Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1904-09-30
Effort to Show that President
Roosevelt Is a Lover
OF War.
INSTEAD, he IS FOR PEACE
Would Not Encourage Or Brinx kboak
War aud Its Destructive Forces.
Except to Maintain the
country's Honor.

The attempt TO make bogey man
out OF President Roosevelt, By misfen=
resenting him as lover OF war. aud
therefore dangerous TO the peace ok
the country, is doomed to ignomiufou1
failure. The American people are 50
customcd to "size up their public men
with an accuracy unknown n the u18
tional life OF other countries. They hax1
had President Roosevelt under th6I<
gaze for years, and they know him we'll
More than that. knowing him we'll u
they do, they admire. respect and lQx>
him.
When public opinion had forced th1
war with Spain upon the AmericNx
nation Theodore Roosevelt. then Assis(
ant secretary Of the navy. was one n
the officials OF the United States Wh6
was prepared for the inevitable. Ilko
every other keen observer, Mr.. RooseveIf
had seen from the incipiency of th<
agitation for American interferefce ~
Cuba that the nation must prepare t1y
war In his own Office be did all th1<
was within his power 70 set the n4vy
ready for the part II must play. What
the navy did Is part Of tho imperls3
able history OF our country, No on4
claims more than Is due to Mr.. Rooeo
welt in this connection, but to ignore I'M
services In the Office Of the secretary a.
the navy In the early days Of 1893 would
be an act OF ingratitnde. These nerv>
ices have been recognized from the L.
ginning and will never be forgotten.
His War Career.
The war opened. The one high pub
lie Official who resigned his Office Ut th&s
National Capital to take up arms f0t
his country was Theodore Roosevelts
He raised his volunteer regiment ana
went with it to Santiago de Cuba. Tho
rest is history.
Colonel Roosevelt entered upon IN
duties and hardships OF war with III
the enthusiasm OF a brave aud generous
nature. He took good care of his men
and fought at their head when the time
Of battle came. After the war Wa6
over he came home the idol Of the Amef7
lean people We had known him a. y a
sterling citizen. as city official work.
ing for the upholding OF the laws, d \
national official urging and enforcing nm
merit system in the United States Ctvtl|
Service, as assistant secretary of thu
navy preparing ships. ammunition ~
men for the chances Of war, and now hS
had volunteered for the army, had lod
his men In soldierly fashion, had With.
stood the baptism OF battle aud prov6<
his right to be called hero or war n
defense OF his country's word aud honor
Tint is all there Is to the war story.
Colonel Roosevelt was elected Gov
ernor of New York, and In that po9itfo1
he again demonstrated to his countrI>
men his common sense, his true democs
racy OF feeling. his justice. honor and hIe
genius for affairs. When he was urEe1 {
for the Vice Presidency be demurfod.
naturally enough, but, when the voico
OF the people became loud and insIstonf.
he obeyed.
Trusted as President.
When he came to the Presidency tho
people withheld but only for moment
Of time. their full allegiance. From tn
first President Roosevelt was TRUSTED.
Never once, by word or act since ~ az
In the presidential chair has PreaIdonf
Roosevelt encouraged or foster&d th&
most remote idea Of war. He has been
interested In improving and strenHthens
ing our army and navy, and ia al wayo
has shown himself to be loyal Ameri.
can to his country. but by no chance hn6
he shown any love Of or desire Tor Waxs
because he has no leaning that way. ~
loves his country--he loves mankind
BY what twisting Of statements an6
distortion of facts, by what destruction
of truth and letting go Of all decency,
the opposition to President Roosevejf# 8
has raised the charge against him that
he is likely to foster war no one who
is acquainted with the man and bis IEfo
can imagine The scriptural mystery o{
the way OF the serpent on the rock h
nothing to this puzzle Of the passing mo-
ment.
Every word and act OF Thcodor6
Roosevelt's life makes against the f4I56
views now set aiioat as TO the poSsIbiIf-
ties Of his character. The President II
a man who loves his country a4 0nlY
that man can love 1t who has endured
the storm of war for its sake For no
possible or imaginable cause. save alone
the honor Of the country itself. and then
but at the stern bidding OF Congress.
could or would President Roosevelt in-
yoke the ruin and misery OF war; II II 81
SANDER upon mas OF humane nature,
strong and cultivated intellect and
proved patriotism, to foster and circuIat1
the idle yaporings or political enemies
to the effect that he Is likely To bring
about or encourage war. There Is ~
foundation for the SANDER. 1t Ii shame
full that IL should exist. or. once exist
ing. should be continued BY repetition
Let us have an end to the silly clamor-
ings OF the mendacious tricksters upon