The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1900-08-11
THEODORE
ROOSEVELT
Most Popular Young
American.
HIS PUBLIC CAREER
Glimpses of the Private Life of
the Republican Nominee
For Vice President.

Nearly a year before the opening OF
hestilities with Spain, Theodore Roose-
welt addressed class of naval cadets on
the subject of washington's forgotten
maxim:
ITO be prepared for war is the most
effectual means to promote peace
Before the Maine was blown up in Ha-
friend in New York:
within a year.
IT was this sense of the great need of
military readiness. whether to prevent
war or 20 maintain war, coupled with
keen appreciation Of the impending dam
ger, that induced Mr.. Roosevelt to leave
the fierce hurly-burly of the New YORK
Police Department, in which he joyed,
for the obscure, red-taped Assistant Sec
retaryship of the Navy. He knew that 1t
was a position lacking in advisory inn
portance and that there was slight posi-
bility of its yielding public credit or po-
litical preferment. 1t was merely the
kir g-cog Of a vast machine, the function
of which was to keep the American navy
in readiness for hostilities.
When Mr.. Roosevelt was appointed, his
first work was to familiarize himself with
the possible needs of the navy in the
event Of war. fAfter that, he began to
buy guns, ammunition, and provisions.
He insisted on more extended gunnery
practice. He hurried the work on the new
warships, and ordered repairs on the old
ones; he directed that the crew of every
ship be recruited to its full strength; he
crammed the bins of every naval supply
station with coal Consequently. when
Admiral Dewey arrived at Hongkong
with the fleet which was to win the
greatest victory of the war, he found
quantities of COAL ammunition, and sup
plies awaiting him, so that he could adj
vance without delay and offer battle be-
fore he was expected. Moreover. it was
Mt Mr.. Roosevelt's urgent suggestion that
Admiral Dewey received his famous or
der to capture or destroy the Spanish
fleet.
'If IL had not been for Roosevelt" said
Senator Cushman X. Davis, chairman of
the Senate Committee on Foreign Rela-
lions. I'VE should not have been able to
strike the blow that We did at Manila 1t
needed Just Roosevelt's energy and
prcmptness."
Mr.. Roosevelt called 1t sharpening the
tccls for the navy" and when they We're
sharpened and the American flag was
firmly planted on Cavite. he resigned.
There Is nothing more for me to dc
here" he said. I've got to get into the
feht myself"
Nearly every newspaper of Importance
In the United States urged Mr. Roosevelt
to remain at Washington. They told hin
that he was just the man for the place
anc they warned him that he was ruin.
ing his career" They said that there
were plenty OF men to stop bullets, but
very few who could manage a ravy.
IL Is characteristic of Mr.. Roosevelt
that when he sees duty clearly, no ad.
vice. however well meant. nor any ques
ton of expediency or profit or future IA
vor will turn him by the width of hair
His career never for a moment eclipses
his sense OF responsibility. Somewhere
he says in one of his essays: "One plair
duty of every man is to face the future
as he faces the present, regardless o.
what 1t may have in store for him, anC
turning toward the light as he sees tn
light. to play his part manfully. as mai
among men,"
This sterling rugged old-fashione,
sense OF duty is the keynote of Mr.. Roose
veit's characteristic, and the iron deter
mination to do his duty promptly whel
he sees IL.
SO he became Lieutenant Colonel o
volunteers, one among several hundred
He Jared with his regiment on three bat
tehelds, where he was the stout hear
of the whole army; and when the fightin
was over. it was he who first saw ih
Impending danger of Cuban fever, all
his prompt and forcible appeal for III
saved the lives of thousands of Amer,
can soldiers.
When he returned from Cuba in Au
gust of 1898 II was to find himself til
nost popular man in the army, IL not
the nation. And who will say now tina
he was mistaken in leaving the Navy Dc
partment and riding away to the fror
with his cowboys and college men?
These episodes furnish the cipher key ,
which all OF Mr.. Roosevelt's life may
read. The qualities which made them
possibility are only the Towering of
long period of strenuous deyelopmen
extending backward through many ger
erations.
HIS ANCESTORS.
During the Civil War, Mr.. Roosevelt
father, also Theodore Roosevelt, wa
one of the most prominent citizens G
New York. Men who still live remembt
him as he rode through the park-a slim
straight. handsome-featured man, VIII
sat his horse as though born to the sad
die. He had great strength and nobilit
of character, combined with a certai
easy joyousness OF disposition. To hin
moro than to any other man, New Yor
owes 1t system of newsboys' lodging
houses. He was power in the Youn
Mems Christian Association, and one
the principal organizers of the Bureau
United Charities. During the Civil Wa
he established the famous and useful "A
Ictment Commission" which enabled SO
diers in the field to allot and send
their families at home a certain porto
OF their monthly pay. He held variot
positions of public trust. but such wa
his high standard Of the duty of the cit
zen to the State that he never would a.
cept any payment for his services.
Behind the elder Theodore Rooseve
stretched eight generations of patriot
Americans, burghers and patrons of Ne
York since the time of one-legged Pet
Stuyvesant. And the various generation
have had their Aldermen. their Assem-
blymen, their Judges. their CongressHe
their soldiers. In Revolutionary time
New York chose a Roosevelt to act wit
Alexander Hamilton In the United Stat
Constitutional Convention. Rooseve
street in New York city is so named b
cause 1t was a cow-lane in the origins
Roosevelt farm; Roosevelt Hospital W;
the gift of recent member of the fan
lily.
Mingled with this fine old Dutch bloc
which so strongly marks the personali
- e. re of in,