The Topeka state journal., 1899-08-04
OUR OWN FAULT.
Gov. Roosevelt Lays All the
Bad In Politics
At the Doors of the People
Who Do the Voting.
A GUEST OF HONOR
At Summer School Held at
Queen Grove.
Had to Ask People Not to Cheer
So Much.
| GUEST OF HONOR

Ocean Grove, N J., Aug. 4.-Governor
Theodore Roosevelt of New York, was the
guest OF honor at the Ocean Grove sum
mer school last night, when he delivered
an address upon Practical politics and
decent politics. before an audience Of
10000 people. Crowds met Governor Roose~
velt at the New Jersey station on
his journey from New York cheering him
heartily.
At ocean Grove, the governor was met
by a great crowd and 100 bicycUsts es-
cOrted him to his stopping place In front
of the house a company of boys dressed
as rough riders saluted him to his great
delight
thusiastic that Governor Roosevelt was
obliged to beg the people to moderate their
cheering.
Governor Roosevelt said in part:
1T IS idle for the mass Of good citizens
to try to set themselves apart as not re-
SpOnsible for our political shortcomings
IN the end the politicians must be exactly
what the people allow them to be- They
must represent the peOple-perhaps the
difference Of the peopls' This does not in
the least excuse politicians that are bad
and We must keep in mind the fact that
every vicious politician, above all every
successful politician tends to debauch pub
and decent men who are not far sighted
more cynicaIIy Indifferent than ever But
in blaming the politician, do not forget
that we are ourselves 70 pane Ior per
mitting his existence Again do not fail
ever make politics better by Mysteries in
any shape or form
1T is a shame TO US as a nation that We
should have tolerated in a city like New
York administration against which If
is necessary TO war not on grounds OF pO-
Htica1 expediency, but on grounds OF ele-
mentary morality.
Just at the moment the nation is face
to face with duty that calls for herOism
i mean our attitude in the Philippines,
We put our pick into the rotten found3-
tfons of Spanish government, bith in the
East and West Indies We tum bled the
ffTFT in n in rio Q=
was ever undertaken Now, if We are to
reach our place among the great nations
of the earth must see that the ruins
tice and honesty reared in their places
We shall be guilty OF a terrible wrong TO
humanity if in the Philippines we retreat
before armed SaVagery instead OF organic
ing suitable government which shall
guarantee justice to every one and
ever increasing measure of liberty to those
who show themselves worthy of it. The
whole history OF the world shows that the
wrong done by the mere sentiIneutal1St is
than any other kind of wrong and of this
wrong we shall be guilty if we fail 10 do
our task thoroughly and well 1t viii call
for but the m6reSC traction OF our Str6ngI tn
provided only We choose to exert that
strength II. however, the people let their
representatives in congress hamper the
when they refused to put the army upon
a proper footing as to size, permanence
ana ofsanlz<atlon t1en l4e peopie nave
themselves to thank if the war fingers
with difficulties and dangers increased
What the people have to do is to resolve
to back up the PRESIDENT 70 the Iull IN
seeing that the outburst of Savag gerry is
repressed once for all. and what IS even
more important. to see that these new
are not left to the prey of partisans and
spOilsmen, but are governed primarily in
therefore ultimately for the honor and
renoWu of America.