The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-12-04
A GALL FOR TIE BEST.

President ROosevelt's first annual mes
sage is also his inaugural address in that
it is the first official expression Of his
views concerning national affairs and
issues. 1t is remarkable for its departure
FROM all previous messages in ignoring
dry facts and figures, for the high stand
IL takes III considering national policies
and duties, and for the direct and cour-
ageous manner in which it treats public
questions. In all these respects it is char
acteristic. The American people have come
to regard President Roosevelt as peculiar
type of character, a man of his own kind
with high ideals and strong convictions,
an American of the class who, to use an
expression Of his own have 1.-The lift of
lofty purpose" that comes from true
appreciation of our national origin and
destiny. The message sustans and con-
firms this view of him. From a literary
point of view it is quite beyond criticism,
might be expected from man of the
Presidents scholarly attachments and prac-
teal literary training. Next to the excel
lence of its literary form and expression is
in the entire absence of the dry facts and
figures usually contained in the recapitu-
, IatiOn of department reports. OF this there
is almost nothing at all. The most i'm
portant of all department reports, that Of
the treasury, is barely alluded to, and
the salient features of others are treated
from the Presidents own point of view and
in his own language without repeating
that of his heads > of department. This
again is Characteristic. But perhaps the
most characteristic feature of the message
is the atmosphere of pure patriotism and
aggressive Americanism that pervades it,
and the clear conception it shows of the
manifest destiny of the United States and
the ability and purpose as well the duty
of the American people to work out TO their
last results every problem presented To
them. In this respect the message is
unique. No President has ever dealt with
large questions and policies in a larger
way. without disrespect to the chief ex-
ecutive it might be said he deals with them
In a Rooseveltian way. There is dam
ger Of the message being mistaken for that
of anybody but Theodore Roosevelt. 1t is
the heart-to-heart and mind-to-mind mes
sage of a great American addressing his
countrymen on topics of great concern and
enterprises of pith and moment affecting
the future destiny and welfare of the coun-
/ try, regarding which he feels that his own
sincere convictions are entitled TO recipro-
cal sincerity on the part of his country
men. From beginning to end the MESA sc
I is an expression of profound belief in re-
\ publican government and methods, and of
unshakable faith in the mission intrusted
\ to this Republic in solving the great prob
I lens of the present and future; above all
] else, it is an inspiring call for increased
efficiency in government and the best
things attainable in national life. The
American citizen who cannot feel pride
even exultation, in the utterances of the
. President must either be a very dull mar
or lacking in that patriotism that is the
/ foundation stone of all good and lasting
government. II will be read with keenest
interest and approval by millions CT Amer.
leans and is certain TO attract much at
tention abroad.