The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-04-27
SATURDAY. APRIL 81. 1912.
A PRESIDENTIAL CAT FIGHT.

Mr. Taft il carrying Goals 20 Newcastle, 1t
is dubious whether the smut which he will
accumulate will not. be his only reward To
accuse Theodore Roosevelt Of trcachcrv. OF
double-dealing Of insincerity. is an old
story. What does Mr. Taft think TO gain by
a narrative which Is already entirely familiar
10 every man who follows current events or
gives passing notice TO passing politics.
The American people again coming TO
The difficult choice Of Roosevelt, several
times fhey nava chosen nm EUch" TIME they
did in the full knowledge that he was
President tn n double ctty--Presidcnt of
ire people, and President also OF the club"
y hich he created aud 10 which he is constantly
e.ecting unwilling members The American
People have stood by Roosevelt for some
reason more occult than apparent. They
have done SO In the full knowledge OF the fact
that he is the bully par excellence that he is
the only man who was ever dominant in pub
lie life in America 10 whom truth was moth
ing more than figure ri speech. that by
tneir support thev were honoring an jndivsd-
nal to whom even the most rudimentary rules
OF conduct among gentlemen We're strangers
Why could not Mr. TAFT understand these
things Why couId he not see the fatal fas-
eination and accept it Why should he, the
President Of the country. follow the methods
af man who discioses personal correspou-
denoe and takes apparent pleasure in discos-
ing himself the gaze Of the people nude of
every sensibiity that should clothe man of
tine feeling
The picture OF Taft stripped Is not lovely
], 10 even ptiahle. 1t shows things that the
American people had never suspected disfg-
nred his character, Roosevelt is In one sense
very much like the Town drunkard Nothing
that can be said OF him or 10 him can do him
harm. Taft is very much like the man who
permits himself TO lee embroied with such
character His reputation is gone whatever
the decision rs to the outcome Granting
that everything TAFT says is true and who
can deny it?granting broken friendship,
double-dealing. false promise hypocrital as
sertion. where does Mr. Taft profit? He has
Done ne more than associate himself AS an
amateur PLAYER i'll game where his oppo-
nent has long been professional
Mr.. Taft's Massachusetts speeches show
very. very clearly that neither he nor Roose-
welt be the next President without dis
finct sacrifice of sef-respect the part of
the American people. We say this reluctant
". because until he opened his mouth we had
thought Mr. Taft to be- man harassed more
less by circumstances, who trying.
however mistakenly. TO administer his high
Office along with his conscience and his faith
as gentleman and lawyer The result shows
the necessity OF choice III the Republican
party between two men who shatter every
tenet OF political aud personal decency The
President il disclosed who, sitting In
Washington did nsst- hesitate III ask aims Of
the private person who had preceded him;
Mr.. Roosevelt liz disclosed. as all suspected az
the who did not hesitate to put rope
around the neck of his friend and then cut
the horse from under him The whole thing
Is humiliating to the poilt of nausea.
Admitting Roosevelt's power OF brutal ap-
peal. We shail await win confidence the YER
dict OF the great American jury concerning
two public men who. did they attempt private
iy what they do politically. would he osracised
on the streets OF any sef-respectng commun-
ity