Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-02-26
STAR MEMBER OF HIS OWN CLUB.

STAR MEMBER OF HIS OWN CLUB.
On the 4th of March next I shall
have served three and One-half
years, and these three and one-hnIf
years constitute my first term. The
wise custom which limits the presi-
dent 10 two terms regards the sub
stance and not the form, and under
no circumstances will be q candi-
date for or accept another nOmina-
tIOn.-TheOdore Roosevelt, Nov. 8,
1904.
have not changed and shall not
change that decision thus ANNOUNCE
ed.-Theodore Roosevelt, Dec. IL,
1907.
will accept the nomination for
president IL Il IL rendered me, and
will adhere to this decision until
the convention has expressed its
preference. - Theodore Roosevelt,
Feb. "a, 1912.
Theodore Roosevelt has proven title
to star membership of the Ananias
club, which he instituted while in the
office OF president, and in which he
classified all men in public life who
disagreed with him. What are the
American people TO think of a man, al
ready honored far beyond his deserts,
who thus above his own signature tells
them one thing and thinks another,
and at the same time asks them to be-
lieve in him to the extent of further
honoring him? He has shown that his
word is not good, and that when it comes
to the gratifying of selfish ambition
the truth is not in him. For the at
tainment of personal aims he would
sacrifice the time-honored Gus
tom which he once spoke of as a
wise one, and violate his own word Of
honor What an example is this for
the on-coming citizens of the republic,
to behold one of the fore
most in the nations history
deliberately repudisting his own
carefully prepared declarations-and
entirely in the interest of self. In the
hope of reaching that distinction which
Washington, the founder of the repub-
lie, refused, and which the people de-
clined TO confer upon Grant who saw
ed the republic, the champion four
fiusher of the young century, boldly
and with an effrontery that is astound-
| ing, goes back on his former statements
and declares that now he is willing.
Caesar, greatest Of all the Romans.
before the dawn of the Christian era,
put aside the crown thrice, but the
people, though they loved him no less,
loved their country more, thought him
insincere, and for his ambition they
slew him Yet in this 20th century we
find an excuse for a statesman seek.
ing TO perpetuate his own tenure of
office as the head Of the greatest re
public the world has known, and by de.
ception and fraud seeking to attain it.
Regardless Of how people may have
differed with Roosevelt in theory and
policy, il has always been conceded
that he meant what he said
His original statement was writ
ten with an exactitude in the choice oil
words and with a terseness indicative
Of fully mRtured thought on the sub
Jet. II seemed like a substantial and
notable addition TO the ~unwritten con
stitution," which many of Mr.. Roose
velt's personal followers are occasion
ally pleased to emphasize as an impor
tant and authoritative part of our con
stituuonai law. II seemed a fair infer
ence, for example, that Mr. Roosevelt
was unqualifedly against more than two
terms in the presidential office. Fol
three years later he wrote the supple
mental bulletin in reiteration OF hi,
views expressed on the former occa
sion
Mr.. RoOsevelt's attitude in the Iigh
OF all that has gone before is susceu
tible Of but two constructions-eithe
he thinks the American people ar
. fond Of untruth and like to be tribe
with, or they are pack Of fools, incs
pable Of intelligent comprehension c
the English language.