The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1904-07-07

Theodore Roosevelt
A STUDY OF THE MAN

words at the opening of the Chicago
convention he included and suggested
many of the facts that nominated
Theodore Roosevelt for president long
before the delegates met at Chicago
to hold national convention.
He has meant every word he said''
This one quality has characterized the
utterances of Theodore Roosevelt ever
since he first entered public life, and
that was years ago, for the ink was
scarcely dry on his college diploma
until he had been given preferment by
his fellow citizens. And it is reason
able to suppose that this knowledge of
the man was one of the things that
contributed to his success at the out
set. The people knew that they could
safely depend upon him. He would
not deceive them. The individual and
the world like man when they know
they can put a finger on him" Given
this one quality and there are others
OF similar nature that go to make
the desirable friend, the trustworthy
business man. the useful citizen, the
competent of1ce-hoider, and the foun-
dation stone of a useful career has
been deeply laid. But let a man
lack this one quality and there Is
no other-no combination of other
substitute for it,
For this includes strength and the
determination to use this strength.
| Still more. it means determination to
use this strength for the right, for 9TH
erwise, however lofty his purposes,
he could not be depended upon to crys-
tallize them into achievement
The people have believed every
word he said, continues the chairman
OF the convention. Why? Because
they have come to know him. They
not only believe but they feel that he
reasonably warm to such a man.
Again, however, we have something
added to sincerity, for a man may
be sincere and still be misled But
Theodore Roosevelt is not a theorist
or viSiOnaire. His aims are lofty,
he has high ideals. but he lives as far
from cloudland as any man that has
ever been in public life.
This suggests another quality that
makes Theodore Roosevelt rare man.
For ages there has been a perceptible
distinction between the thinker and
the doer Plato and Socrates were
thinkers and the world has their
thought today; but Pericles both
thought and did things, and however
We may revel in the sublime realms
Of Plato and Socrates, it was Peri
cles who contributed to the glory of
Athens that which chiefly appeals to
us today.
We suspect that q Bismarck appeals
more to the average human being than
a Gladstone, the one was man of
deeds. the other an orator But The
odore Roosevelt combines the two
qualities. that of the thinker as well
as that Of the man of action. He
writes an essay on American Ideals"
In which he treats of the things vital
to a great republic. Here he is the
thinker; but civilization has been
waiting for a century for the Panama
canal. and he makes that great world
highway a possibility. Thomas Jeffer.
rights of man, and set down abstrac-
tions with a wonderful clearness, but
he bought Louisiana Territory, and he
will be remembered in history chiefly
because of this one thing that he did
In opposition to the theories set down
in his distractions. This suggests
another distinguishing trait in Theo-
dore Roosevelt, because he Is not re-
quired to violate his own theories in
order to record achievements. His
public acts are In accordance with his
published principles and the country
approves and applauds because the
people feel that both his theories and
his deeds will Withstand the test Of
actual experience.
This is why Chairman Root was able
to add the third element In the sem
tence quoted at the beginning Of this
article-"with him this convention
agrees because every word has been
And this suggests striking anal.
ogy between the life of this mai and
the life Of this party that has just
placed him in nomination for an Office
the highest that the world has to be-
stow. The Republican party carle
into existence half a century ago be-
cause the times then demanded par.
- ~
with the ability to accomplish what
II set out to do. There were other
parties then animated by the sub
FINEST Of purposes. but their methods
were impracticable. Out Of these COLI
Gitions sprang this party, not only
moved by the Hottest spirit, but also
with a genius for management. It
began at once to record achievements.
And so this man began at the outset 10
do as we'll as to dream. To this day
he has been a man of deeds as well
as words, and that is why he was long
ago nominated by the people; 1t is the
reason this nomination was ratified
at Chicago the other day. and 1t is
the one thing most OF all that will
cause the people to approve both the
nomination and the ratification at the
polls next November.
Had William ]. Bryan been elected
president, even the men who today are