The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-02-27

party In Its great and successful
career. Much else they will lind. much
that is strangely foreign 20 Repubi
canism, much that runs contrary TO
.uman experience. and TO the teach
inHs OF human reason. Mr.. Roosevclr
proclnimS his adhesion to pure
democracy Tho initiativc, tho refer
endum, the recall. even the recall Of
Judges, all these doctrines of populism
he cspuuscS and ono more u political
principle or negation of principle more
startling than all the rest the re.
'ersol Of judicial decisions by vote
Of the people lie for second time
formally advocate ties
II is not so much because Nj. Roose-
'elt seeks third term that tho PEG.
pie of the country will have none OF
aim. but because he seeks IL avowipg
policies, principles, and attentions that
would he destructive OF the insutu-
lions We nave built up and would in
he end put the liberties. the welfare.
and the happiness of the people In far
greater danger than they are now or
sNer have been. The people here arc
sovereign. Semiramis Was II sovereign,
and she made lawful whatever she de-
erred. We are not yet ready to tear
up our Constitution and substitute for
Il that of Semiramis.
II nothing else had made Mr.. Eocsc-
'eits nominn tion al Chicago impoS-
sible his Columbus speech has elte>-
lively put 1t beyond his reach The
Avowais he made i'll tina; address mako
MI. Bryan seem conservative, Cover
nor wilson Il reactionary. Ii has made
Mr. roosevelt seem something that
Republicans cannot very we'll dsscr! be
so new and strange is the figure he
presents. hut they know they do not
wane him. The party is by habit We'll
mat he can do ie TO create a division.
and many think that he has gone SC
far In his hatred OF MIR. Taft and NJ:
Tafts sane policies that he would be
willing TO crown his own career with
the infamy of such an achievement II
only he could prevent the reelection
OF the President. II is not necessary
to assume that. The egotism and the
mad ambition of the man explain all
MIR. Roosevelt's veracity has more
than once been called In question. 1t
is now no longer necessary TO submit
specifications; he supplies them.
There can be no mistake about the
tact or the conclusion. Mr.. Roose-
Welt has not kept faith with the
American people. he has broken his
word. The situation Ia much simpli-
tied.-New York Times.
Colonel Housewife Takes the Field.
Colonel Roosevelt's answer to the
seven Republican Governors, who i'm.
plored him TO return TO public life and
save the country, and incidentally the
republican party, is In the afiirma tive
Il VIII accept the nomination for
President If IL Is rendered me. and /
VIII adhere to this decision until the
convention has expressed its prefer
ence,' is his reply, In other words. he
is In the light TO the finish. The gen
eral platform on which he will make
this night he outl mes as follows
one OF th2 chef prime Piles for which
| nave stood and for which ] now
stand, and which / have always en-
deavored and always shall endeavor to
reduce 10 action, is the genuine rule
or the people.
He adds that he therefore, hopes
that SO far possible the people
may be given the chance through di-
rect primaries to express their pre-
lei encc as 10 who hall be the nominee
OF the Republican Presidential Con-
ven ION"
Not only Is Mr.. Roosevelt's hat now,
in the ring, but he himself, In full
warpaint and feathers. His decision
w II create as much interest, II not 9
lhuch excitement, n the Democratic as
in 'hc Republican party While it will
throw the latter into q state OF wild
excitement il will tend to render the
former even more earnest. determined
am faithful to the public interests
IMAM before Not since y unE Lochin-
YER came out of the West and car.
ried OF the bride that was Just about
to be united TO another has there been
such scene OF consternat' on, con-
fusion and imprccation as the gallant
~oloneis declaration will cause among
/ IN fslr RI not Il IA
have committed themselves 10 Mr.
Taft. But il is not by any means GER
tain that Mr.. Roosevelt will carry OF
Tn br'de II he can get the prcsi-
Dental primaries that he asks for, his
chances OF victory will be greatly m
creased. But the Taft people may be
depended upon not to give him that
or any other chance which they can
keep from him, and unless the cohe-
sivc power of their official organiza-
ION has been very much overrated,
theH VIII be certain to put up
formidable light. Nevertheless. with
all the odds OF position against him,
they may well dread the onset of a
man whose political prestige has here.
tofore been the pride OF his friends
and The dread of his foes. especially
when he charges their breastworks In
| he name OF the people bearing the
fam liar banner with the good old de-
vice OF popular government
Colonel H"osevclt's entry will con-
vert tho Chicago convention from n
tame. cu,-and- dried anair into one Of
world Vide interest. And whatever
the result of that convention, it will
give additional Importance to tho
Democratic National Convention N
baltimore. Thanks to Mr.. Roosevelt,
there viii not be a dull moment in
the year 1912. strenuous" as II
promised to be without him. tt will be
twenty times more so, since he has
followed his hat into the ring IL he
is defeated at Chicago, after the rcd
hot soul-"acking battle which his
candidacy involves, the political at.
mosphcr" Will be left fun OF electric
ity and tho Republican party fun of
holes and OF bitterness n he wins.
he may find i, difficult TO line un all
the Republican legions behind him and
to reassurc the conservative Ro-
publican sentiment that has taken
alarm at his recent uttcranccs.