The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1912-09-05
The Political Situation of 1912

| face to face with such a serious politi
cal condition. Neither have they been
called upon to solve SO important q
problem as the one now presented tc
the American people. Such a crisis
has never before been experienced In
our country, and | trust may never
occur again. 1t is question be
tween constitutional government and
communism. A question whether we
shall maintain the institutions estab
lished by our fathers and the tradi
tions that have been held sacred for
more than century or permit them
to be destroyed. 1t is a question
whether the constitution, the statutes
and principles of our government, ere
lated and maintained by the wisdom
and patriotism of the past century
shall continue or whether all shall be
thrown down and replaced by vision
airy theories, impractics Bile ideas, and
the concentration of all political pow
e. with the control of all public and
private interests at the national CAPT
| toll This for the qualification of the
mad, selfish ambition OF one man who
for years has been aspiring and in
| triguing to become dictator. What a
picture for the world! What condi-
| ton for the serious thought and patri-
otto action of our sovereign citizens!
1t Is far more important and vital than
| 1nna1 or o~4;c n, Y,n1ifinc E,,,
more than a century the great repub-
| lie has developed and prospered as no
other nation has during the worlds
history 1t has attracted capital from
all other countries and has become
the home of the intelligent and pros
porous as well as the oppressed, from
every part of the globe. Under our
constitution and system of representa-
tive government, principally admins
tered by two great political parties,
our country has been blessed with an
almost continuous career of prosper
ity. Yet we are told that our constitu-
ton, now acknowledged the world oy-
er as the greatest ever framed by
human wisdom, is defective and
should be made subject to frequent
and sudden changes according to the
caprice of majority of our voting
population. and that the two great
parties that have contributed SO much
to the welfare of the nation are ineffi-
cient and worthless. notwithstanding
this. in accordance with a well es-
tablished custom, the two great politi-
cal parties have held their national
conventions, published their declara- |
ton of principles, and designated
eminent statesmen as candidates for
tie highest position of trust and re-
sponsibility, men who will command !
the respect and confidence of the
American people. For months an ex-
president struggled to become the
candidate of one of these conventions
To the Republican party he is in
debted for all that he is, and from
that party and the American people
has received the highest honors to |
which he was never entitled. Not be-
eesCNSohiAA
lessly trying to destroy his own par
ty and the sacred traditions of our
government, and openly and unblush-
1ngly violating his own sacred word /
OF honor. i trust that our country
men will think deeply and act wisely
before they permit our government to /
follow the fate that has befallen other |
republics. No usurper or despot ever
succeeded until the people of the
country We're in condition and mood
to pass under the tyranny of die.
tator The change from seryitude |
and oppression on the part of a peo-
pie to liberty and Independence is I
wrought by violence, heroic deeds i
and great sacrifice The change from
democracy to despotism is slow. sub
tie insidious and fatal. The usurpa-
ton, the tyranny, the spoilation of the /
Caesars, the two Napoleons, Cromwell I
Robespierre and Diaz was all accom-
plished under the name and pretense
Of republic. False prophets have
arisen and demagogues have flourish.
ed, but never before has one appeared
IN oar country possessing the worst
elements of both, and at the same
lime consumed with his own selfish
This is the true character
of Theodore Roosevelt, the present
candidate OF his own misnamed Pro.
party. The American citi.
,ens need only to look at his record
o recognize the most colossal fraud
hat this country has ever produced,
md the most unfit man for the re.
ponsible and dignified office of presi-
lent. Lacking the qualities and char
icteristics requisite to proper dis.
barge of the duties OF that high Of
Ice, and having an excess of such as
disqualify him. In order to
cal fairly with him on basis OF
acts undeniable, it is necessary to
resent him in his true light, as:
Roosevelt, the lover OF strife lone
Who pretends to despise men who do
lot love to fight" with whom viril-
ty lies only in the desire to kill some
hing, inspiring in the minds of our
,outh most destructive and demon
LIKING disposition.
Roosevelt, the pretender-c claiming