Graham guardian., 1912-08-23

have motives personal to himself,
and not so much for his country's
welfare and that it would not be
difficult for him to conclude that he
is perpetual necessity in the con-
duct of the affairs of his country.
Egotism is well known to be the
greatest characteristic of all men
who aspire to be prepetually in the
public eye, and this characteristic is
the greatest and principal one of
Mr.. Roosevelt. His friends will say
this is not true, but let us look at
the facts and see if it is not true:
1t is a we'll known fact that on all
occasions when the "lime-light" is
sending out its strongest rays, Mr..
Roosevelt is there, and steps forth
in manner that says Behold, it is
L." But, such is not his greatest
display of egotism. About the
greatest display of that peculiar
characteristic was made by him
when, on his return from Africa,
and during his stay in London, he
took it upon himself to tell the
British government how they should
govern their possessions in Egypt.
The British papers started in, and
very justly too. to ridicule him, but
out of respect for the American
people, influences were brought to
bear that stopped it.
But now, let's us say a word about
the principles he is now advocating:
He now pretends that he is in
favor Of those principles of free
known as the initiative,
and the recall, and
would have the people believe that
he has always been in favor thereof.
But it is only a few months since he,
and his followers looked upon these
as the vagaries of the
ignorant and vicious, and utterly
beneath the consideration of sensible
people. And this is particularly
true as to his views of the recall as
by him on his visit to the
Roosevelt Dam, a year or so ago.
On that occasion he condemned
and disapproved the recall; but by
the time he got as far as California
on his trip. he found that the recall
had found permanent place in the
minds of the people of the west,
and in his addresses there he ap-
proved it. Under such changes of
sentiment, it is difficult to tell where
he really does stand upon the prop
osition of the recall.
He would have people believe
that he is the first to promulgate
the idea of having United States
Senator's elected by popular vote.
instead of-by the legislatures of the
states. The truth is the Hearst
and others have been
advocating this proposition for more
than ten years, and long before Mr..
Roosevelt gave the matter thought.
Municipal ownership of public
utilities has only found Judgement
in his mind within the last few
and would not have found
it then only it was manifest to him
that the people had their minds set
upon this matter. and that it would
only be question of time. until the
will of the people would prevail,
and the public become the owners
and operators of such things.
And thus we might go on and
name many other matters that have
won his support. tardy though it
has been, matters in regard to which
he would have the people believe
he has been long an advocate; but
it is not necessary, the people are
wiser than he thinks, and will weigh
him and his pretensions and place a
true valuation upon them.
His unbounded egotism caused
him to believe when he was turned
down by the Chicago convention,
that the will of the people had ac-
tually been thwarted by his not be-
ing placed at the head of the re-
publican ticket; and he claims it was
dirty politics that did it; and that
it was duty he owed to himself
and the people to create new party