The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1904-07-21

priyite obligation, yet first to voluu-
teer at the sign of national peril;
leader in civil life, and yet so quick
TO comprehend the arts that he grew
almost in day to meet the high ex-
actions of command. There is moth
ing which so tests a man as great
and unexpected danger. He may
pass his life among ordinary sences,
and what he is or does but few will
ever know. But when the crash
comes or the flames break out,
moments time will single out the
hero in the crowd. A flash of light
Mig IL the night will reveal what
years of daylight have not discover.
ed to the eye. And so the flash of
the Spanish war revealed that lofty
courage and devotion which the
American heart so loves, and which
you have met again to decorate and
recognize. His qualities do not
need to be retold, for no man in that
exalted place since Lincoln has been
better in every household in the land.
He is not conservative, if conservat-
ism means waiting till IL is too late.
He is rot wise, if wisdom is to count
a thing a hundred times when once
will do. There is no regret so keen
in man or country as that which
follows an opportunity unembraced.
Fortune scars with high and rapid
wing. and, whoever brings it dow
must shoot with accuracy and speed.
Only the man with the steady eye
and nerve, and the courage to pull
the trigger. brings the largest OPP
portunities to the ground. He does
not always listen while all the sages
speak, but every day at nightfall
beholds some record which, if not
complete, has been at least pursued
with conscience and intrepid resolu
ton.
ONE MAN ONLY-ROOSEvELT
He is no slender flower swaying in
the wind, but that heroic fibre which
is best nurtured by the mountains
andthe snow. He spends little time
in review, for that, he knows can be
done by the schools. A statesman
graphing with the living problems
of the hour, he gropes but little in
the past. He believes in going
ahead. He believes that in shaping
the destinies of this great Republic,
hope is higher impulse than regret.
He believes that preparation for flu
ture triumphs is more important
duty than an inventory of past mis-
takes. A profound student of his
tory he is today the greatest history
maker IN the world. With the in
stincts of the scholar he is yet
forced from the scholars pursuits
by those superb qualities which fit
him to the last degree for those
great world currents now rushing
past with larger volumes and more
portentous aspect than for many
wears before. The fate of nations
is still decided oy their ways. You
may talk of orderly tribunals and
learned referees; you may sing IN
your schools the gentle praises of
the quiet life; you may strike from
your books the last note of every
martial anthem, and yet out in the
smoke and thunder will always be
the tramp Of horses and the silent
rigid upturned face Men may
prophesy and women pray, but
peace will come here to abide for
ever on this earth only when the
dreams of childhood are the accept
ed charts to guide the destinies of
men. Events are numberless and
mighty, and no man can tell which
wire runs around the world. The ma
ton basking to-day in the quiet OF
contentment and repose may still be
on the deadly circuit and tom orrow
writhing in the tolls Of war.
This is the time when great figures
must be kept in front. If the pres
sure is great, the material to resist
it must be granite and iron.
Whether we wish or not, America is
abroad in this world. Her interests
are in every street, her name is on
every tongue. Those interests, so
sacred and stupendous, should be
trusted only to the care of those
whose power, skill and courage have
been tested and approved. And in |