The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1898-07-28
(CharlOtte ObServcr.)

(Charlotte Observcr)
1t is men who do not hesitate to 90
out of the beaten paths, to spurn the
traditions of men, to violate clog
ging precedents and to face the ieers
and opposition of the slave-masses
in the old-ruts-it is such men who
make their mark and leave their
print. We have in mind, especially,
two men of this class, who have found
their opportunity in the present war
There are hardly any two in the pub
lie eye to-day more closely watched
or more talked about.
We find the first one in the army,
one of the commanders of the Rough
Riders. Theodore Roosevelt is we'll
rounded man. He has had varied
experience. He has seen life in a
variety of phases. He studied the
uncouth cowboy while "roughing it"
in the West. He has been in the New
York Legislature, was civil service
commissioner, police commissioner
of New York and Assistant Secretary
of the Navy. He has never been any
where nor held any position but he
was heard from. His genuine COM
mon sense commended him to the
thoughtful and fair-minded. His
havoc-playing with the fossils and
moss-backs kept them bowling His
searchlight-throwing upon the scoun-
squeal.
1t is said that he helped the la
mented young Bagley into the Naval
Academy, after the latter had been
turned down. for s.football heart"
or some such ailment, Roosevelt not
taking much stock in the "heart-fail-
ure" theory.
We note, through the Columbia
Register, that Lieutenant Colonel
Roosevelt is to become Colonel of
the brave Rough Riders, Colonel
Wood going up to a brigadier gen.
eralship. Roosevelt was laughed at
at the outset of the war because,
while he declined a commission as
colonel or some higher grade on the
ground of military inexperience, he
accepted lieutenant colonelcy, which
his lampooners said required just as
much military experience. The AS
sistent Secretary of the navy however,
never feared ridicule or criticism,
and stuck to his firm proposition.
His military career SO far has been
most praiseworthy. He has faced
fire with his men.
The following from a correspond
ent of the New York Times shows the
Roosevelt traits:
"Among the things not specifically
referred to by the President as those
to be especially thankful for the fore
most, in naval estimation, is that
Colonel Theodore Roosevelt was AS
sistant Secretary of the Navy just
before the war cloud broke. Not be-
cause he was so full of fight and will
ing to see the war come. Better
than that. He had foresight, for
which Admiral Dewey will render
thanks when he hears of the Presi-
dents proclamation. When Dewey
was almost out of ammunition, and
it was not expected by anybody at
the Navy Department that the Asiatic
squadron would need any, Roosevelt
insisted that large supply should
be sent to Dewey. He had to use
some argument to impress his ideas
upon the Department, but to get rid
of him and accept the safe PROPOSE
tion, a supply of ammunition was
forwarded long before war was de-
clared. When the Assistant Secre-
tary went to Fort Monroe to see the
feet there indulge in practice, he
asked for a sham battle, to test the
ability of the gunners to work the
guns. Ammunition ran short, Ad-
miral Sicard informed the Assistant
Secretary that the allowance for tar
get practice had been about used.
Mr.. Roosevelt at once sa: down and
addressed letter to Admiral Sicard,
directing him to use ammunition
without restriction, and then had the
satisfaction of seeing his order car
ried out. The naval affairs commit
tee and the appropriations committee
later on asked where all the ammuni-
ton provided had gone. Fired
away" was the answer. And Mr..
Roosevelt insisted that there could
be no better use of it. Now the
Navy Department is insisting that
the advantage obtained by ''tring
away" ammunition is demonstrated.
The guns had been tested, and the
men who were to use them had been
permitted by liberal practice to gain
accuracy for which the navy is be-
coming painfully famous in Spanish
estimation
Colonel Roosevelt gave up good
place to 90 to the front, but his writ
ings in the future will bring him a
fortune, and high honors await him
at the hands of his countrymen.
These will come secondarily to duty
well performed.
The other man we have in mind as
being loyal to his own individuality
is Lieutenant Hobson, of the navy.
Being more written about of late than
his Contemporary in the army. it is
merely necessary to mention his
name. But his disregard Of custom
when it stood in the way of duty,
especially when he was at Annapolis;
his contempt for red tape. and his
desire to try the unbeaten paths are
familiar to us all.
The moral is that every man should
be true to his individuality. The
copyist, the imitator, is monkey, a
parrot. Every human being in the
world can do something that no one
else can do. Nobody can do the
work you are fitted for. Find your
mission and fulfill it in your own
WAY Learn the lesson of Roosevelt