The Washington times., 1912-06-21
PROPHET, PREACHER, AND LEADER.

The man who dares to put his destiny. to the
touch, who has the courage of his convictions, who
takes counsel not of his fears who balks not in the
work half done, is the man who carries the torch
that lights the path to truth and progress.
Indecsion and tme-serving has wrecked more
nations, parties, and individuals than unblushing
wrongs.
IL care not what course others may take, but as
for me give me liberty or give me DEATH vitalized
the American Revolution.
millions for defense but not a cent for tribute"
laid the foundations Of the worldpower of this nation.
The Republican party which is suffering
either the throes of death the travail Of regenera
ton struck into being by the decisive utterance
of Lincoln in 1858 when he declared the nation
could not longer exist half slave and half Free that
il must become all the one or all the other.
At each Of these epochs in American history
and in the world history-there were a majority
of the so-called leaders" who counseled hesitancy,
who wanted to wait who desired to compromise, who
feared to step out of the beaten path and blaze a
new trail.
No man more advised against doing anything
radical than Lincoln in his famous debates with
Douglas, but with the vision and courage that are
found only in the real leaders he saw the inevitable
conflict and took his position without fear hesita-
ton and without regard to the immediate effect it
would have either upon his own political fortunes
or the immediate fortunes Of his party. Both suf-
fered immediate defeat because of Lincolns clear cut
statement of the issues, only to gain permanency and
supremacy.
1t had been better if a Lincoln had appeared
years before and avoided all the compromises that
made the great conflict between the States necessary
and which wrecked the political life of every man
connected with them.
Again the nation is facing conflict that is in
evtable-the contest between Special Privilege and
Popular Government, contest between the rule Of
the few who would use their power to exploit the
many, and the rule Of the people.
There can be no compromise. There is no pos
sble middle ground. One man, Theodore Roosevelt,
sees it, and has dared proclaim it, He has done that
which but one man in century is called upon to do,
and because he has measured up to the needs of the
hour he is that One man.
The time is ripe; the masses are ready for the
message. To Roosevelt belonged the vision and the
courage to proclaim 1.-THE great fight for the rule
of the people and for social and industrial justice,
which has now become clear-cut fight for honesty
against dishonesty, fraud, and theft"
The effect upon this campaign, upon the Re-
publican party, upon the Democratic party, is all
problematical. History is being etched rapidly, too
rapidly to hazard prophecy upon what will happen
within the span of few weeks.
But the ultimate effect can be determined with
mathematical accuracy Parties and party shibboleths
as the people have known them since the war, will
pass away New battle lines will be formed exactly
along the lines outlined in Roosevelts declaration of
principles.
There will be return Of the Government to
the people, an abolition of the multiplicity Of ma
chinery that now defeats their purposes and browns
their protests and the new issue will not be tariff
or currency or battleshps, but "Am my brothers
keeper" interpreted in the language of the social
and industrial problems of the hour.
The future historian will write that for the first
time in history the man who first proclaimed new
doctrine lived to be the who precipitated the
fight, drew up the battle line and led the fight in
person. To Roosevelt will be given the honor OF
being prophet preacher, and militant leader of the
Nou, O-dar of Th;nus