Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 36, Number 83, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 June 1904 — POLITICAL COMMENT. [ARTICLE]

POLITICAL COMMENT.

McKinley and Roosevelt. Consistency is not the brightest jewel in the Democratic journalistic coronal. Not many years ago the editors of that faith were attacking William McKinley because of alleged indecision of character. Some of them picturesquely referred to him as having; “a chocolate eclair backbone.” The people were solemnly warned of the danger of placing in high executive office a man who could be veered hither and thither by every wind of political doctrine, by every passing current of popular emotion. Now the average Democratic editor is attacking Mr. Roosevelt on directly opposite grounds. We are told that he is rash and opinionated, that when he makes up his mind on a question of public policy he is too stubborn, too stiff-necked; that a President should be amenable to popular opinion; and therefore that it is unwlsd to elect him to the Presidency—because he has backbone! The two propositions are of opposite polarity. If Mr. McKinley lacked backbone, why is the possession of it not a good thing in Mr. Roosevelt? The fact, of course, Is that, in both cases, there was an effort to manu-

facture campaign thunder. William McKinley was careful In making-up, his judgments on public matters, but when he did so he was absolutely firm In carrying them out. Theodore Roosevelt listens attentively to the discussions, pro and con, of proposed public policies, makes up his mind after mature deliberation, and then is not one whit more strenuous than was his predecessor in going straight forward. •—Toledo Blade. An Outrage on the President. All decent people, without regard to political affiliations, will condemn the act of a negro in Washington the other day. He stationed: men with a moving picture camera before the capltol, having that well known building for a background, and there made negatives of a “fake” meeting between the minstrel, made up to represent Booker Washington, and a confederate. dressed to represent President Roosevelt, who came upon the acene in a carriage and with horses resembling the turn-out of the chief executive. The minstrel and his confederates made the journey from Baltimore to the Capitol expressly to get up this fake moving picture and returned on the earliest train. It is claimed that the picture was to be reproduced In a spectacular production soon to appear on the stage; but It is possible that it was really intended for use in the coming campaign. Certain localities in the South have already been flooded with campaign buttons representing the President and Booker Washington at lunch together; and there are many people, not only in that section, but all over the United States, who do not know the capabilities of “fake”>aibotography, and who, If this moving picture were on exhibition, would believe that It represented an actual encounter between Roosevelt and Washington. If the pieturps were made to use in a theatrical production, it was in extremely bad taste, to say the least; if It were an advertising dodge by the minstrel. It was still more; and if for political use, it was utterly reprehensible. Fortunately, the police of New York obtained the Aims before they were developed, and whatever the purpose may have been, it is defeated. —Toledo Blade. Same Old lamiea. There is little danger that this tariffreform nonsense will do any damage at the present time, but It Is well to

recognize the danger of the situation and avoid any possibility of a return of the evil days of 1892 to 1890. The issues this year, so far as there are any, are the same old Issues. The voters of the nation have the same Interests to protect and the need to be vigilant of their protection.—Springfield (Ill.) News. Is Roosevelt Unsafe? The Democrats are laying constantly increasing stress upon their declaration that President Roosevelt is an “unsafe man.” It will doubtless end in becoming the most strident slogan of the campaign. There is something about the unsafe man that people shrink from, just as they avoid the imminent peril of a building about to collapse. It is dangerous to be in his vicinity. He is regarded as a powder magazine that only needs a careless match to bring on the devastating explosion. Upon his approach people clap their hands to theif ears and hurry away. One of the reasons President Roosevelt is unsafe is because of his support of the Panama canal. Had he been “safe” the gigantic undertaking would not have been attempted nor the

world benefited. The Imaginary rights of Colombia would not have been desecrated to the sorrow of the cratic party. Had he been “playing safe” and thinking only of his personal interests he undoubtedly would have thought twice before supporting a project which, although of great benefit to the country and the world, did not seem free from possible misinterpretation by unscrupulous opponents. In this respect Mr. Roosevelt may be unsafe. He acts fearlessly and independently. But so long as the results of his being “unsafe” continue to be for the best interests of the nation the people will not be alarmed. —Chicago Tribune. Read, the Price Lists. After a year of threats and a year of fear the Democratic Tariff bill became a law in August of 1894, and permitted Canadian farm products to enter the markets of the United States under most favorable circumstances. The United States Consul at Montreal reported that the United States was the natural market for the poultry and eggs of Canada. That country produced these necessities in great quantities, and sold the surplus In New Y'ork.and Boston. Note the prices which Cass County farmers were receiving for eggs during those days. The market is printed elsewhere In this paper. Did not lowa feel the effect of the lowered Tariff, and was she not directly Injured by It? Was her injury only “incfdental” or was it stralghtout and definite? Look at the market and find the answer.—Atlantic (Iowa) “Telegraph.” An Easy Task. On the Tariff and the finances the Republican PXitform Committee of 1904 will have an easy task. The Republicans are for the maintenance of the Protection policy under which the iffiffon has made greater advances In the years of Republican sway than It did during all the previous period of its history.—St. Louis “Globe-Demo-crat." Why Not? Why invite the chance of certain disaster and further failure by the adoption of proposed but untried experiments? Why not let well enough alone? 'A good deal that passes for reciprocity is really Free-Trnde so far as It goes. —“The Luml»er Trade Journal."