! The next two years will see stirring
times in this country. for Caesar says
that his policies must be follt wed
even though business goes to smash.