La Junta tribune., 1904-09-10
RoosevELrs QUALITIES.
They Insurs Success 10th - Soldier
and eeafes -.


and ssafesmss.
III We were seeking n soldier" said
Senator Bailey. OF Texas. in opening the
Democratic campaign in Brooklyn last
week. II should prefer the President TO
almost any other man in public life.
As we are seeking n statesman. how
ever. l should prefer almost any other
man in public life to the President"
They tell US the President is brave"
Mr.. Bailey continued. and 80 he Is. but
ne is as rash as he is brave. He would
be one Of the best men TO lead a desper-
ate charge in time OF war. but he Is one
OF the worst men 10 administer grea,
government in time of peace"
Coming from the Junior senator from
Texas, where every boy baby Is colonel
before he is weaned and a statesman as
soon as he sheds his milk teeth. this is
ns unexpected as II Is in part untrue.
Senator Bailey has sacrificed his ad-
miration for military genius and his rec
ognition of its almost universal coin
cidencs with stntesmanlike qualities to
the exigencies OF political campaign.
All history teaches that the qualities
that go to make successful soldier
are the efectiye equipment of the sue
cessfuI statesman.
Caesar crossed the Rubicon before he
put aside the crown upon the Luper-
cal.
Bonnparte devastated all Europe be-
fore he gave to France the Code Napo-
leon.
Cromwell triumphed mt Naseby before
he held the reins as Protector with a
frmness and justice that deserved the
emulation OF Kings.
In our land. from Washington down
to Roosevelt, experience has proved that
the life of the camp Is no unfit train
ing for the presidency. The list includes
at least one Democrat. now almost can
onized who Sirved his way to the White
House with his sword aud retained the
presidency a second term through the
wisdom OF doing things" which con-
founded the drawing room statesman
Of his day and party.
We cannot say that Theodore Roose-
Welt Is an ADLER or Drawer soldier
than Andrew Jackson. But we doubt
IL Senator Bailey would seriously main
tain that the hero OF New Orleans was
as nmenable to the counsels of reason
and righteousness and the letter OF the
constitution as the soldier who for three
years has administered our government
soherly. seriously and successfully. &C
cording to the chart laid down by his
predecessor.
Every Republican president elected
since tho civil war-Grant. Hayes, Gar
field, Harrison, McKinicy--was a sol
dier before he was President. and none
OF them was the worse for having seen
service in the field for his country. But
they were all something more than sol
diers-thcy were born administrators.
And 50 Is Theodore Roosevelt In the
brief span OF ls-s than n quarter of a
century of public life he has compressed
more kinds OF public usefulness than
was ever dreamed OF In the dolce far
niente philosophy OF the Texas Senator.
Being soldier in Cuba was only
an incident in his career of ceaselcss
activity. As assemblyman. ranchcr.
publicist. civil service commissioner.
police commissioner. colonel. Governor
OF New York, and President of the Uni
ted States. Theodore Roosevelt has al
ways borne himself as an honest, cap
able, efficient American citizen. which
Is more credtable than being merely u
soldier or merely carpet statesman.