The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-11-14
ROOSEVELTISM.

= OVERNOR ROOSEVELT has been always
I peculiar figure since he entered public lie
- Robust and vital in all respects, he does not
hesitate at any extreme toward which his personal
qualities lead him.
Since his part in the Spanish he has appeared
as the teacher OF what ne calls the strenuous life
lie regards conflict and the use OF force as neces-
sary tonic in the national life
When Germany was in period of exhaustion after
the wars Of Frederick the Great reaction carried her
into the depths OF weakness and Bonapare completed
her humiliation. She was ntricately divided into a
number OF natonalities which had neither the racial
features the natural frontiers which make nations.
She needed first physical revival, and this came
with Father JAMS institution of the Society OF
Turner's This was wisely and carefully devised
system OF athletic training, and in the OF time
the sound German mind was housed in stalwart
body, and there followed the procession OF events
which led up to German unifcation.
Governor Roosevelt no doubt has this conspicuous
historic example in mind in pushing his robust cult
But it is well to have in mind also that one extreme
follows another, and that nations which war con
stantly, though powerful in the beginning, gradually
sap the physical vitality OF their people, and must
rccuperate It extended period OF peace The Gov
ernor Of New ork surely cannot in the condition
of our people any signs OF deterioration. physically
or mentally which requires the special teaching OF the
strenuous lie Our wars have had between them such
intervals OF peace as obliteraed any weakening effect
they may have produced. Tweny-nine years OF peace
interviewed between our Revolution and the war OF
1872 and thrtyfour years between that and the Next
can War Though only fifteen years Of peace oc-
Cured between the Mexican and the Civil War we
were physically ready Tor that great struggle The
NIexican War was not an exhausting action. Be
A.,
thrty-three years OF peaceful development in which
our materialities so prospered as to make us the
richest and strongest OF the nations greater in wealth
and in the physical power OF our people than any
nation that has ever existed.
Our progress has not been signazed in the specific
training OF our people for war but in their occupation
in the pursuits OF peace We have outstepped ali
Europe because our energies have not been occupied
in war but in peace. There is in our history an arg,,-
ment, therefore, against Governor Rooscvelts idea
that war and fighting are necessary to keep the man
hood Of our people up to par.
In his recent address to the National Congress OF
Mothers the Governor eudeavored TO impress them
with the necessity OF training their boys to fight He
had no use for other kinds of boys Now we believe
that all American boys have in them the spirit and the
force to defend their and maintain their rights
Il is not necessary to especially teach them to fight on
all occasions. Inc spirit winch Roosevelt lnCulCateS
is one that seeks and makes contention in order TO
display the force which he regards superior to ali
other qualities War should be looked upon by
modern civilization the last resort the final means
of promoting issues and securing just rights after
reason, brought to bear by the sober mind has
failed.
Rooseveltism puts forward as the most ex-
celent OF all things, to be sought and courted by a
nation to preserve the manhood OF its people His
idea brought down to the personal equation is a
recreation OF feuda conditions, in which the strong
hand holds all that it can take aud defend 1t means
restoration Of the duel in settlement of personal dis
putes and the taking from the judicial courts their
Office Of arbtratng and adjudcating the rights OF
person and property It's ideal is found in the great
feuds in the mountains OF Kentucky, where the Hat
fields and McCoys lead constantly the strenuous life
which Roosevelt regards as mans ideal condition.