Tonopah daily bonanza. [volume] (Tonopah, Nev.) 1906-1929, 1912-05-04
TAFT STRIKES BACK.

President Taft has at length replied with vigor
and spirit to the wanton and unjust attacks
of Roosevelt. 1t high time he did The
attack was being pressed with increasing viru-
lenee and the colonel was growing and
more reckless and untruthful in his statements
The dignity of silence under unjust and untruth-
full aspersion loses its virtue when it taken
the complexion of timidity. President Taft is
patient man, but not at all tmid. There is no
tincture of cowardice in his f0rbearance. His
courage is calm but high In repelling the false
charges hurled at him by the third-term candi-
date he is scrupuously fair and truthful. In this
respect his speeches in Massachusetts are re-
freshng contrast to the colone's unbrdled ut
terances.
With the cold and stern precision of Judge
Taft points out Roosevelts ambiguous attitude
in regard to tariff legislation and the trusts, his
singular and sudden changes of front on various
public questions, and his cheerful disregard of
truth in comparing his own course with that
of his successor.
At the outset Roosevelt stated that he had
reluctantly become candidate because he had
been called by the people Then he took the
stump in an effort to convince the people that
they had called upon him and that his candidacy
necessary to the safety of the country. He
reversed his position the initiative and
referendum and the recall of judges to provide
himself with a pretext for assailing the record
of Taft. While the reciprocity agreement with
Canada was pending he delivered speeches in
Michigan and New York in favor of that meas
Now he denounces it, But the charges and
nsinuations he has leveled at the president-the
man who during his whole term his close
personal friend and confidential adviser-prove
him to be more disoyal to the ties of friend-
ship and good faith than he is to political prin-
ciple In his Boston speech the president pointed
out how uncertain and unreliable Roosevelt s
word is. how little dependence can be placed on
his pledges and how disregardful he is of vera
city; his Impotence with the restraints of law
and how cOntemptuous he is of constitutional
limitations In short Theodore Roosevelt is Just
the sort of man Abraham Lincoln gave warning
against in address to the Young Mems Chris
ton association of Springfield Illinois, when he
gave why the thrd-term precedent es-
tablished by Washington should be held inviolate
Said Mr.. Lincoln, speaking of ambition and lust
of power
1t thirsts and burns for distinction and, if
possible it will have it. Is it unreasonable then.
to expect that some man, possessed of the lofti-
est genius, coupled with ambition sufficient to
push it to the utmost stretch will at same time
does it will require the people to be united with
each other, attached to the government and laws
and generally intelligent to successful Illustrate
his design. Distinction will be his paramount
object. and although he would as willingly ac-
quire it by doing good harm. yet nothing left
in the way of building up he would sit down
boldly to the task of pulling down Here then
is probable case. highly dangerous .
From the grave of Lincoln holds up the mirror
to Roosevelt