The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-09-23
THEODORE ROOSEVELT.


governor aud will be elected by an over
whelming majority. The tide of popular
enthusiasm is sweeping in his direction
so strongly that these events appear in
evitable. why 1t this? The colonel OF the
Rough Riders is not different from other
men in many respects. There are SOL
diers who are as brave and who have the
personal qualities which compel the same
loyal devotion and affection bestowed
upon their commander by the Rough
Riders. Other men have as high ideals OF
citizenship and have been as faithful in
the civic duties which they have been
called upon to perform. Colonel Roosc-
welt has no monopoly of the personal vir-
tues which bind man to man in social re-
lations. His popularity as candidate
for office is to be explained by his pecu-
liar political quality.
There are three general classes of mon
who assume leadership. One is typitcd
by the local or ward boss, who, as rule.
is incapable of looking beyond the inter-
ests of himself and his constituents, who
has genuine sympathcy for the people
by whom he is Immediately surrounded
and whose standard of ethics permits him
to do questionable acts If they will bring
patronage and financial help to his fol-
lowers. These men are usually honest IN
their relations to public life. but they are
far from Comprehending that public ofnce
is "A public trust. Another class of lead
crs is numerously represented in the
| larger fields of state and national politics.
| They understand and sympathize with
| tho motives and life of the different
grades of society and they have a fair
| comprehension of the right and wrong OF
political questions. For the sake of sue
| cess, however, they are disposed to defer
! timorously to popular demands, whether
| they believe fully in them or not. Usual
! ly, they take as advanced positions as
| they dare and they may be said to be as
| consistent and devoted to reform policies
| as they can be and retain their hold on
| the people. The members of "A third class
| of political leaders are committed to the
| highest ideals of public life, but are sc
| far from being in touch with the masses
that they seldom hold elective offices and
| spend most of their strength in criticism
| o.
Now, the peculiar quality of Colonel
| Roosevelt is that he is so much OF a
whoe-souled man of the world that he is
| able to think and sympathize fully with
| every variety of citizen. He is as much
| the friend of the masses of an East Side
| district as is any of their local leaders
| He also knows the other social strata as
| well as the politician who carries elections
| by subordinatnE his principles to what
/
| has the most clear-cut ideas of political
| ethics. The combination is exceptional
| With the fellow-feeling which makes him
| the idol of the men of the west, he has
| the advantage of being keen student OF
| human nature in other aspects and oil
| having worked out political principles
which the conscience of the nation ap'
proves.
| would
many men in public life But what MARKS
| him off as unique is that he has the
| courage of his convictions, that he does
| not allow his sympathy for any class tc
| interfere with the performance of duty
| that concern for the retention or popu
| larity is not in his creed. There are few
men in the service of the country whc
feel able to take this high position. Pes
haps he owes his own strict adherence tC
| ideals of conduct to the fact that he ha:
| sufficient wealth to make him independ
| ent of the rewards of office. At al
| events, he has followed a standard so eX
| acting that the purists of the Mugwuml
| variety have no rational criticism to oiie
| "a standard, moreover, which is not TO;
far removed from the needs and aspira
tions of the whole people TO be visionary
and, while born fighter, he has fougn
for principles without descending to at
| tacking the motives of those who oppos'
| him. 1t is this quality of consistency Il
| which General Wheeler referred when h
said that Colonel Roosevelt was man o
the most perfect honesty.
| o.
1t is only at rare intervals that tn
public comes to recognize a man OF Mr
Roosevelts character. The sentiment u
the war seems TO have prepared it TO
welcoming him as the personitlcation o
the best there is in American life. In tn
presence of this young knight, who i
greater in his civic life than as "A soldier
the Difference to expediency which for
eigners say distinguishes our people ha
dropped away, revealing the true attitui
of the American nation toward men VIII
act Independently and COnscientiously
Colonel RooseVelts popularity, in truth
is nothing but the recognition by othe
citizens that he IS what they are them
selves at their best.