Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-02-22
VIEWS ON ROOSEMLT'S
ADDRESS At COLUMBUS
Editors Charge Him With
Demagogy, Incoherency and
With Trucking to Mob.
From the New York Sun.

From the New York Sun.
1t might therefore be of small profit to
examine too sedulously the major part of
the production which the author some
what grandiloquently styles charter of
democracy. 1t is not an ineligible
charter of anything. 1t is not satisfac-
tory definition of the new nationalisnl'
which Col Roosevelt has recently pre-
ferred to call by some other name. 1t is
not political platform. 1t is not a CO.
herent personal platform in any sense.
except that the characteristics Of per-
sistently sef-assertive personality abound
throughout it, There are many fervid
declarations of faith, which would be of
interest if they were distinguished by
more exact understanding of the meaning
of words and the value Of phrases: as. for
example, where the speaker explains, Il
believe in pure democracy" and few
moments later exclaims. Il am emphati-
cally a believer in constitutionalism.
From beginning to end there Is no evil
dence that the eminent instructor of the
Ohio convention has the dimmest concep-
ton of the fundamental difference be-
tween purely democratic and cOnStitu-
tiOnal government.
Charter Of Demagogy.
From the New York World.
Mr.. Roosevelt described the speech that
he delivered before the Ohio constitu-
tional convention yesterday as "A Char
ter OF :. Democraey: He should ;, nave aye
fundamental principle laid down by Mr..
Roosevelt was this:
Constitution makers should make it
clear beyond shadow of doubt that the
people in their legislative capacity have
the power to enact into law any measure
thny, M For f1o hot ant
of social and industrial conditions. The
wisdom of framing any particular law
Of this kind is proper subject of debate;
but the power of the people to enact the
law should not be subject to debate. To
hold the contrary view is to be false to
the cause OF the people, to the cause
of American democracy.
This is frank reputation of the prin-
ciples upon which American institutions
were established. 1t is another way of
saying that the power of the majority
ought always to be absolute, and that
the minority has no rights which the ma
jority is bound to respect 1t is trans
planting to the United States the theory
have chosen to administer their turbulent
affairs. 1t is Mr.. RoOsevelt's formal in
vitation to revolution and anarchy.
No Longer a Republican.
From the New York Times
Mr.. Roosevelt's address before the Ohio
constitutional convention at Columbus
yesterday removes him from the republic
can party and makes it impossible that
the nomination to be made at Chicago
IAN go to him. From beginning to end
there is not republican doctrine or pro-
fession of faith in the speech. but there is
throughout bold and defiant renuncia-
ton Of the principles of that party. Mr..
Roosevelt forswears allegiance to the
party that made him President, and now
takes the field as its enemy and de-
stroyer. The real significance of this CO.
lumbus utterance is its extreme radical
ism Mr. Roosevelt now burns his bridges.
He affirms his belief in a pure democracy,
that Is, in direct rule of the people max
ing their own laws, electing their sena-
tors by direct vote, and exercising full
control without intermediate agencies in
for the initiative and for the referendum,
not as substitute for representative in
stitutiOns-he would still let legislatures
sit-but as corrective. He advocates the
recall. even the recall Of judges. He re-
states, reafffrms and again makes argu-
ment for his most extreme and radical
position, the submitting of judicial deci-
sions to a vote of the people for their
aff1rmance or reversal.
Roosevelt's Charter.
From the Philadelphia Ledger
Mr.. Roosevelt's address before the Ohio
constitutional convention at Columbus
yesterday derives it's sole Importance at
the present moment from the fact Of
the widespread impression that it is the
purpose of Mr. Roosevelt to reverse the
solemn assurances given by him to the
nation in 1904. and reiterated in 1907,
that under no circumstances would he
"be candidate or accept another nomi-
nation" for the presidency. For the
many thousands of words employed by
Mr.. Roosevelt to expound his Charter
of Democracy contain nothing which he
has not said many times before and at
equal length in his speeches and in his
writings as contributing editor of the
Outlook.
Save the Constitution!
From the Philadelphia Press.
The policy laid down by Theodore
Roosevelt in his address before the Ohio
constitution convention is familiar and
accepted where it is safe and perilous
posals every one of both parties agrees,
more, Or less. with minor differences.
The proposal that the judicial recall shall
be confined alone to decisions disallowing
a law on constitutional questions will be
secuted by 'progressives'' as a halfway
measure, faint, feeble and ftful. All
who wish to see constitutional institu-
tons preserved will condemn Col. Roose-
velt's plan as increa sing all the perils of
judicial recall, and giving no remedy
for existing evils. The basis of American
law and liberty is a written Constitution.
This is the historic American contribu-
ton to the liberty and security of hui
manity to the end that ours shall be
government of laws and not of men.
Through constitution majority pledges
itself TO protect and accept the rights of
the few, unless the Constitution be
amended. All state constitutions can be
amended in two years. and amendment
Of the federal organic law is always
possible.
Is This Roosevelt's Platform
From the Philadelphia Inquirer.
Yesterday Col. Roosevelt delivered his