The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-01-05
Is Pleased with ROOSEVELT.

Some people said a Wichita Demo-
crat the other DAY. may think that the
family affairs OF the Republican party
ever ali OF US sometimes take an interest
in the business of other folks 1 regret
that "Cy'' Leland was deposed. ! had
heard OF him all my life. but never saw
him until little more than a year ago.
You know he has been called boss and
many things worse; and when I was
introduced TO him I was greatly sur
prised TO meet a courteous gentleman
who rose from his seat and greeted me
as if / was somebody instead OF a nobody
There was crowd of US on a train go
ing to the Democratic convention at Kan
sas City. and guessing whom the nom
inee for vice-president would be. Mr.
Leland did not say anything till every
quietly remarked that David 3. Hill could
have the nomination if he wished It. No
one agreed with him: but twenty thous-
and enthusiastic people did in the con-
vention. I was glad TO read VIII
Whites article about Leland; il caused
me TO make peace with him. / think
our brother, White. hit Senator Plat too
hard.
1t is strange how we disagree with
men; how our opinions OF them change.
Now. In 1850. 1 was prejudiced against
President Roosevelt 10 such a degree
that it was not possible for me 20 dis
Germ anything good in him. for the reason
I attributed his every action TO selfish
motives; but since reading his two vol
umes of essays. respect him While
il is impossible for Democrat TO believe
as he does in certain politics, l believe
some Of his essays are perfectly sound
from exordium 10 peroration; you may
be amused and surprised TO hear that
word 'peroration' used in connection with
a written discourse: but l tell you the
srstes not only logically but
oratorically, so that the very reading OF
his words stirs one. The chief charm of
his essays is in the blending OF the alb
stract and the concrete. Bacon's essays
entertain as well as instruct; they are
of the best intellectual food. But Mr..
Roosevelt has given US sauce with the
meat; as an instance. his essay entitled
American Ideals is a treatise on prn-
ciples made especially attractive by IL
lustrations OF men and events with
which we are familiar.
The contemplation of Rome and Ro-
mans fns us with strange feelings: We
cannot associate ourselves with any thing
Of such remote age. But on thinking
of London We are filed with delight: We
can then connect ourselves with men
and things of ancient times because We
are conscious that the Anglo-Saxon. our
mother tongue. was first spoken there.
Thus il is as we peruse the writings OF
Roosevelt. His remarks on the strike a
Chicago in 1894 constitute a forcible ar
gument in support Of the supreme power
being vested in the national government;
and then. adverting 10 the thing itself.
he denounces Altgeld and upholds Cleve-
land. His paper on The Monroe Doc
trine is a defense OF it on the ground
that It is part Of the international law.
whether or no. the powers acknowledge
il to be such; and in this article he gives
the honorable Secretary Onley praise for
his attitude at the time Of the dispute
between Venezuela and Great Britain
Speaking Of the Secretary OF state II
cannot be called an attempt TO prophesy
if one supposes that Senator Lodge will
he given the portfolio of State during
President Roosevelts term. He IS a
great Republican. an honest statesman.
thorough American. 10 whom even
Pauncerote would have to benl