The Oskaloosa herald., 1901-09-19

In all of these, except the last, whose
duties are matter of precedent, it is
not exaggeration to say the country
has been better for his service. He
has believed in and practiced the
great and saving gospel of duty and
work.
Born to affluence, a son of one Of
the proudest OF New York families,
he rejected all the allurements of
ease to enter upon a career of active
usefulness. In boyhood a physical
weakling, unable TO keep up with his
fellows in either study or pay such
was the native determination of his
character that he was not satisfied
until he took honors at Harvard and
made himself an athlete who was
able to climb the Matterhorn with
ease and one who has found endur-
ances of the rigors of the western
plains source of amusement. An
aristoerat by birth, If there is such
thing in American life, he has been
democrat of democrats, knowing
neither rank nor position in the
besto"%ai of his companionship and
friendship. His sympathies have led
him to throw in mis- lot with the plain
American people-those whom Lin
coin loved. They have rewarded him
by returning confidence for conf
dence and admiration for admiration.
Thus his steady rise in popular
favor has been no accident, but has
come naturally and honestly. He has
gone forward on high plane, trust
ing the people, never resorting to
the!devices OF personal politics, His
engaging frankness, his wealth of
human interert, his spotless integrity
and the purity of his motives, his
manifest manliness have made his
friends sturdy and steadfast. Scarcely
yet in middle age, he has won a
place in the literary world as we'll as
in that of politics. AS a statesman he
has been a prime mover in noted re-
forms and has been a consistant and
vigorous champion of purity in pub
lie office; as a soldier he has dis
tinguished himself by gallantry and
courage; as an executive in the navy
department; as governor of New
York be has proven himself steady
and longheaded. Judged by his
merits and his record it is not likely
the country contains a man whose
elevation to the presidency at this
time would win more general satis-
faction or do more to temper the
sense of loss.
The administrations of vice presi-
dents elevated to the presidency
through the death of the elected
president have usually not been
happy. Tyler soon became involved
in quarrel with the whig leaders;
Fillmore gave but doubtful satisfac-'
tion; Johnson was a conspicuous
failure; the only one who had
modicum of success was Arthur, and
he was too new for the country to
appreciate his real merits. But
Theodore Roosevelt becomes presi-
dent under far more favorable cir
cumstances than otherIot the vicepres-
idents. The country already has con-
fidence in him. 1t may be predicted,
therefore, that his administration
will be great success. Nervousness
over his supposed suddenness is not
well based, for in all vital matters
Theodore Roosevelt Is conservative.
The responsibilities and dignities OF
the high Office will be met with q
high spirit, aud unquestionally his
great endeavor will be to carry out
the policies of his predecessor, pol
icies to which he is thoroughly COM
mitted by private view and public
| expression.