The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1901-10-24

which is bound to win, the clergy and
the churches lead. They are fighting
RooseTelt's fight today, with the
Bishop Of New York at the forefront
Of battle.
That is the alliance which he brings
with him to the White House. II
there be any yet who believe him
"hasty," they will find themselves
disappointed in that, as always be-
fore. Roosevelt has persistently dis
appointed his enemies from the very
beginning. Seeing his rapid rise,
they compared him to rocket, and
said he would come down stick
presently. And so he would have
done had he been, as they thought, =
politician. But he was a statesman
"a man Of destiny because man of
duty.
That is the keynote Of his life. 1t
was his fathers, one of the most use
ful and public-spirited men who ever
lived in New York--a man whose life
was, and is, lesson to us all, and
whose death moved the metropolis to
such sorrow as it has seldom felt for
any citizen. His high ideals OF citi-
zenship he got from him; his sanity,
too, fancy. for it was distinguish
ing mark of one, and is Of the other.
SO was his fairness, his sober sense OF
justice, for which the policemen in
Mulberry street love him yet in sec
ret. They dare not mention his
name openly in these days of Tam
many rule. For once, and once only.
the honest policeman who did his
duty, but had no pull, had an equal
chance with the schemer. Neither
kind will soon forget the two years OF
Roosevelt. | we'll RENE mber the time
l clashed with all three OF the quail
ties which | have mentioned. II
was when a woman was condemned
to death for the foul and wicked muir
der OF her step-daughter, and he. as
Governor, was besst by an endless
array of more or less maudlin peti-
tions praying for pardon. l, too,
labored with him. | did not like the
execution, but more-I never owned
it before, he would have been the last
man to bring that argument to-
feared the effect Of it on his career.
| was weak and foolish, / know it
now. | went to Albany, and all that
evening and night, till the / a. IN.
train went back to the city, | argued
it with him in his study. pleaded
on every ground | knew how, and
saw in his face the yearning to see it
a, friend did. But be could not.
He had pardoned others before, and ]
knew it was his dear delight to
temper justice with mercy where it
could rightly be done. Roosevelt is
farthest from being hard man; his
it may be, as hard as steel where it
must be. In this case he was abso-
lutely right. Every consideration OF
fairness and justice demanded that
the law take it's course if the prisoner
was responsible. That fact he ascsr-
tanned by the strictest scrutiny, and
then stood aside, needless of the
clamor. 1t was with something al
most of awe that | saw him do it, for
| knew what it cost him.
Theodore Roosevelt loves children
as William Mckinley did. When he
was Police Commissioner, we would
sometimes 80 together to the Italian
school of the Cmldren's Aid Society,
or some kindred place, and l loved Of
all things to hear him talk to the lit
tie ones. They did, too. l fancy he
left behind him on every one of those
trips streak of little patriots to
whom, as they grew up. tho memory
of their hour with Teddy" will be a
whole manual of good citizenship. l
know one little girl out on Long
Island who is today hugging the
thought of the handshake he gave her
as the most precious of her memories.
And so do l, for l saw him spy her
poor, pale little thing, in her thread
bare acket-way back in the crowd
of school-children that swarmed
about his train, and | saw him dash
into the surging tide like strong
swimmer striking for the shore, make
a way through the shouting mob OF
Youngsters clear to where she was on
the outskirts looking on hopelessly,
catch and shake her hand as if his
very heart were in his, and then catch
the moving train on the run, while
she looked after it, her face one big,
happy smile. That was Roosevelt,
every inch OF him.
Is such 4 man safe as the Executive
of this country of blessed homes?
His own is one Of the happiest | know
Of, for love is at tAe helm. 1t is his
harbor OF refuge, which he insists on
preserving sacred to him and his,
whatever storms rage without. And
in this also he is faithful to the high
est of American ideals, to his couE-
trv's best traditions. The only time
saw him SO angry as to nearly lose
his temper was when he was told
that his enemies in the police depart
ment, who never grasped the kind Of
man they had to do with, or were able
to do it, were shadowing him nightly
from his office to his home, thinking
to catch him in some wrong. He
flushed hotly.
What he said going nome to
nv babies?" But his anger died in
sad little laugh of contempt. That
wa. their way, not his. When, soon
after. tho opportunity came to him to
pay them back in their own coin, be
spurned it with loathing. He fought
fair even with scoundrels.
That kind OF man is he who has
now, by the death OF our beloved
President, become the chief OF our
great nation. A just man and fair;
q man of duty and principle, never,
by any chance, of expectancy, politi,
few public professions, but of prac-
tice, private and public, even in ac-
cord with the highest ideals OF Chris.
tian manlinsss. In fact, know oil
no one who typifie. better the Chris
tian gentleman. In the hands OF such
q man, no one but a frightened news
paper editor, whose secret wish is
father to his fears, need be afraid ta
leave the destinies OF our country.
nrto