The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-12-14
pIcKw1cK1AN srRENuos1rY.

good deal Of any statest,i:,nS strenuOsity il
biuff So we were Informed several years ago by
Mr. Theodore Roosevelt author OF an essay called
practical Politics. In this frank disquisiton Mr.
Roosevelt bad occasion to touch upon certain mat
tiers which have peculiar significance now in rela
ton to Mr.. RoOsevelts sincerity.
Speaking Of resolutions Of sympathy for the
alleged oppressed patriots and peoples" of foreign
countries, he observed in that epresidential es
say that as Il rule these resolutions are to be
cassed as simply bouffe affairs: and he goes on to
describe some negotiations with the Russian Min
lister concerning the Cars misreatment of Russian
Jews. In view of President ROosevelts very re-
cent highly virtuous and indignant protest concern
ing the kfshenev massacres. Author Roosevelt's
language is specially interesting-and perhaps ap-
picabe. His words are:
There are certain legislative actions
which must be taken in a purely Pick
Wickian AS a rule these
resolutions TO ciassed smpv as
boufe affairs: they are commonly intro
duced by some ambitious legislator
often. regret to say. a native American
who has a large foreign vote in his dis
trict During my term of service
in the Legislature resolutions were intro
duced demanding the recall of Minister
Lowell. assailing the Car for his conduc,
towards the Russian Jews. sympa thizpR
With the Land League and the Dutch
Beers. etc. the passage of each of which
we strenuously opposed the ground
that while would warmly welcome any
foreigner who came here and in good faith
assumed the duties of American citize,,-
ship. We had right to demand in return
that he should not bring any of his race or
national antipathies into American political
life. Resolutions of this character are
sometimes undoubtedly proper, but are, in
nine cases ont of ten. wholly rnjustifabe
An instance OF this sort of thing. which
took place not at Albany. may be cited
Recently the Board of Abdomen of one OF
our great cities received singing re-
buke which 1t is to be feared the alder
manic intellect too dense to appte-
ciate The Aldermen passed resolution
''condemnng the Car of Russia for his
conduct towards his fellow ctizens OF He
brew faith. and demanding that he
should forthwith treat them better; this
was forwarded to the Russian Minister
with request that IL be sent to the
Car. 1t came back forty-eight hours aft
erwards. with note on the back by one
OF the undersecretarfes of the Legation to
the effect that. as he aware that
Russia had any diplomatic relations with
this particular Board of Aldermen and
as. indeed. Russia officially cog
infant of their existence, and. moreover
was wholly Indifferent to their opinions
on any conceivable subject. he herewith
returned them their kind communication
Russia, it seems, is more given to consistency
than is excellent Mr.. Roosevelt. Russia treated
Mr.. Roosevelts Kishenev protest precisely as 1t did
the adermanic resolution. Probably the Roosevelt
intellect could appreciate the rebuke, being less
dense than the ''aderInanic Intellect
Mr.. Roosevets little dissertation grand stand
plays affords some additional insight, perhaps to his
motives in dealing with other kinds of alleged Op-
pressed" peoples, notably colored friends The
dissertation seems to explain the door hope
as nothing else could. AS "bouffe"
dea the door of hope has few equals. For Pick
cfno
Rooeeyelts championship. Probably it will rst him