The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-07-05
lNGBlSONRDOSEVELT
His IrideScenCe Detects Just
the FainteSt Buzzing
OF THE PRESIDENTIAL BEE
Wars Dearth of Heroes--Cap-
tain Garter and the Trusts.

,. ingalls, says:
Political diagnosis is not an exact sci
ence. nor are its deductions always in
fallible. The doctors sometimes err bu
to the professional eye Roosevelt exhibit
marked presidential symptoms.
1 His pulse. temperature and respiration
On his recent western tour, were slight.
above normal
His progress from New York to La,
Vegas was triumphal and spectacular. TIL,
itinerary was distinctly theatrical Hi
managers arranged the entrances anC
exits OPPORTUNITY. The rear platform wa.
utilized. The advance agent secured eff
fective press notices. The change of cos
tune in Paul MOrton's private car, as tn,
end fthe journey drew near, from thu
conventional garb OF Albany to the sloucf
hat. cavalry boots. martial gauntletts and
yellow Ouch uniform Of the Rough Riders
at Santiago was dramatic.
1t reminded one somehow Of the cooked
nat and gray overcoat Of the conquerer
of Marengo. whom Conkling was wont tc
describe as the great tragedian of the
nineteenth century. Whether Grant ever
carried his Appomattax clothes in a dress
suit case to wear at Grand Army reunions
his biographer does not record
Presidential candidates have begun &c
learn that the road to the White House
runs through the Mississippi Valley. The
approval Of the prairies is indispensable
TO success. The west holds the purse, the
sword and the sceptre. The salt water de-
posts have had their day. The west sup
plies the votes, and wants to know for
whom they are to be cast. Hence, for
the candidate, the longest way round Is
the shortest way home
II Roosevelt's purpose was to sound pub
lie opinion, the result must have been
gratifying. He found warm and cordial.
almost an enthusiastic, welcome. He is
popular. Notwithstanding his metropoli-
tan ancestry, his wealth, his culture. there
IS breezy strain Of the frontiersman
about him and an absence of starch and
scallops and frills that endears him to the
average constituency.
Then his impulsiveness, his lack of judg-
ment, his want OF discretion and discern
ment are not without their charm.
Especially to the young, who detest cold
cautious and calculating conservatism.
The governor has learned something the
past few years. His instincts have all
ways heen right, but he has not until re-
Gently comprehended the relations Of his
own individuality to the rest of the uni
verse. His sense of personal proportion
has been defective. He has been so con-
scious of his own rectitude that he has
been unable 20 conceive that any one could
Ia Frt,-
most malignant foe to temperance is the
sentimental prohibitionist, and the worst
enemy OF reform in politics is the reform
err. Charles Sumner was a type OF the
species that will make no terms with evil
except immediate and unconditional sur
render. Unless they can reach the goal
at once. they refuse to take a step in the
right direction. and so Obstruct all pro-
gress. They deny the right Of evil to ex-
list, and forget that popular self-govern-
ment is the supremacy OF the average and
not fthe best. They think the Kingdom
of Heaven suffers violence. and that the
violent take II by force. They forget that
human society is compounded Of good and
bad, and that successful politics is the
science of compromises.
Roosevelt had some of these character
istics. but ambition or years have made
him Tolerant. He drives we'll now in har-
ness. He used to be so perpendicular he
was never quite sure he was straight I'M
less he was leaning over backward. The
genuine refurmer believes the true way to
belong to a party is the revile it's leaders.
denounce II smethods and policies, and
give aid and comfort to its enemies.
The people Of the west have never learn
ed the art Of belonging to party a little. |
They are Republicans or Democrats or
Populists a great deal and all the time. |
They are partisans. but not bigots. Since |
the colonel has parted company with Seth |
Low. Parkhurst and the other idealogists |
and gone in with Plat. he is better liked |
out this way. Independence and self |
association are admirable. but majorities |
rule. and the ballot box decides whether |
truth is to be on the scaffold or on the |
throne. Roosevelt has apparently decided |
10 go with the majority hereafter.
In his Kansas speeches he was "a eulo-
CYSTIC as the most inverterate boomer. The /
average Kansas audience Is always criti-
cal. and sometimes as uncertain. coy and /
hard 10 please as woman IN our hours OF /
ease. but it Is always ready for a firta-
ton. Flattery and appeals TO self-love /
never fal lon deaf ears, and Roosevelt /
played Lothario with high art He praised |
everything and everybody. and his our
ney 10 and fro in the state was an I'M
interrupted series Of ovations.
Considering the size Of the armies. the
number Of casualties and the duration of
the campaign, the results Of the Spanish
American war were the most Incredible in
history. II changed the geography OF the
world in sixty days. Contrasted with
and the march to the sea. the
operations at Santiago seem trivial and
Nome men were killed and
wounded in single battle in the civil war
han were actively engaged in our army
and navy combined. But when freedom
-ecouuts the sacrifices OF her sons she
Toes not recall their rank and station.
lor the field on which they fell That
hey gave their blood for the flag is
enough. So Fl Caney and Siboney and san
Ier Mil and Marathon.
But though the harvest Of glory is so
lbundant. the crop of heroes is small. II
.as been intimated that the design origin
Illy was To have no heroes az all in order
o avoid political complications in 1870.
However this may be. il Is singular that
he only man who came out OF In, Cuban
with any halo in popu'ar esti-
nation. any OF the fame that attends |
Military proves, was Roosevelt, and his
distinction was acquired in hattie trat
Iad the same strategy as football game
Y a pugiiistic encounter and 10 more. It
Tas a superb exhibition OF courage, en-
Iurauce. fortitude pluck and patriotism.
[ made Roosevelt governor Of New York.
{ may make him president OF the United
tateS