The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-02-29
CHAPTER xCVI.
Concerning Public Opinion.l


Never does the state Journal recol-
lect seeing in its exchanges so much
adverse criticism of Theodore Roose-
welt. one strange thing about it all
is its unaniTnity. Out of thirty pront-
nent papers in various portions of the
east from New England to the middle
west. only one editorial upon the sub
ject was other than condemnatory,
and that was Iukewarm.
One makes a brief editorial with a
| heading The Anaiias Club and quotes
from Roosevelt's statement in 1904
that he would never again accept the
nomination for the presidency and his
| later saying on Monday that he would
| accept
One Of the most remarkable of these
editorials is from the Philadelphia
Record, wherein it is said:
He has betrayed himself, his
friends and his party. He has be-
trayed himself, for he pledged his
honor that he would under no cir
cumstances again be a candidate for
president, declaring that he regarded
the substance and not the form. and
having had two terms, he would not
entertain thought Of the third. He
has thus sacrificed his honor to his
ambition.
He has betrayed his friend because
it was at his earnest solicitation that
Mr.. Taft gave UP the judicial am bition
of a lifetime and sought the presi-
dency The long esta b1ished political
practice entitled Mr.. Taft to a renom-
ination and all the obligations of hon
or and friendship forbid Theodore
Roosevelt from seeking to deprive
him of the denomination. He has sac
rificed his friend to his ambition.
He has betrayed his party for no
party can refuse to give its president
second nomination without creating
a division in it that must imperil its
success at the polls"
one of the most Ievel-headed, con
scientious. sensible, editors whose pa
pers come to this table is Charles
Hopkins Clark, editor of the Hartford
Courant, paper of the highest stand
ing. His editorial comment on Roose-
welt is so singularly appropriate and
interesting that is herewith printed.
He says pertinently and pathetically: |
"Our regret is chiefly, almost who'll |
ly, for Theodore Roosevelt He has
not given himself a square deal Colo !
mel Roosevelt has no better friends |
living than those who hoped he would |
r~le his own restless ambitious spirit |
turn a deaf ear to the tempters, with |
in and without, conserve a reputation |
which he held in trust for the United |
States of America. We do regret deep |
ly that the colonel has made what we |
must consider a most unW1se, unfor- |
tunate decision"
The State Journal can endorse every
word of that. Here is the editorial
in full.
Our regret is chiefy-almost wholly |
for Theodore Roosevelt He has not /
given himself a square deal in this mat
ter. AS to the president, we were not
a bit more cheerfully confident of his
denomination last Monday than we are
today. All the arguments which Theo-
dore Roosevelt urged SO earnestly for /
Taft's first nomination are far stronger
IN 1912 than they We're in 1908; they
have been supplemented and reinforced
by years of extraordinarily faithful and
service. For the Republican
party to go back now on Taft-and
make the Democrats the unhoped-for
present of the third-term issue into the
gain-would be simply to invite po-
fticaI disaster The Republican party
s not going to commit any such folly
IS that.
Colonel Roosevelt has no better
friends living than those who hoped
hat he would rule his own restless,
inpatient spirit, turn a deaf ear to the
empters-within and without-and con-
erve a reputation which he held IN
rust for the United States of America.
since the Ohio journey and speech, it
las been a case of hoping against hope;
low even that is ended In the letter
published today he tells the eight in
uiring governors that he will accept
he nomination if it comes his way,
hat he will be a candidate for it up 10
he decisive ballot in the Republican
ational convention, and that lie would :
Ike a presidential primary. He does
lot tell them he Will abide by the ma
iona1 conventions decision should it be
diverse to his candidature. but perhaps
e may have meant that to be inferred. !
We shall say no word in haste or IN !
niger of Colonel Rooseve1t's singularly
elated Yes as little are we minded 20 7
its Importance. He paused !
long time on the brink of his personal {
.ubicOn; now that he has at last jump G
d in with a splash, we look for no t
UGH grave results as followed in the 7
ulius Caesar case We regret deeply t
hat the Colonel has made what we Y
lust consider a most unwise and I'M /
0rtunate decision He does not make T
t all clear in his letter the reasons Of Q
is present readiness to accept what lie T
olemnly declared he would under no :
circumstances accept: he will doubtless I
e voluble in explanation later on. and !
ne public Will learn that good DR.. Ly-
IAN Abbott's coffee-cup aIlegory was 4
fficial."
Most of the other editorials are on s
arsher lines. The number Of them, and j
he fact that they are critical III tie I
anne direction must reflect a general +
eminent. These editorials would d
over a page if printed only in part, J
ut inasmuch as our readers are ap- y
arently interested in this sort of 4
ming. a page Of this sort will be given t
p in Saturdays issue. The reader I I