Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1912-02-29
THE AMBITIOUS COLONEL.

ed at last to the pressure VI nAS Ae@i
ous but unwise friends, and today
announces that he will accept the
nomination for president II 1t Is ten
dered to him.
History repeats itself. Ones idols
or ideals are almost sure at some
stage of time to shock or to be shat
tered.
whatever explanations, says the
State Journal, may be given they
are inconsistent, and to that extent
will. in a political way, turn his
friends against him and operate to-
ward his defeat for the Republican
nomination in June next.
Let the reader carefully note the
explicit and definite expressions De-
low:
ION the 4th of March next ! shall
have served three and q half years,
and this three and q half years con-
stitutes my first term. The wise
custom which limits the president
to two terms regards the substance
and not the form. And under no
circumstances will / be a candidate
or accept another nomination.
Theodore Roosevelt, Nov. s, 1904.
II have not changed and shall
not change that decision thus an
nounced. "-Theodor Roosevelt. Dec.
IL, 1907.
Then read what Colonel Roosevelt
says today:
II absolutely agree with you that
this matter is not one to be decided
with any reference to the personal
preferences or interests of any man,
but purely from the standpoint OF
the interests Of the people as a whole
will accept the nomination for
president II it is rendered to me
and | will adhere to this decision
until the convention has expressed
it's preference"
In one instance he says, "The wise
custom which limits the president
to two terms regards the substance
and not the form, and under no cir
cumstances will / be candidate for,
or accept another nomination" In
the other he says: II will accept the
nomination II It is rendered to me-"
The two are incompatible, excuse
them as you may.
II will be said, of course, only IN
extenuation, however, that President
Roosevelt, when he made the first
statement, meant that he would not
he a candidate for a third consecu-
tive term: but he is an adept at ex-
pressing himselfs IN the English Ian,
mage. and IL he had meant this, ne
wonld have said 80, and made the
statement that he would not De
candidate 10 succeed himself, but ne
evidently meant exactly what his
statement said, that under no cir
cumstances would he again accept
another nomination.
ii is 10 be said, Of course, that
crisis IN the history Of the natior
might arise that would render ever
- strong . statement as Roosevelt
made II 1894 imperative. Condi
ftons could be conceived by which
! national duty might almost re
ausre the ignoring of such a state
ment. but certainly no such crisi
exists today
president Taft has made q goo
Dresident, but be has offended som
noliticians. He has not appointe'
them to offices they desire. he ha
mot retained them in his cabinet. h
has not always appointed whom the
recommended, he has removed som
of them from office. This applies 7
James A. Garfield. to Clifford Pin
chot. to Governor Stubbs, and to cer
tain other candidates for office. VIII
have been possessed with an error
eous impression that because Of Co
.onel Roosevelt's great popularity 9
an American idol, he could pull
ticket through more effectively tina
could President Taft.
We believe the masses OF the peS
pie to whom Taft has endeared him
self as a conscientious, broad-minde'
able president. who has executed II
functions of mis- high office wit
marked and exceptional success, vi
decide that Colonel Roosevelt hs
not given President Taft fair dee
Roosevelt has certainly approve
many things that President Taft b.
done and accomplished, for he hi
said so; and they we're his own pol
cies carried out He, Of cours
could not approve q everything thi
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