New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-11-07
SELECTIONS FROM THE MAIL.
COLONEL. OOSEVELTS Il"

COLONEL r )OsEvELTS Il"
PRoNouN THAT CALLS ATTENTION TO MAG
NIF1cENr RECORD
To the Editor Of The Tribune
Sir. The organs Of Democratic expression are
wasting an unknown quantity Of ink and breath
in exposing Colonel Roosevelt's "egotism. -
One journal apparently keeps a daily record 81
every repetition Of the personal pronoun, first
person singular" that occurs in the Colonels
speeches. and is dreadfully exercised over the
fact (as 1t alleges that in one Of them single
paragraph contained seventeen iterations OF the
obnoxious monosyllable
Whether the statement is true or not. no one
has taken the trouble to dispute or confirm It.
The fact. II IT be fact has no possible sgnf-
canoe. AS an argument a sheer, II is a
failure. for II there is a man in the United
States who has a right to handle the pronoun
freely II is candidate for Governor. Some
men carnOt work their rs" without making
themselves either offensive or ridiculous Not so
our gallant candidate Any man who hears
him knows that IL is when he uses his "T the
people applaud him the most heartily.
The reason of this Is obvious The people
know that in his case the Il" stands for hon
esty, for patriotism. for a pure and wholesome
private life. for the fearless and thorough per-
the "I' in connection with an asserted fact
they know ii represents an actual truth: they
know that when he connects it with a pledge
that pledge will be redeemed both in detail and
effect. And they also know that he cannot al
lude to the mportan; events of our more re-
cent history without making mention of HIM
self. In that stirring and momentous history
he has been a conspicuous figure, and a shap-
ing and directing power In the movement OF
civic and political life. ever since he entered
upon his political career sixteen years ago.
When his adversaries endea or by critc'sing
his recourse 10 the proroun 10 render him ridicu-
lous to the popular eye. they simply boomerang
themselves For in this way they lend an en-
phatic prominence to the splendid services which
that pronoun represents. Without in the least
intending 1t, therefore, they direct the eyes OF
the people TO his achievements In the Legs
lature 10 his career Of six years president
Of the Civil Service Commission, during which
he greatly extended the scope and usefulness OF
its work and procured the adoption of many
valuable reforms to his fearless and effective
discharge of the delicate and lifflcult functions
Of his post as Police Commissioner. to his IN
valuable agency, as Assistant secretary or the
Navy in preparing that arm OF the National
service for its subsequent magnificent work,
and finally. to his unique influence as com
blatant in the field. where, though only sIbor-
dinate officer. he set the tone ana character OF
the whole campaign. 49,
In fact this man has made his own personality
q formative power. a radiatng centre OF saiu-
tary and effective energy. in every department.
Of public life and action in which he has taken
part Re has. by public services OF transceh,
dent merit won the confidence of the people and
earned the right to exploit the pronoun when
ever he finds it ap )osite and useful
Hence he uses his rs like sword thrusts.
with a forceful directness of lunge. damaging
fl the extreme to his foes.
"IInc lae iacriluae." D. II. BOLLES'
NeW-York, Nov .. 1S9S.