Roosevelt Has Been “Found”

     For several weeks previous to the assassination of President McKinley, the New York Journal, Chicago American and San Francisco Examiner, three newspapers of the most brilliant saffron hue, published a series of cartoons representing a searching party out after Vice President Roosevelt, whom, it was assumed by Caricaturist Opper, had mysteriously disappeared. The searching party comprised President McKinley, Senator Mark Hanna, Governor Odell, of New York, and an unidentified person of vigorous physical proportions, labeled “The Trusts.”
     While the political significance of these cartoons was decidedly weak, their appeal to the basest spirit of discontent with present industrial conditions of the country was obvious. They taught, not only by picture, but by libelous words placed in the mouth of the extravagant monstrosities drawn by Opper, the same doctrine of revolt against the government that has found its awful climax in the deed of Czolgosz. They appealed to the basest political passions, and anarchy, itself, does no more than that.
     But little the yellow journals mentioned anticipated the outcome of their illustrated search for Roosevelt. The man has been found. He was discovered at a time of dire tribulation and sore travail to his country. Into his hands have been committed the reins of government, and it is a source of assurance to the nation that so strong a man has been placed in the chair of the chief executive. To the consternation of yellow journals and anarchistic editors and artists, Theodore Roosevelt has been “found.”
     Today these libelous journals are in the condition of lachrymose repentance. Their grief is pathetically exploited in sentimental gush and maudlin sorrow. The editors have, by a great national calamity, been forced to eat their own scandalous words and for decency’s sake to line up with the real mourners of the nation. Yet for how long will this “sackclot[h] and ashes” act be kept up? Will it be a continuous performance or simply an interlude in their indecent political vaudeville? Time alone can answer these questions, but it would surprise no one to find the same unclean work permeating their columns within sixty days.
     And for how long must a patient, placid people endure such assaults on high personal character and the dignity of a great nation?