New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-10-02
COL. ROOSEVELT ON POLITICS.
SOME EXTRACTS FROM HIS BOOK AMER
ICAN IDEALS AND OTHER ESSAYS"


ICAN IDEALS AND OTHER ESSAYS"
Colonel Theodore Roosevelt Is well known as
q trenchant writer in expressing his poh'ical
views and experiences. His book, American
ideals and Other Essays Social and Political,
published last year by c. p Punams Sons, OF
this city, attracted much attention, and the
following extracts from it, printed by permls-
zion Of the publishers. are particularly interest
ting at this time as showing Colonel Roosevelt
views on political questions in this country and
In New-YOrk state in particular:
The third sense in which the word AMER
,anism" may be employed is with reference 10
The AmericaniZing of the newcomers TO our
shores We must Americanize them IN every
way-in speech in political ideas and prlnclpies
and in their way OF looking at the relation pc
tween Church and state. We welcome the Ger
man or the freshman who becomes an amer
can We have use for the German or irlsh-
man who remains such. We 90 not V,Ish yer
IMAM Americans and h-Americans VINO inquire
IS such in our social and political life We
want only Americans, and, PROVIDED tncY are
such. we do not care whether they are oi naive
or Of Irish of German ancestry we nave
90 room in any healthy American community
jor a German American vote or an lrish-Amefl-
tan vote, and il is contemplate demagogy 10
put planks into any party platform with the
purpose OF catching such a vote. we nave no
room for any people who do not act ana vote
simply as Americans, and as hothlne eISe
carry religious prejudices into our politics as
for those who carry prejudices Of caste or ma
tonality We stand unalteraby in favor OF Inc
public school system in its entirety. We believe
that English, and no other language. is that
in which all the school exercises should be con
Quoted We are against any DIVISION OF the
school fund. and against any appropriation OF
public money for sectarlan purposes. we are
against any recognition whatever by the SId'e
in any shape or form Of State-aded pdFoch%l
schools But We are equally oppOseu 20 any
ffp1
his creed. We demand that all ciilZens iTotes-
tant and Catholic. Jew and Gentle. shaIl nave
fair treatment IN every way; tha' All a 1,, s'.,
have their rights guaranteed them. The yer!
reasons that make us unqualified in our oppo-
sitinn TO state aided sectarian schools make US
equally bent that, in the management OF our
public schools. the adherents of each creed Shall
lie given exact and equal justice, wholly without
regard 10 their religious affiliations that trus-
tees. superintendent, teachers, scholars' All
alike. shall be treated WITHOUT any IcIcI'ICc
whatsoever to the creed they profess. We man
tain that it is outrage in voting LOT man
for any position. whether Stale or National TO
take into account his religious falth, pfOVlceu
only he is a good American. When "a secret
society does what in some places the American
Protective Association seems TO have done ana
tries to prose ibe Catholics both politically ana
socially the members of such society show that
they themselves are as utterly un- American, as
alien to our schools Of political thought as the
worst immigrants who land on our shores.
Their conduct is equally base and contemplate;
they are the worst foes of our public school sys-
TEN, because they strengthen the hdndS OF lts
ultramontane enemies; they should receive the
hearty condemnation of all Americans who are
truly patriotic.
Practical politics must not be construed 10
mean dirty politics In the long run the poitlcs
of fraud and treachcry and foulness are IN
practical politics and the most practical oil an
politicians is the politician who is clean and
decent and upright But a man who goes INTO
actual battles of the political world must pre-
pare himself much he would for the struggle
in any other branch Of our life He must be
prepared to meet men Of far lower Ideals than
his own and 10 face things, not as he would
wish them but as they are He must not lose
his own high ideal and yet he must face the
fact that the majority OF the men with whom
ne must work have lower ideals lie must
stand firmly for what he believes, and yet he
must realize that political action, to be enectlVe
must he the joint action OF many men, and that
he must sacrifice somewhat Of his own opinions
10 those Of his associates if he ever hopes 10 see
bis desires take practical shape.
The prime thing that every man VINO taxes
an interest in politics should remember Is that
ne must act and not merely criticise the actions
Of others. Ii is not the who sits by his
flreside reading his evening paper and say ing
how bad our politics ard our politicians are VINO
Will ever do anything to save us; il IS the man
who goes ont into the rough bury- burly OF the
CAUCUS the primary and the political meeting