The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1903-06-16
ROOSEVELT,
HIS CHARACTER
AND HIS HOLD
Upon the Body of His Coun,
trymen.

Having travelled some 1900 miles
since he left Washington two months
ago, the President is returned to the
capital. lie has made 265 speeches,
greeted the citizens of a majority OF
the States and Territories. made a
large number of new acquaintances
and won a host of new friends; he
has listened to a great shout of well
come rolling from coast to coast; he
has gazed upon serried ranks OF
babies, held up to dispel the gloom of
the sole Presidential fear: he has
been photographed with thousand
backgrounds. and he has furnished
the newspapers with a munifience OF
varied and picturesque copy.
Mr.. Roosevelt has had a good time,
and he has given a vast number of
people good time. They wanted to
see him, and he was entirely willing
that they should. And they like him
the better for having seen him. Now
that il is all over. il could be con-
fessed that the Presidents friends
we're fearful of this jaunt; there was
no telling, they said to themselves
some of them said to him-there was
no telling what the President, away
in the freedom of the West, removed
from the influence of conservative
counsel, might be moved to do or say
that would injure, that might ruin,
his prospects. But MIR. Roosevelt has
avoided every pitfall; he has made
no error; he returns with a new repu-
tation for ability to rein the impetu-
osity of his disposition.
Not only so. Mr.. Roosevelt has
positively improved his position be-
fore the country. There can be no
question that the, Roosevelt char
acter is popular. The President is
temperamentally a winner. Some
where in his vigorous and original
makeup persists the habit of success.
Early in life Mr.. Roosevelt became
persuaded that there was room at
the top and that he had an elevator
in the building. Most of us thought
his rise was the work of chance, but
it begins to look very much as If he
was bound to rise with chance OF
against it. If occasion has smiled
upon Mr.. Roosevelt, he has proved
himself worthy of her favors. Chance
loves a mortal with the genius fol
the heroic role. with the stride, the
knack of the plumed bonnet and the
roQuelaure. "A fine action is the
better for the piece of purple" Rob
ert Louis Stevenson used to say. The
president, by character or by calcu.
latiop, does his fine deeds with the
air of gallantry. He loves an ampli
ltude of costume, though khaki and {
broad trimmed hat is the best the
times allow him. He has an eye
to the spectacular; he possesse.
in full development the histroni,
Instinct so valuable in impressing the
popular imagination. But under
meath the air of bravery there is nc
Ilock of the manly substance of fear
llessness, nor of decision and resolute
Iness of character. The Ohio inciden
furnished the latest occasion for th'
display of these attributes. and the
PRESIDENTS prompt and courageou
move was in all humon probabilit,
1.-THE last that will be necessary t
lclear the way to the unchallenge'
nomination which he desires.
Mr. Roosevelt stands before tn,
Icountry in a strength never parallel
ed by any man in his position. Hi
character and his hold upon the bod,
of his countrymen are the most inter
testing psychological phenomena o
the times.-Philadelphia Public Led
Iger.