New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-04-14
ROOSEVELTS SPEECHES.
What They Express Set Forth by
Senator Lodge.

.Th. Critic" prints an article In its current
Der by Henry Cabot Lodge entitled Theodore
Roosevelt: a Study OF the Character and OF the
Opinions OF the Man Expressed in His Speeches"
1t was prepared introduction to the volume
OF the Speeches and Presidential Messages of
President Roosevelt" shortly to be published by
G. P Putnam's Sons In It Senator Lodge says IN
part:
1t IS most important that people should be able
70 read and. let hope ponder well what has been
written or said by any man TO whom they are
For that reason this volume has far more signin-
canoe than that Of being merely an addition 70 the
been brought together certain important speeches
ions upon subjects with which he has felt II his
duty 20 deal since he has been charged with the
they viii form a most Important contribution 20
the history Of the time, as is always the case with
largest share in their day in directing the course
and fortunes OF the country; II VIII also De IoI
that distant future TO decide what place these
speeches shall take and hold in that very small
men not as history but as literature. AT the pres
ent moment. however, they have the peculiar and
a man who has not only filled the highest place in
the gift Of the American IL people. but who now
ton and reelection 10 Office. This is neither the
speeches from the point OF view Of their permanent
position examples OF literature or OF oratory, or
even 10 attempt measure the historical value
which the coming generations will surely place
upon them That which concerns US az the moment
self upon what he has done, and upon what the
who. with the BraFeSt PUBIC responsibility
resting on him. thinks and speaks in this way may
be counted upon TO do IN the future a., .
President ROOsevelts speeches, * IL needless to
say have the quality sure to be impaired to the
snoj1en word by a OF the highest education,
who has read widely and thought deeply and VINO
has had the invaluable mental training which comes
from many years OF historical study. All the at
tributes which these habits OF thought and educa-
ton imply may be found here, but these speeches
have one quality which is more important at this
moment certainly than any other, although Its
,-sile ana meaning also those who come after us
can hardly be overrated. That which marks Presi-
dent Foosevelts speeches beyond anything else Is
their entire sincerity. What he says is pre-emi-
nenfiv genuine for all his utterances not only come
iphf from the heart hut are set forth with an
energy and force OF conviction which are as APP
IA rent a. they characteristic. He has no
secrets The truth that is In him rises unchecked
In This case we may read the speeches here
We agree with the opinions expressed or not. the
man Who uttered them meant exactly what he said,
bscsrsa he Is both honest and fearless. in the
clear note which carries the conviction or absolute
truth in the accent Of profound sincerity lies one OF
~ ,reat attributes of the highest eoquence. but
saT more Important here than any quality OF or
afory Is the fact that the words and the thoughts
~ ennbody enable those who read to understand
the man who speaks them
The speeches here collected have most peculiar
,-a11e al this precise moment. The American people
-. 40 he asked to give again TO Mr.. Roosevelt the
r-oatesf trust and the highest responsibility which
-. neople can give any man. In these speeches
- 70 able TO see precisely what manner OF man
- e They can have the assurance that he says
sa,s They can Judge him better from these words
-rSicb he himself has uttered than from countless
esn~~s,,bies or acres Of newspaper sketches. Here
sn these pages IS the real man.