Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1904-10-21
RO0SEvELT'S COURAGE.
xts Quality /. Such that II Commands
Respect and Admiration.


This Presidential campaign has re-
solved itself into study u President
Roosevelt aud the three Years of his adj
fninistration Beginning with much con-
faence aud good will, the public has
learned, from an extended examination Of
the Presidents public acts and utter
ances fresh respect for the man on the
bridge Of the ship Of state.
And the study Of events and how they
We're met has revealed how much is need
ed ia the makeup IF the American Chief
Executive the quality Of courage. Not
physical courage, merely, but that cndur-
ing steadfass holding 10 duty without
fear or present or future personal con-
sequences which nerves men Of strong
moral and mental fibre.
II takes the strongest kind Of moral
courage 10 meet the questions which
confront the American people u oar day
The President as representing the whole
people Of the country, must meet these
questions as best he can He must be
eyes. ears. hands and feet for the ire
mendons interests eonfided 10 his care.
In short, he is The executive head Of the
nation.
TO this great eiiice President Roose-
welt brought highly organized brain.
al educated understanding. 4 cultivated
personality OF ardeut temperament, be
easily secured public affection aud nd.
miration. But. along with his charming
good fellowship and broad humanity he
had the supreme quality Of courage.
Very soon this possession WINS called
out hi manner both unexpected aud un-
precedented, and the people began fully
10 know their President.
The FIRST record breaker was the taxi
ing up by President Roosevelt Of the
coal strike. and it's happy settlement.
Let no one under-rate the hrmness Of
purpose. the sense Of duty, aud the high
appreciation of public accountability
with which this step was taken. No one
Of President Roosevelt's friends advised
him TO attempt what everyone believed
would be n failure. Bnt the commission
was appointed, its work was carefully
laid out fer 1t, and backed as IL was
by President Roosevelt's personality and
position. il won peace from the gripped
hand Of greed, aud millions IL men, wo.
men and children We're, i'll consequence,
warmed aud fed and sheltered from the
storms 81 winter.
In this fife Of ours the hrst gift 70 all
the sons of men Is courage. And then
courage and again courage
Again, when the people began TO de.
spair under the heavy tread Of the ever
towering trust nlonopolies, President
Roosevelt took the initiative toward regu.
lation by law Of the Illegal combinations
which threaten the smaller corporations
as well as individuals. Now. agail,
there were discouragers of action. Again
there were many who. seeing HE danger.
still could see no way Of escape And.
again through the constituted channels
Of legal action. President Roosevelt took
the initiative in'the defense against tres
passers upon the national laws Of com
merce aud labor. In the Northern Sc.
curfies case the Court sustained the
position Of the executive, and gave the
people lesson as 10 one lawful way
by which Illegal monopolies can be CON
trolled.
There have not been wanting other
examples Of courage and sense If re.
sponsibility in Roosevelt's Presidential
career. The two Instances referred TO
here are enough 10 remind people what
manner Of man sits now In the Prcsi-
dents chair al Washington. We need
courage there at the bend Of the nation.
We are not going to part with IL al this
stage Of our growth and progress.