The Washington herald., 1912-08-11
THE POLITICAL SITUATION.

Years and years ago, even before tn,
present generation was born, phil
osophic Frenchman named De Tocque
vile wrote a treatise on "Democrac,
in America" In that book he made
the following wise observation:
"All the skill of actors in the politi
cal world lies in the art of creating par
ties. A political aspirant in the United
States begins by discerning his owl
interest and discovering those other in.
terests which may be collected around
and amalgamated with it. He ther
contrives to find out some doctrine oil
principle which may suit the purpose:
of the new association and which ht
adopts in order to bring forward hi:
party and secure its popularity
Thus, more than seventy years ago
this observing foreigner drew pen pic
ture of the future Theodore Roosevelt
the skillful actor in the political
world who, with all other avenues to
his political ambition closed against
him, created new party in his own
interest For, after all, this is the sum
and substance of the events which tram
spired in Chicago last week. The con-
vention was Roosevelt gathering, the
delegates worshiping him as an idol
and allowing themselves to be complete
ly dominated by his will. If they had
not thus bowed to his leadership they
could not have been any part or parcel
of the Roosevelt movement.
1t will not do, however, for the poll
ticians TO regard the demonstration as
OF small importance. Whatever may
be said of the few wise and crafty poll
ticians who, like Boss Finn, would ad-
vance their own interests by enlisting
under the Roosevelt banner, there can
be no doubt that nearly all of the Roose-
welt following is inspired with the idea
that their leader can bring about a
millennium. Exactly how this happy re-
suit is to be attained they do not know,
and Roosevelt is shrewd enough, while
emphasizing wrong conditions, not to
offer specific details as to the manner
of effecting remedies. He listens to
the hymns which the enthusiasts sing
il devoted fashion and applauds when
they join in the Doxology, but it is i'm
possible TO find anywhere n his speech
of 2I,ooo words any definite plan tc OBJ
tain betterment of existing conditions.
If there is anything at all in Roose-
velt's position it is that socialism is the
panaoea. He breaches the doctrine of
socialism with more emphasis and
plsusibility than Keir Hardie or Herr
Bebel. 1t may please the workingman
to hear Roosevelt propose that the gov
eminent shall aid him in securing a
share in his employers business, but he
must know, upon reflection, that such
a state of affairs can never come TO
pass. 1t may also tickle the ears of the
populace TO be told that a majority of
voters ought to directly make and un-
make laws, unseat judges, and overturn
decisions OF the courts, and, in general,
conduct the government as they please
They must realize, however, that this
tyranny of the majority is dangerous
thing and that it might be exercised
against the great privileges of freedom
which are guaranteed by the Constitu-
ton.
Mr.. Roosevelt, however, proposes to
go from Maine to California, visiting
forty out of the forty-eight States, and
everywhere preach his tenets of social
ism and disruption. Unfortunately, he
will find thousands who will listen to
him and many who will believe in him
He proposes to make something more
than a political campaign. He would
lead religious crusade. No one can
yet tell how large will be his following.
There is no experience in our political
history which affords an exact basis for |
comparison. Even the Populist upris-
ing in the early 'oo's is not altogether |
comparable, because the Populists had
NO ASdhSA
and ability of Roosevelt to weld them
into great organization 1t is idle tol
say that Roosevelt excites unrest and
discomfort without offering any remedy
that he makes promises which he knows
cannot be redeemed; and that the bait
With which he tries tc catch the public
consists of impractical suggestions. The
fact that must be reckoned with is that
he has an idolatrous and unreasoning
following and that he is likely to make
more converts every day.
Beside the ultra-radical proposition
of the Roosevelt convention, Woodrow
Wilson's speech of acceptance is as
placid as a mountain lake. There is
nothing in it to stir the blood. Therel