The New President

     Theredore [sic] Roosevelt, Vice President under the McKinley administration, has succeeded to the Presidency, by virtue of the constitution and the death of the President.
     He is a man of fair ability, but is no more to be compared to McKinley than hyperion to a satyr. He is a vain, egotistical, fussy, spectacular individual, who would attempt to swim the Hellespont or do any other impossible thing for the fame the event would give him. He is a man of action, and for that reason is to be feared[.] He is radical in his views, and represents the most extreme wing of the Republican party. He was even too radical for Hanna, who attempted to defeat his nomination at Philadelphia. He is a positive character, and brooks no opposition. He is bold, aggressive and defiant.
     His promotion to the presidency is looked upon with much misgiving by the public, without regard to party affiliation, because of his past erratic course. He is not the man the business interests or the people at large would willingly entrust with power, as there is nothing in his past life by which to calculate his future acts. He is a free lance, fond of the odd and novel, and is likely to do the thing least expected.
     The Clarion-Ledger has never been an admirer of Roosevelt. It has reprobated and condemned him. It has looked upon him with disfavor and will not stultify itself by praising him now, though he were twice a President.
     There are some things, however, in his favor. He is true to his friends, does not forget his enemies, and is entirely independent in his action. He has the ability to make a good President, and now that he is commissioned with the highest power in the land, he may sober down, and become an acceptable chief magistrate; and if so, the country should and will give him due credit.
     With the ambition to succeed himself, the new President has all the incentive to do the right and proper thing during his short term. One thing is certain: he can do nothing to hurt the Democracy, and little that will not injure the Republican party.