The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-03-14
is DIsTRJsT az ROOSEVELT REACTION
AIRY

from a gentleman whose abtlItg is manifest
IN the particular instance and whom we per
eonaly know TO be virle of mind aud
conscience. His communication is OF particu-
lar value. both indicating a significant at
sitnde the part of the Democratic press
IN general. and as showing what We consider,
~ be a somewhat prevalent lack OF calm
judgment and accurate apprasement OF the
particularly clamorous individual OF the
ment.
Our correspondent is unable 10 understand
why it is that the Democratic, press. and par
ticuiarly the southern press. seems TO his
-isslnd 10 defend President Taft -hx -criiiciziag
ex-President Roosevelt lie does not under
stand why man whose course on the tarin
has been distinctly distasteful to every Dem
ocraue belief should be treated with consid-
Grafton while his opponent whose every ut
terance is in favor of human rights as over
against the rights of property, "~ should he
criticized or rideuied as it happens that his
utteranees touch possibilities exceed the
limits of reason. In particular he regrets
that he In this paper a failure along
with able advocacy of certain specific legis-
this question" TO "exemplify this same spirit
in your treatment OF other aspects of current
politics He adds that he has sometimes
feared lest We might cherish some sympathy
with the reactionaries and he thinks that
The yirginian has at this juncture an OPP
portunity which II ought 10 grasp and use"
In our opinion. correspondents analy
sis is primarily faulty because he takes al
their face value the protestations of a man
whose whole career has been marked by the
willingness to say at the moment what he
thought might tickle the monentary boliei.
snd to do only those things which might
deny the meaning while saving the color OF
his words. Plainly the attitude OF tha DEM
ocratic press In general is based upon lack
o. faith in Mr.. Roosevelt sincerity. 1t has
not been able TO give the palm OF unselfsh
craftsmanship to one who has onststently
adopted the chimera of the instant 1t
has honestly preferred the man with whom IL
can honestly disagree to the man with whom
agreement disagreement seems to be i'm
possible for long ut time. because he never
has and probably never will, stay put"
Everybody knows where Taft stands. in spite
Of the intellectual vaciliation which may have
marked his course in arriving at a decision;
nobody knows where Roosevelt stands. simply
because he will stand anywhere. at any sacri-
fee of dignity or consistency. so long us he
can get himself set in the popular eye against
tire skyline OF contemporary events That
the Democratic press mistrusts Roosevelt Is
no reason why 1t endorses Taft If 1t seems
tain respect attaching TO all opponent whe
does not compromise his opinions. We may
be ever so opposed Ia Mr. Taft and his course.
bu, we know. where TO tind him: To, hnd
Roosevelt requires n diiigent search In the
maze of his opinions; IL we succeed In
finding him he is likely to be otherwise, hunt
ing the rabbit of politics after having killed
the lion of sentiment
AS to The virginian's reactionary tendencies.
we only say that while we believe in the
man above the dollar, We do not believe in
sakiag the dollar from the man " no has hon.
estiy earned it. We believe in progressive
laws within the boundaries established by the
Constitution. We believe, further in the
courts and in the checks and balances which
the wise foresight of the fathers deliberately
irterposed against the enactment into law
of hasty and ill-adyissd action by so-called
direct government" We do not, therefore.
believe in the initiative and referendum Still
less do we believe In hanging the sword OF
Damocles in the shape of the recall OF judges
over the head OF honest judicial opinion. Less
than all do we believe in the anarchy which
would pu, IN the hands OF the people the power
OF unlimited and even casual amendment OF
constitutions through the Rooseveltian doc
trne OF the recall Of judicial decisions. We
believe that II is siiil possible to be sanely
progressive" while holding these views We
see no inconsistency In declaring for right
II III the people to instruct through the instru-
mentality OF crystaliaed sentiment the action
Of supposedly representative legislators, and
at the same time realizing the evil OF dec-
srine making the distinct legislative depart