Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1902-11-01
A GREAT WORLD TASK
Mr.. Roosevelt on the Power and
DUTY of the President.
ASKS RESPECT FOR OFFICE
He SAYS It is Much Easier TO Give Bad Than
a Good Administration Defends the
Army.

Army.
Boston, Oct. 30. in an article writ
tenEfor the Youths Companion. which
will be published next week, Theodore
Roosevelt gives his ideas of the duties
and responsibilities of the President of
the United States.
Mr.. Roosevelt wrote the article in
1900 while he was Governor Of New
York and previous to the Republican
National Convention which nominat-
ed him for Vice President. In it he
says
1.-The President of the United States
occupies position of peculiar impor-
lance. In the whole world there is no
other ruler under free institutions.
whose power compares with his. OF.
course, there is the enormous personal
factor of the incumbent himself to be
considered entirely apart from the
power of the office itself There is
merely another of stating that in my
office the personal question is always
of vital consequence
1.-THE Senators are the constitutional
advisers of the Presidents. The Secre-
taries who form the Cabinet advise
him on matters of general policy when
he so desires it. With the Senate the
advice and consultation are obligatory
under the Constitution. The Senate
has no right to dictate to the President
whofshall.be appointed, but has an en-
tire right TO say who shall not be ap
pointed, for under the Constitution
this has been made its duty.
Although many men must share
with the President the responsibility.
there is upon him always heavy bur-
den 1t is easy enough to give bad
administration, but TO give good adj
ministration demands the most anxious
thought no less than very unusual
DOW er of mind,
"There is every reason why the
President should be held to a sharp
accountability alike for what he does
and for what he leaves undone But
we injure ourselves and the nation if
we fail to treat with proper respect
the man who. III the highest Office ia
our land, is striving 10 do his duty.
We have had Presidents who hive act
ed weakly or unwise in particular cri-
SEES, but we have never had one con-
corning whose personal integrity there
was so much as shadow of suspicion.
Appointments and policies which
are normally routine and unimportant
may suddenly become Of absolutely vi
tai Consequence The War Department
was utterly neglected for over 80 years
after the Civil War Neither the reg
ular officer nor the regular soldier takes
any part in politics as a rule, so that
the demagogue and bread-and butter
politician have no fear Of his vote. !;
and to both of them, and also to the
cheap Sensational newspaper. the army
offers favorite subject for attack.
so it often happens that some ami
able persons really get little afraid of
the army, and have some idea that it
may be used some time or other against
our liberties The army never has
been, and, l am sure, it never will
be or can be, a menace to ANYBODY save
Americas foes, or aught but a source
of pride to every good and farsighted
American. When an emergency like
that caused by the Spanish war arises
the Secretary of War becomes the most
important officer in the Cabinet
Altogether. there are few harder
tasks than that of filling well and ably
the Office of President of the United
States But if the man at the close of
his term is able TO feel tnat he has done
his duty we'll he has the satifaction
of feeling that he has performed one
of the great world tasks and that the
mere performance is in itself the great
est of all possible rewards -