Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1912-07-04

der which the preliminary campaign
in the Republican ranks has been
conducted have tended 20 confuse
popular judgment. That undoubted-
" was the purpose Of the man mare
than all others responsible for she
situation. He. has not left time or
room for sober reflection. His fall
limitations have been uireeasiHg Snd
little less than brutnl They had
the double design % rulring psblic !
reputation and political fortunes OF
.he man who succeeded Ins In the
highest office. in the nations tift
and OF gratifying his own limitless
and dangerous ambition at the same
time. 1t has. on his part, been
campaign Of villifIcatfou and SANDER
from the day when he threw his bat
into the ring. to use his own undig-
n,fied phrase, until the present time.
The prestige Of the high office
which he had held, the constant re-
iteration Of sonor0us and meaning
less platitudes, and HIS Temperament
tai force have exerted a strong In
fluencei over many minds, sRys the
Boston Transcript. That he possess
es extraordinary hypnotic power can
not be doubted. We, have seer snakes
fascinate to their ruin birds and raD-
bits. The qualities Of birds and rab-
bits are generally represented in the
human species. The target Of mis-
venom has been the president OF the
United States, the man who had been
his most trusted friend aud who
had done nothing since his elevation
to the presidency to forfeit the friend
ship or confidence of any honorable
man.
I There was no serious question In
the minds of sober-minded Ameri-
cans of the ability, the fidelity or
the patriotism of their president be-
fore Roosevelt took the field as q
common scold and public SANDER
err. We doubt whether there is any
such question now among that class.
He accepted his great responsibility
with high ideals and singIeness OF
purpose to serve the American peo-
ple to the best Of his ability He
has not departed from that purpose
in any instance that can be recalled.
No man, in the presidential line has
striven more jealousy to enforce the
laws OF the country, and by q gross
perversion of facts this high official
Virtue has been made to appear an
offense against the people. This was
made easier because during the sew
en- years preceding his taking office
!. the public had been taught, by in
direction at least, that the laws were
not meant to be- enforced except as
it suited the pleasure Of the en-
forcers
While new lines Of political cieav-
age have undoubtedly been Develop
! ing, they would not have affected
the pubIic's Judgment of the press
, dents right to be his own successor
SO far as his party could make him
!. So. Possibly he has made mistakes
but 90 has every one Of his predeees'
, sors. They are inseparable FROM ottl
human fallibility. But in more than
one. instance he has shown the large
1 mindedness to acknowledge them AND
were it otherwise the positive excel
! ences or his record have baianced
them many times over. Whatevel
i he. may suffer from the madness o
political hysterfa and frenzy;, histor1
will give him an honorable place
among American statesmen and pat
/ riots It cannot do otherwise and D.
history. Ef justice Is denied hin
I now 1t will be rendered. at late
period. He has done his hest, le
: the present outcome be what It will
.. and with his high parposes his ex
perienee would enable him to d
: still better during another term. n
has been honorable in every rela
!. ton, courageous when the exercis
!. Iof courage might COUNT to his politl
y cal Disadvantage Never in our hls
q tory have the force Of precedent an
the logic Of facts more clearly dc
manded a denomination. but Rsve
!. before in that history have eondi
tions been quite so chaotic as at th
present time.
Anna M. Carlston in LfndshOI