The Washington herald., 1912-03-24
THE POLITICAL SITUATION.

President Taft, like some tall peak
amid the storm, continues serene and
unrufied while the Roosevelt tempest
breaks around his head. 1t was vol
canic outburst al Carnegie Hall, sure
enough, but now that the force of the
explosion seems to pave been spent, it
is not apparent that great damage has
been done 10 the administration As a
matter of fact, the entire philippe, so
far as II related TO Mr.. Taft, was based
upon false premise. The American
people will mot become unduly excited
over the assertion that Mr.. Taft is a
traitor to the welfare of thS whole
American people. They know better.
Denunciation serves its rightful and
proper purpose when its object is some
thing worthily denounced 1t fails en-
tlrely to be effective when it is extrava-
giant, rancorous. and untrue. This was
the case with Mr.. Roosevelt's speech
He might have said much in depreca-
ton of existing conditions; he might
even have INDUCED in criticisms of the
President which would have been ac-
cepted by many as within the range of
reasonable statement; but when he
charged the President with being lacking
i'll patriotic concern for the peoples wei
fare, and with being insincere and dis
honest-for this was the substance of
his accusation-he overreached himself
and his words became harmless because
they were 50 manifestly wide of the
truth. They aroused.a spirit of denial
in every intelligent mind
But while Mr.. RooseveIt's attack fell
harmless upon the President because it
was untrue, the effect of the speech, as
an entirety, upon the political situation
is quite another matter.
In analyzing Mr. .Roosevelt's actions,
and with the knowledge that he is about
TO undertake an extensive trip for the
further dissemination of his views, the
conclusion is irresistible that Mr..
Roosevelt has deeper purpose in view
than his own denomination
Apparently convinced that he cannot
defeat Mr.. Taft in the Chicago conven-
ton, he evidently desires to create
within the party a division which will
make the Presidents reelection impos-
sible.
No, other construction can be placed
upon his conduct He has held the
President-and through the President
the Republican party-up to scorn. In
condemning the President for advocat-
ing doctrines which, to quote his own
words, are supported by every up
holder and beneficiary of crooked privi-
lege," he also and of necessity includes
the organization of which the President
is the acknowledged leader. He did not
always hold this point of view. In
Vulnerable instances can be cited
wherein. he lavished praise upon the
President, but one will suffice As tenn
porary chairman, he delivered the open
ing address at the New York Repub-
lican State convention, in September,
1910 He recited the achievements of
Mr.. Taft's administration and eulogized
"our able, upright and distinguished
President" for the work which Mr.. Taft
had done for all the people" This,
remember, was in 1910, more than a
year after Mr. Taft had approved the
new tariff bill. the only action of the
President which has yet been cited,
even by his political opponents, as open
TO criticism along the lines which are
now emphasized by Mr.. Roosevelt.
The attitude of Mr.. Roosevelt is,
therefore, inexplicable unless he is en-
desvoring to, pull down the organization
which once elevated him 70 the highest