The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-09-15
PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT.

Theodore Roosevelt, who took the oath !
Of Office yesterday. is, by several years, the
youngest President the United States has
ever had. He will be forty-three years old
on the 9th day Of October The next young
est President was Franklin Pierce, who
was forty-eight when elected. Most Of our
Presidents have been well past fifty years
old when they were elected, and some were
past sixty. The Constitution provides that
no person shall be eligible to the office who
shall not have attained the age Of thirty
five years, so that Mr.. Roosevelt is several
years older than the constitutional limit
In fact, he is in the prime of mature man
hood and can only be called young by COM
parison with some of his predecessors.
Few Americans have acquired national
reputation and popularity more rapidly
than Mr.. Roosevelt has. He comes Of
family which, in successive generations,
has furnished public officials OF more or
less note, and may therefore be said him
self to inherit aptitude for public affairs.
If thorough education in the best colleges
of the United States and Europe. extensive
travel, close study Of history, experience in
several legislative and executive offices
and cherishing the highest ideals of Ameri-
can patriotism and American citizenship
constitute an equipment for public service,
then Mr. Roosevelt is we'll equipped. He
was first elected to the New York Legisla-
ture in 1881. and though only twenty-three
| years old he became the acknowledged
leader of the Republican minority He was
twice reelected, serving three terms. From
that time on he was a recognized power in
| New York politics of the progressive and
! reform school. In 1856 he was the Repub-
! lican candidate for mayor of New York and
pOlled the largest percentage OF votes that
| had ever been given for a RI publican
mayoralty candidate. In 1889 President
| Harrison appointed him president of the
| Civil-service Commission. and during the
six years he held that position he devel-
| oped great ability as an organizer and ad-
| ministrator. Afterwards he was successive
| ly member of the board of police commits
sioners of New York city and assistant sec
rotary of the navy, making fine record in
| both positions. His resignation of the latter
| office 10 raise a regiment and his military
4
| tiers of recent history. As Governor of New
York elected in the fall Of 1898, he added
| to his already high reputation for execu-
I tive ability and conscientious devotion to
| public duty. During all this time Mr. Roose-
welt was a voluminous writer of literary
and historical works of high merit. He did
not wish to be a candidate for Vice Presi-
dent. When signs appeared that he might
be brought forward as New York's candi-
date for that office he published the follow
ing statement. Feb. u. 1900:
In view OF the continued statements in
the press that l may be urged as a candi-
date for Vice President, and in view of the
| many letters that reach me advising for
and against such course, it IS proper for
| me to state definitely that under no cir
| cumstances could L or would accept the
| nomination for the vice presidency. 1t is
| needless TO say how deeply l appreciate
the honor conferred upon me by the men
4 who desire to place me in 50 high and dig
nifed a position. But it seems to me that
at the present time my duty Is here in the
| State whose people chose me to be Gov
ernor. Great problems have been faced and
are being partly solved in this State at
this time; and il the people so desire L
hope that the work thus begun 1 may help
carry to a successful conclusion.
But. the popular demand for his nominal
ton was too strong 10 be resisted. No 9TH
er name was before the convention but his.
and his nomination was unanimous. He
made a wonderful speaking campaign, and
greatly extended his acquaintance with the
people and his popularity He was not
elected as a mere flgure-head, but with full
recognition Of his fitness for the presiden-
tial office if Providence should call him to
fill it.
Mr.. Roosevelts ruling characteristics are
such as the people admire. They regard him
as not only an able man, but a manly man,
and thoroughly honest and conscientious.
He entertains high ideals of American
citizenship and tries to live up to them.
He has boundless faith in the American
government and people, and believes they
should not shrink from the duties and re-
sponsibilities that destiny or Providence
may impose upon them. He is courageous,
even aggressive, when necessary, but never
rash or reckless. He has shown in many
situations that he knows how to meet and
discharge grave responsibilities. and there
win be no fear or doubt that he will not
prove fully equal to the onerous and re-
sponsible duties of the high position to
which Providence has now called him. The
Nation mourns the cruel and untimely TAX
ing off of President Mckinley. but it will
, | have frnnIicit confidence i'm his Successor