The record-union., 1899-04-12
GOVERNOR RoosEvELT's SPEECH.

ana aside from the curiosity IudiilcSt W
see the famous soldier and fighter 1t
assumed something of a prophetic char-
acter, indicating how sincere is the es-
TEEN of the people for the Governor.
This may be taken as confirming the
forecast Of some of Colonel Roosevelt's
most ardent friends, that he Will be
formidable candidate for the nominal
ton for the Presidency.
But If the reception was popular
tribute to an exceedingly popular man;
If it rose superior to mere and momen-
tary hero worship by the crowd, 1t
was not SO significant as the speech of
the Governor. Given somewhat to dra-
matte posings, an impulsive man
though he is not lacking in the quail
ties of craftsmanship, an abrupt man
in expression as a rule, and rather fiery
than calm, nevertheless when in his
thoughtful moods Colonel Roosevelt it
will be confessed by all impartial minds
considering his speech published in
these columns yesterday, is vigorous
thinker, also a bold, courageous and
adventurous man, about whose Amer
icanism there is not the blush of a
doubt.
This sermon on strenuous life
life of effort, daring and ultimate tr1-
umph which he preached in Chicago,
light to call themselves anti-imperial-
lists, and be bitterly unsparingly crit
icised. That will follow as a matter
of course But we think the utter
ances of the Governor on the occasion
though not argumentative SO much as
declamatory will sink deep into the
hearts of millions of our people and
find there responsive echoes. Indeed it
is q present key note of Americanism
and American destiny.
He told his hearers in graceful periods
that the best American is one who en-
bodies victorious efforts, the man who
never wrongs his neighbor, who is
prompt to help friend. but who has
the virile qualities necessary to win the
stern strife of actual life. From this
text prelude, he passed easily to what
constitutes a. nation, finding that the
qualities essential in the individual but
him that nation is admirable which has
a glorious history, that dares mighty
things and wins glorious triumphs,
though now and then checked by fail
ures.
Had the men of 1861 believed that
peace was the end of all things, said
Colonel Roosevelt, and war and strife
the worst of all things. we would in
deed saved vast treasure and countless
human lives and untold suffering. but
we would have proved that we We're
weaklings and unfit to stand among the
great nations of the earth. We of this
generation have our tasks and woe to
us, exclaimed the Governor, if we fail
to accomplish them.
Colonel Roosevelt does not believe it
Is our destiny to rot by inches as China
is decaying, or be absorbed in a COM
mercial scramble within our home bor-
for the nation, a life having to do with
the world of men and nations; a life
taking part with that of all other peo-
pies whom it is meet we should con-
front or consort WITH If we are to
be and remain a great people we must
strive in good faith to play great and
a good part in the world. We must
expect to meet great issues, we cannot
avoid them, we. are to determine wheth-
er we will meet them we'll or ILL.,
The problem of war with Spain was
an his view unavoidable We had to
face it or shrink like towards. We
cannot avoidi the responsibilities now
npon US in Hawaii, or Porto Rico or
Cuba or the Philippines. But we are
10 decide if we are to meet them in a
way to do credit to the nation, or
whether we will make of these new
problems dark and shameful page in
our history.
Governor Roosevelt makes no con-
cealment Of the contempt he has for
men who distrust their country and
are lost to the masterful virtues, they
who fear the strenuous life, who fear
the only national life worth leading.
those who are welded to the spirit of
gain, who believe in the cloistered life
which saps the hardy virtues of a ma
lion. The belief of the orator Is in a ma
ton not only of thrift and industry; of
stable prosperity and business energy,
out IN one also that does not fear touch
with the world in closer contact, one
That has an eye to naval and CONNER.
clal positions of commanding character.
lie believes in nation also that does
not shirk the legacy of duty that a Just
war imposed. We have a duty to per
form towards the islanders, he de-
clared, who have come under our domi-
nation as the result of war, and we
cannot and will not escape that respon-
sibility IL we are worth our salt
He asseyerated that he is not blind to
the greatness of the task nor misled
by vain glory into Understanding the
strain 1t will put upon our powers. Con
fronted with difficult problems in the
West Indies and the Orient, we must
not shrink from them but prove to the
world our capacity to handle them man