The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-10-03
PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT AND THE
OUTH.

1t may be noted as an interesting fact
that Mr.. Roosevelt is the first Republican
President who was not connected in a di-
rect way with the war for the suppression
Of the rebellion. Following Lincoln, the war
President, came Grant, Hayes, Garfield,
Harrison and Mckinley, all of whom served
in the field, and even President Arthur
served as quartermaster general and in
spector general Of New York. Mr.. Roose-
welt is too young TO have served in the
Union army, and his accession TO the pres
idency emphasizes the fact that, historic
ally speaking, We are getting a consider
able distance from the war which fur
nished seven Presidents from its active
participants, counting Mr.. Lincoln. Three
years more, the duration OF Mr.. Roosevelt's
present term, will so far reduce the chances
of another civil war veteran being elected
President, not to speak of other contin-
gencies, that it is doubtful if it will ever
happen again.
Viewing Mr.. Roosevelt's accession to the
office in these circumstances as the be-
ginning of a new era in the history of the
Republican party and of the Nation, he
seems to be a typical representative of the
new conditions. If, as is not unlikely, Mr..
Mckinley was the last civil war veteran
TO be President, he was also the most pop
ular and beloved in the South Of all the
Republican Presidents. He more than any
other represented the spirit Of complete
reunion and determination, and by his
words and acts was able to do more to-
wards bringing about this contamination
than any of his predecessors. The war
with Spain was an important factor in this
regard, for besides arousing the latent
loyalty and patriotism of the South it en-
abled President Mckinley to put himself
at the head Of the people of both sections,
and by his generous recognition of the
soldiers of the South, as we'll as of the
North, to show hat the obliteration of
sectional lines and the restoration of fra
ternal feeling was with him something
more than a mere sentiment. He made it
a distinct and potential policy, the result
being that he became the most popular of
all Republican Presidents in the South, and
that his tragic death was as sincerely
heu III lHdl StCllOn OI the country
as it was in the North.
Mr.. Roosevelt is a good man to succeed
to this condition and to promote it's further
development. OF Southern extraction on
his mothers side he was a participant in
the war which brought the South and North
together and fought side by side with
S~outherners. He has declared his purpose
to ignore all sectional views in administer
ing his high office and to be President Of
the South as well as of the North. His
generous expressions have met with a
ready response from the press and people
of the South. The Charleston News and
Courier says this is 1.-The time when all
good citizens should give their most loyal
support TO the new President and his adj
ministration, not for partisan or political
reasons, but for the sake of the country"
This seems to voice the sentiment of the
Southern people generally. There is reason
to believe that President Roosevelt will
succeed to Mr.. McKinley's popularity in
the South, and that the first Republican
President who had no connection with the
civil war will be able to continue and pro-
mote the era of good feeling so happily
begun by his predecessor.