The Springfield herald., 1904-09-30
Effort to Show that President
Roosevelt Is a Lover
Of War.
INSTEAD, HE is FOR PEACE
Would Not Encourage or Bring About
War and Its Destructive Forces,
Except TO Maintain the
country's Honor.

The attempt to make a bogey man
ont of President Roosevelt. by misrep-
resenting him us n lover of war. and
therefore dangerous to the pence of
the country, is doomed to isnomnious
failure. The American people are ac-
customed to "size up" their public men
with an accuracy unknown in the ma
tion,l life of other countries. They have
had President Roosevelt under their
gaze for years, and they know him well.
More than that. knowing him well as
they de-, they admire, respect and love
him.
When public opinion had forced the
war with Spain upon the American
nation Theodore Roosevelt. then assist
ant secretary of the navy, was one OF
the officials of the United States who
was prepared for the inevitable. Like
every other keen observer, Mr.. Roosevelt
had seen from the incipicncy OF the
agitation for American interference in
Cuba that the nation must prepare for
war. In his own office he did all that
was within his power to get the navy
ready for the part it must play What
the navy did is IL part of the imperish-
able history of our country. No one
claims more than is due to Mr.. Roose-
welt in this connection. but to ignore his
the navy in the early days OF 1893 would
be an act of ingratitude. These serv-
ices have been recognized from the be-
ginning and will never be forgotten.
His War Career.
The war opened. The one high pub
| lie official who resigned his Office at the
| National Capital to take up arms for
| his country was Theodore Roosevelt.
lie raised his volunteer regiment and
| went with it to Santiago de Cuba. The
| rest is history.
Colonel Roosevelt entered upon the
duties and hardships of war with all
| the enthusiasm of a brave and generous
nature. lie took good care of his men
and fought at their head when the time
of battle came. After the war was
over he came home the idol of the Amer
lean people. We had known him as a
| sterling citizen. as city official work
ing for the upholding of the laws, as a
| national official urging and enforcing the
merit system in the United States Civil
Service, as assistant secretary of the
| navy preparing ships, ammunition and
| men for the chances of war, and now he
had volunteered for the army. had led
his men in soldierly fashion, had with
stood the baptism of battle and proved
his right to be called hero of war in
defense of his country's word and honor.
That is all there is to the war story.
Colonel Roosevelt was elected Gov
ernor of New York, and-in that position
he again demonstrated to his country
men his common sense, his true democ-
racy of feeling. his justice, honor and his
genius for affairs. Whom he was urged
for the Vice Presidency he demurred,
naturally enough, but, when the voice
of the people became loud and insistent.
he obeyed.
Trusted as President.
When he came to the Presidency tho
people withheld, but only for n moment
of time, their full allegiance. From the
first President Roosevelt was trusted.
Never once, by word or act since he sat
in the presidential chair has President
Roosevelt encouraged or fostered the
most remote idea of war. He has been
interested in improving and strengthen
ing our army and navy, and in all ways
has shown himself to be loyal Ameri-
can to his country, but by no chance has
he shown any love of or desire for war,
because he has no leaning that way. He
loves his country-he loves mankind.
By what twisting of statements and
distortion of facts, by what destruction
of truth and letting go of all decency.
has raised the charge against him that
he is likely to foster war no one who
is acquainted with the man and his life
can imagine. The scriptural mystery Of
the way of the serpent on the rock Is
! nothing to this puzzle of the passing mo-
ment.
Every word and act of Theodore
Roosevclt's life makes against the false
views now set ailoat as to the possibili-
ties of his character. The President is
man who loves his country as only
that man can love it who has endured
the storm of war for its sake. For no
possible or masinable cause. save alone
the honor of the country itself, and then
but at the stern bidding of Congress,
conld or would President Roosevelt in
yoke the ruin and misery of war. 1t is
| slander upon n man of humane nature,
strong and cultivated intellect and
proved patriotism to foster and circulate
the idle vaporings of political enemies
to the effect that he is likely to bring
about or encourage war. There is no
| foundation for the slander. 1t is shame
| full that it 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
this huQn bOo