Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1912-03-08
FACING ROOSEVELT.

tended the fancy dress ball at Dngley DELL attired
bandit, in botte-green tights and Lincolnshire
jacket. There is something truly brigandish in
this his latest role, and certainly he plays it with
his wonted clatter Let no conclude however,
that the of Roosevelt and his third ambi-
ton is merely Pickwickian
Into act of his career, has he poured more
shrewdness and resolution than into his present
quest of the Republican nomination for the presi-
dency. Under his outward impulsiveness, Theodore
Roosevelt hides mind that is coldy caculative He
has entered this contest, not from the spur of a
moment but with design cunningly formed through
months and, perhaps, years past AS a seasoned pol
itcian, he has balanced the odds for and against
him and, evidently, he concludes that in the Chi
cago convention he will have more than a fighting
chance. Talk as we may of Mr.. Taft's grip upon
the party machinery the fact remains that presi-
Dental conventions sometimes stampeded and
who is more skilled for such saes than Roosevelt?
Among the stanchest friends of the administration
and the most ardent Republicans, there are many
who foresee Mr.. Taft's defeat if he is candidate
for reelection 1t is therefore altogether possible
indeed, it would be thoroughly natural that in a
desperate eleventh hour the convention leaders
should swing to Roosevelt in a hazard to save their
cause
It, therefore, behooves the thinking people of
America, and particularly the Democrats, to con-
slider this third term issue not as DOGGY, but as
very palpable menace and to prepare accordingly.
Certain it is that in the approaching campaign, the
Democratic party should choose as its standard
bearer who is at once progressive and trust
worthy and who is thereby eminently fitted to in
spire popular confidence Otherwise, the party will
prove untrue to its own and the nations interests
1t would be lamentable thing, if any man were
intrenched in third term of the presidency but if
he were Roosevelt, it would be a calamity The
powers vested in the American chief executive are
greater and certainly vital than those of the
British monarch. Indeed, his influence in the af-
fairs of government is direct and far-reaching
than that of any European sovereign Without the
checks and balances which the Constitution provides
and without that wholesome unwritten law which
fixes eight years as the limit of presidents term
he might become, in effect if not in name verable
dictator
In addition to the powers legally conferred upon
him. the president of the United States States holds
dominion enormous Federal patronage and
to what ends this might be directed by an
scrupulous man is easily inferred. Even a cabinet
officer as the country has lately learned through
sore experience turn his department into tool
of autocracy and oppression. Postmaster General
Hitchcock who has followed after the Strenuous
One and has prolonged Rooseveltian methods into
the present administration holds the business inter
ests and rights of the public in his He issues
arbitrary orders and then summons the department
of justice to enforce them though they the
law of the land He fnstalls system of espionage
that perhaps unparalleled in recent decades out
side of Russia Mexico. He becomes a political
boss and employs the patronage at his command to
further partisan ends and build up political ma
chine; who then, doubt that chief executive of
the Roosevelt type, under favorable conditions could
press his license to a point where the liberties
of the people would be endangered, if not annued?
We have doubt that American citizenship would
prove equal to such crisis, should it arise but
prudent nation does not await the towering and bit
ter frutage of malign tendencies, but stamps them
out while they yet in the Seed 1t is, therefore
the part of good and patriotism to deal with
the potential ills of the third term issue in their
germnal stage and to settle once and forever ques
ton that harbors such disaster.
precedent is not it's own justification, nor is it
invioate simply because it has descended from the
fathers for as the fulfer of all law has reminded
us, %The Sabbath made for man, not man for
the Sabbath" But if a precedent has sprung from
peoples needs if it is expression of their desire
to be free and is interviewer with the very fabric
their government they dare not rip it out, unless
they ready for revolution.
In that sense, the third term precedent is
sacred thing to this nation 1t is of the safe
guards against the possible abuse of the executive
power to which have referred; one of the bull
warks against government by man, instead of gov
eminent by law Established by Washington in the
republics infancy, it has been reafarmed by Jefer
and Madison, and Monroe and Jackson. 1t is one
of the essentially democratic features of form of
government, marking distinctive difference between
American and European institutions.
Against this great unwritten law, Mr.. Roosevelts
headlong greed for power is now turned. Such a
candidacy as his makes especially evident the vital
need of the precedent he is opposing. For, he en-
bodies policies and purposes that contrary to the
spirit of the Constitution and that carried into
effect would destroy the design and the very founda-
ton of our government The entire drift of his poti
cal thought and of his record president has been
toward Capitalization of power at Washington and
particularly in the hands of the chief executive.
Roosevelt is the father of the New Nationalism,"