New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-10-16
TIE POPULAR FEELING.

The announcement that Colonel
Roosevelts wound is serious does not
appear to signify that the physicians
have found unexpected complications
II probably reflects only the profess
sioual conservatism of the doctors and
their reluctance to allow the public to
become too confident of the result
There have been unhappy consequences
of too optimistic bulletins under sim
liar circumstances in the past. But the
news will deepen, if that is possible
the sympathy which the whole nation
feels for the wounded man. The peo-
pie will wait eagerly for the word that
the danger whatever II may be- has
passed. and will breathe freely only
when It is assured that Colonel Roose-
velts life is safe beyond all shadow OF
doubt.
Even those who are most opposed TO
him politically will be ready 70 admit
that Mr.. Roosevelt IS one Of the leaders
of opinion who could IeaStwell be spared.
The country owes him much for the
ouickening Of its conscience during MS
Presidency. for the correction Of Old
abuses, for promoting what he called
the square deal" phrase which Illus
trated his capacity for taking the COM
mon mans point of view; for calling
attention to the failures Of democracy
to bring about that even justice be-
tween man and man which is its aim.
And because all Of these things stu
enlist his heart and command his ire
mendous energies as powerfully as ever
the loss of him would leave a gap in
our national life which would not soon
be filed The force which he eXerts is
a needless force in some respects, and
probably dangerous by reason Of his
impotence with orderly processes and
his disregard for established tnstitu-
lions. but one which serves to keep the
real necessity for certain reforms con-
stantly before the public mind. Even
though the sober sense Of the nation
rejects him as a candidate for the
Presidency, as it surely does, we may
hope that his work brings nearer the
day when. in the can't phrase Of his fol-
lowers, this will he q better country to
live in. II is with realization of the
service which he has done in the past
and the good which he may do in the
future, especially If after the expert
ence Of this campaign he shall lay
aside ambition for office, that the ma
ton waits for the good word that he is
out Of danger.
The blow which has fallen upon
Colonel Roosevelt was one to which he
was extraordinarily exposed He has
been constantly before the public for
many years, giving and taking many
hard knocks and indulging in and be-
coming the subject Of many ContrO-
versies. The attention Of cranks fastens
upon such men. They are peculiarly
likely to become the victims Of the
crackbrained who entertain notions
that they are being prosecuted by
conspiracies or that they have divinely
appointed missions Of vengeance. Prob
ably Mr. Roosevelt was well aware Of
the risks he took. He could not fail to
be, In view Of the circumstances that
first made him President But there
seems TO be no possible way Of prOyid-
ing security for public man against
attempts upon his life. In the close
contacts Of a democracy the danger Is
ever present. The only safety lies in
the sound feeling Of the public against
such acts of violence, and perhaps, as
time goes on. in such reduction in the
number Of lunatiCs at large as the pre-
vention Of epileptics and degenerates
from reproducing themselves may eff
feet.