The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1904-07-20
ROOSEVELT, The HISTORIAN.

THEODORE ROOSEVELT during his
vacation at Oyster Bay might find
food for reflection, although very little
comfort, il these words Of Job, the
prophet Of old-"My desire is
that mine adversary had written a
book"
Judge Parker has never written
book
Any one Of President RooseveIt's
books viii reveal just what Job had in
mind when he spoke. It will reveal
also his knowledge OF human weak
ness. Mr.. Roosevelt,s life Of Thomas
Benton, which passes for history, viii
serve as an Illustration In this book
the Republican nominee throws many
sidelights on the miserable little pig
mics who preceded him in the White
House. Incidentally, it throws a few
Eidelights on his own character.
There are o1d-fashioned people still
living who consider that in writing the
Declaration OF Independence and in Sc
curing the purchase OF Louisiana
Thomas Jefferson displayed some de-
gree Of ability. Historian Roosevelt
tells US that Jefferson was a scholar
y, timid and shifty doetrinaire." and
that he was "constitutionaIly unable to
put a proper value on truthfulness.''
Holding these views, it would be too
much to expect. Of course, President
Roosevelt to mention the name of
President Jefferson in his speech open
ing the Louisiana Purchase exposition.
Once in a while. even at this late day,
a Democrat viii be found who thinks
Andrew Jackson was a pretty good sort
of a man; that his great victory over
the British at New Orleans; his integ-
rity Of character; his ability as a leader
had something to do with his elevation
to the presidency. Not so Mr.. RoOse-
Welt He says in his book:
1.-THE two great reasons for Jackson's
success throughout his political career
We're to be found IN the strength Of the
feeling in his favor among the poorer
and least educated classes Of voters.
and in the ardent support given him by
the low politicians, who, by playing on
his prejudices and passions, moulded
him 10 their wishes"
It is with evident difficulty that His
speak of some Of the presidents Of the
United States at all. Van Buren, and
Buchanan he styles ut representatives
of the sordid and odious political organ
izations Of New York and Pennsylva-
MA" Again, he says: Van Buren,
faithfully served the mammon Of IN
righteousness, both in his own state,
and. later on. in Washington"
Tyler is spoken Of with the utmost
contempt. "He has been called a
mediocre man." says Mr.. RoRosevelt;
''but this is unwarranted hattery. He
was a politician Of monumental little
ness"
Nor is this historian devoid OF humor.
He opens one chapter OF his book with
the statement: IN 1S44 the Wing can
didate for the presidency. Henry Clay,
was defeated by a Mr.. Polk, the nom
snee OF the Democracy II would be
the irony OF fate if at some future time
some other great historian would have
this fact 20 record: On 1904 the Repub-
lican candidate for the presidency,
Theodore Roosevelt, was defeated by
a Mr.. Parker. the nominee Of the De
mocracy."
History has repeated itself before.
Historian Roosevelt has not the pa
thence to analyze ali the presidents sep
arateIy, but with one sweep Of the pen
ne consIgns a whole row Of them to OBJ
liyfon by referring to Tyler as the
very smallest OF the line Of small presi-
dents who came in between Jackson
and Lincoln"
The keynote Of this book is the same
keynote that dominates everything that
Theodore Roosevelt ever wrate or Ut
tered. Here It is: IA class OF profess
sional non-c6mbatants is as hurtfuI to
the real, healthy growth Of a nation as
IS q class OF fire-eaters; for a weakness
or folly IS nationally as bad as vice,
or worse: and. in the long run, Qua
ker may be quite as undesirable cit
izen as is a dueiist."
This was what Martin W. Littleton
meant when he said IN The ST. Louis
convention, Somehow Of late the at
mosphere of our. national life Is filed
with spray Of blood The spray OF
blood wiz be found in every book that
Theodore Roosevelt ever wrote.
a.. - r-.sr1 nc annK