River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1904-10-27
A GREAT QUALITY.
Roosevelt Quick to Think and Act,
but Always Wisely.


President Roosevelt is being attacked
as possible danger to the country be-
cause of his alert quick mind and prompt
action. The scare-cat variety OF politi-
clans are crying him down on this is
sue.
1t is a common error, the belief that
because a man thinks quickly, and acts
promptly in an emergency, he is rash
or dangerous individual To the slow
man, one whose mental processes are nat
urally labored, it is incredible that an
other mind, differently constituted from
his own, may arrive almost instantly
at the solution Of a question which would
occupy the attention of the heavier NOV
ing brain for long time.
Celebrity of judgment and action are
characteristics OF some very great men,
though not by any means is this an at
tribute of them all. Whenever this quail
ity is conspicuous in man, his critics,
friendly and adverse alike, accuse him
of rashness. After a long trial such a
man often convinces his friends that his
instant judgment was we'll founded, his
prompt action well taken. But his enc
mics never will allow this.
A practical illustration taken from the
ulOSC commonplace ueluS VI lie SHOW
how unfounded is the idea that quick
thought and action are dangerous. A
horseman, a football player, a locomotive
engineer, a woodsman telling tree, all
these at times must instantly grasp a sit
uation, judge accurately as to distances,
chances and certainties, and act, with
the rapidity of light, upon the minds di-
rection. dispatch is the soul of bust
ness" This is the motto of every
great manipulation in the field of business
and finance. The money makers decide
instantaneously, in a crisis, and he who
most quickly thinks, and thinks right
acting boldly upon his own Judgment, is
the winner. There was never any such
thing as a successful fighter who was
slow of brain, languid in motion.
1t is a great quality, that Of being
able to think quickly, and think right
at the same time. It is said Of some
horses that they look over the whole
ground" There are men who do the
same thing, taking in the entire situa-
ton in one comprehensive glance. The
born soldier does this. So does the born
statesman.
When the ship of state is headed to-
ward tbr rocks the executive officer must
be quick to see and prompc to steer away
from the danger. To wait would be ia
tai. When advantage to the State is
waiting, the executive head should be
instantly alert to the potentialities of the
moment, and competent to act upon the
case at once, for opportunity waits for
no man.
Because the mass of men are slow in
thought, scattered as to attention, late
in action, they should not suspect the
quick, alert, concentrated minds of men
more gifted than themselves. As a mat
ter of fact, the public admires, trusts
and believes in the man of quick thought
and action. 1t has more faith in the
man who knows his own mind than it
can have in the man who waits for help
from within or without to make it up.
Events have shown that President
Roosevelt thinks quickly and thinks
right; that he acts promptly, and wisely.
What more could be asked, brethren of
the slow-going order?