Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1910-04-16
GREATEST SINCE NAPOLEON
Says wattrson in Speaking Of Roose.
velt--one Man Power Suggested
to Crush Present Evils.

@'~~t ff6SNhA &Nh1~
Louisville. April Elm an editorial
headed "Whither?a Henry Watterson,
editor OF the Independents Democratic
CourierJouranI said yesterday.
The time has come for the people
OF the United States to consider Theo-
dore Roosevelt as they never consid-
cred him before: to take him more Sc
rionsly than they have ever taken him
and TO realize that ne is altogether
the most startling figure who las ap.
peared I'm the world since Napoleon
Bonaparte, a circumstance not With
out significance and portent.
"He must be a poor American
whose heart does not glow with pride
at the unwonted honors bestowed up
on this representative OF his country
and swell with exuItant admiration at
the splendid way he is carrying him
self. 1t is too late, IL ii Were not per-
sonally offensive, to talk about self.
exploitation. The incident in Cairo
was wholly characteristic. The Incl
dent in Rome was thrust upon him.
In both he showed the Theodore
Roosevelt whose brilliant many-side-
ness has captivated the universe.
"Tet no one fancy this an unmean-
ing or an idle compliment. Taken in
connection with what appears to be
the hopeless breakdown of the Taft
administration, 1t constitutes an event
of the first consequence.
AS a Benevolent Despot'
'If We are to return Theodore
Roosevelt to power. let there be no
mistake about the terms OF the new
commission which is Il be issued to
him.
History has agreed that the best of
all government Is a wise and benevo-
lent despotism. II the Government OF
the United States, under our written
constitution of checks and balance, be
a failure-as many think it--and If
there be needed for it's executive head
a strong man having the courage to
take the bulls OF corruption by the
horns, and, regardless of the obsolete
legal restraints. to shake the lie out
of them, then, indeed, Theodore Roose
welt would seem fitted by tempera-
ment, education and training for the
work.
"He is a patriotic American with
humanitarian proclivities. He Is an
incorruptible man. He has shown him
self fearless of consequences.
Roosevelt Fits the Bill.
'If the people are sick and tired of
the slow processes of constitutional
procedure; II they want In the White
House a President who, d~isregarding
the letter OF the law, will substitute
his own Interpretation OF Its spirit
and intention; If they think that the
reign of hypocrisy and can't and graft
which marks our professional politics
may be ended by the ab~solutism OF a
ruler, who. as Roosevelt himself puts
1t, translates his words into deeds
and who, charged with the cleansing
of the Augean stables by an election,
putting the seal of the popular approx
al upon conceded excesses in the use
of power. and bidding him go forward
and apply the same remedies to a dis
ease otherwise incurable-then Theo-
dore Roosevelt fills the bill to perfec-
ton. for he comes directly from the
family of the kings of men AMI Is a
lineal descendent OF Caesar and Crom-
well.
Before we get into the acrimonies
of party conflict the Courier-Journal
asks contemporaries throughout the
country to reflect without passion or
levity and to answer to themselves
amid the blaze of light which casts
an aureoIe about our wandering Ulys-
SEES, whether representative govern
ment In America is a failure, and
whether the only cure for the evils
which are admitted is the one-man
power. because they may be sure that
the return of Theodore Roosevelt to
power will be so construed by Europe.
and that on this account the demon
stration of monarchism has its chief
significance"