The Dominion. TUESDAY, APRIL 2, 1912. THE ROOSEVELT SCANDAL.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1404, 2 April 1912, Page 4

The Dominion. TUESDAY, APRIL 2, 1912. THE ROOSEVELT SCANDAL.

Mr. Roosevelt's irruption into the Presidential arena is one of the most scandalous things that has happened in American politics for a great many years. There are in NewZealand a large number of people who have admired this strenuous man—wo ourselves admired, and still approve, some of the fine addresses lie delivered in-Europe after his return from Africa—but it is impossible any longer for people who value principles in public men and in politics to regard Mit. Roosevelt as a good force in American public life. The latest cable news concerning him is to the effect that the tide is going strongly against him and that he is becoming almost as violent and talkative as our own member for Awarua used to be. Last November "the Roosevelt, boom" was begun, and for some weeks the American newspapers were full of articles and cartoons of inquiry as to the exPresident's intentions. As soon as it became quite certain that Mn. Roosevelt intended to run again for the Presidency, the newspapers began to recall his numerous statements" since 1901 that ho would not again seek nomination. His friends, and in particular the Outlook, with which ho has an editorial connection, sel themselves to explain away his undertaking. The statement that he "would not seek nomination" was twisted into a statement that he "would not refuse nomination." A more definite statement that he would not again accept nomination was parried with the plea that no man can commit himself against all crises that may arise. AVith each "explanation" the Roosevelt party sank deeper in the mire. It came at last actually to this: that the Outlook a few weeks ago claimed that in his declaration against third terms.Mr. Roosevelt meant "third consecutive terms.'' "The situation," it said, "may perhaps be made clear by a homely illustration. When a man says at breakfast in the morning, 'No, thtink you, T will not take any more culTee,' it does not mean that'he will not take any more coffee to morrow morning, or next, week, or next nioulh, or next year."

Bill, on Nnvomlj.')- 8, HIO4, Mrs. Hoiiskvki.t made I his declaration, wllicll I'lusns ;ill I lie llooVK (if escape save llii' do'.U' of dii-hono-nr : "On the -Itli of Me.reh iio.vl- T shrill have sen-. oii three anil a half years, nml litis three and a half years cniisHUilp niv firat term. The wiso custom which limits iho President, to two terms regards tho substance and not the form,

and under no circumstances will 1 be again a candidate for or accept another nomination for President/' That is express enough, but there is more to come. In September, 1908, in a letter recently made public, Mr. Hoosevfxt ardently recommended Mn. Tait, and he did so in terms that heighten the infamy of his present defiance of his many pledges and promises. "The true friend of reform, 1 ' he wrote, "the true _ foe of abuses, is the man who steadily perseveres in righting wrongs, in warring against abuses;, but whose character and training are such that, he never promises what he cannot perform, that he always a little more than makes good what he does promise." Mr. Taft, he said, was such a man. He himself obviously is not. The. issue raised by Mr. Roosevelt's defiance of his pledges is one that concerns all countries in which constitutional government exists. It may be assumed that the ex-Presi-dent has no motive, in seeking a third term, beyond the carrying out of the. policy he thinks best forAmerica. The issue is this: is it in the end desirable that a prominent public man shall be .allowed by any set of circumstances to break a solemn pledge given without reserve to the nation and understood by the nation to bo a solemn and final and unreserved declaration, binding upon him for all time ? Circumstances may arise when it may in the opinion of the majority seem desirable in the national interest that such a pledge should be broken in the spirit if not in the letter. But no good can come of dealing in fundamental evil. This is an age of slipping and of compromises with conscience iu public affairs, in every country—an ago in which the need is desperate for the. defence of truthfulness and good faith in national leaders. Even if another Roosevelt term would benefit America, —and it certainly would not —the nation would suffer in the end, for the benefits would come from soiled hands. The wage of dishonour, for nations as for men, is death. But this is an age unready to believe that—an age to which it appears increasingly hopeless to quote such a verse as this, from one of the best of our living English poets: If. last, anon the cold grcan-mantling sea, Thou cling, alone with Truth, to the lust ;.pav. Both castaway, And one must pcris-ii, let it not bo ho Whom thou art sworn to obey.