Omaha daily bee., 1902-08-01
PRESIDENCY AND PRESIDENT.
Scholarly GUS of mi Subject
by Our Ambassador TO Germany.

PRESIDENCY AND PHESlDbNTs
Scholarly Discussion of This Subject
by Our Ambassador 60 Germany.
Andrew d. white in N. Y. Independent.
More than twenty years ago I called at
tention to a remark made by a German
historian Of the United States. Neumann.
II seemed to ne profoundly just, and the
more ! have reflected upon II the more II
has seemed to present a fact not sufficiently
recognized either by our own countrymen
or by the world at large. Arriving, in his
history, at the presidents whose admins
~trations occupy the middle years Of the
nineteenth century. Neumann wrote in sub
stance on this wise:
ut is said that presidents Of this period
are far inferior to those during the earlier
days of the republic. Inferior some OF
them may be; but in what age Of country
will you find so long an array Of rulers,
every one Of them a man Of integrity, every
one Of them q man Of high capacity. as in
the case Of the long series OF presidents
Of the United States, every one Of these,
even by the avowal Of his enemies, a
patriot and a man Of high character and
ability"
Had DR.. Neumann lived longer and writ
ten the history Of the later presidents,
from the middle OF the last century to the
present hour, he would have been still
more impressed by the truth Of his gen.
eralization. We can now look back and
spply II to the whole line, including Wash
ington and Roosevelt. To every one OF
these Neumann's remark can be Justly
applied. and Of nearly all. II not all, far
more than this can be said In their praise.
To this rule there is no exception. OF the
| NuaaNwA., "a 4 - 49,
thus far, each and every one has been a
man Of high character. good capacity and
patriotism fully proved.
As one who has known the present presi-
dent for close upon twenty years and has
seen him under circumstance which have
tried him and shown what manner Of man
he is, / testify that he is we'll worthy Of his
place in this great succession.
From his boyhood he has led a life stern
uous and manly. All his earlier career was
devoted to establishing a better system
OF public service in the city, the state and
the nation. To him, more than to any
other man now living, is due the greatest
reform our country has known since the
abolition Of slavery. But l may add that,
tho he has been a reformer, he has not
been that worst plague OF every onward
movement, a fool reformer." In our late
war he set an example Of practical patriot
Ism to young men which was widely fol-
lowed and which will always be remem-
bered.
AS to his integrity, no one Of either party
whose opinion is worthy Of the slightest
respect has ever challenged 1t. AS to his
courage, whether in military or civil af-
fairs, his b%ttterest enemies allow it. I
myself saw him brave successfully a hostile
and bowling mob Of 10000 persons at a
national convention; others saw him be-
fore the fort at Santiago, and all Of us
agree that he was, in each case, as in
accessible to fear as a statue Of bronze.
In these respects he Is excelled by no one
Of his predecessors. As to his capacity,
men Of every political belief must agree
that IL Is OF a very high order. 1t is, in
deed, different from that which we are
accustomed to recognize in presidential
careers. Perhaps no character 80 original
has ever been known in the presidency, save
that Of Abraham Lincoln. In variety Of
gifts he is probably equaled by but one
OF his predecessors, John Quincy Adams.
Personal bravery in the day of battle he has
shown like that Of Washington at Brad
docks Field, Jackson at New Orleans, the
first Harrison In the Indian wars, Taylor
and Grant in the Mexican war, Hayes, Gar
field and the second Harrison during the
civil war. He has inherited from his pre-
decessors a devotion to the great material
interests Of our country; but he adds to
that another quality, in which he is only
equaled among his predecessors by Thomas
Jefferson-namely, marked historical and
literary ability and an intense feeling for
the proper standing Of our country before
the world as regards all that relates to
scientific and literary activity. He has
never asked the question, What do we
care for abroad?" Lik Thomas Jefferson.
as he wrote his ideas into the Declaration
Of Independence. his present successor in
the presidency has "a decent respect for
the opinion Of mankind" President Roose-
welt, indeed, believes in developing our
manufactures and commerce., and his en-
ergy and quickness OF thought will be
steadily devoted to that end.
But he will do more Man that. He not
only pursued his studies in Germany, but
he has since, in the intervals Of his most
strenuous life, found time to continue them.
While he is glad to see our ships bearing
rich freights to all parts of the earth and
bringing back the best fruits OF foreign
production, there are other fruits which
are, to him, far more desirable, other car
goes far more precious. II is certain that
r in, his heart, he. would be made proud OF
sending out to the world tidings OF justice
done and effective aid rendered to the lit
tie Republic Of Cuba than myriads OF ship
loads Of sugar. 1t is certain that he would
! rather export to the Philippine islands mer
' who shall prove to the world their ability
to solve our great problems there by bring
ing In the gradual development Of better
laws and better civilization than to sen(
out to them a fleet full OF Yankee notions
q II is certain that he would rather exhibit
. to the world an example Of energy ant
skill In building the great canal from thu
q Atlantic to the Pacific than to see our com
a mercial pronts increased by millions. 1t Il
: certain that he would feel more proud Il
n see our country send out to the world new
discoveries in science, new masterpieces II
r literature. new inspirations In philosoph!
n than any material product possible. At tn
approaching st. Louis exposition, In all re
a spects SO interesting, In some respect
unique, he will Indeed rejoice in the ma
terial prosperity Of our country; for 1
will be there revealed as at no previou