Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1908-09-25

eign editor of lie Temps of Paris, visited
this country, and had conversations with
President Roosevelt and other prominent
Americans which, when published at
tracted considerable attention here and
abroad, says the New York Times.
These conversations, together with gen
erai observations on American society,
politics, and diplomacy, have now ap
peared in Paris in book form under the
title of Notes sur les Etats- Unis.' They
constitute what is perhaps the best
among recent books written by French
men about this country
Roosevelt Type.
Theodore Roosevelt President of the
United States, declares the French edi-
other ruler of a country. Often sum
mary judgments are the best. Europe,
which esteems Mr., Roosevelt highly, has,
at a distance, judged him better than
have his countrymen; she has understood
mark a period of the highest Importance
wise understood that the chief magiS-
strate of the United States is a forcefui
representative of the character OF his
country, that he is thoroughly in accord
with the American nation. All this IS
true. And it appears all the more true
when one observes close at hand instead
Optimism, action, character; these, it
direct Nj. Roose S Intellectual, moral
political, and private life. A tinancier
ern. He preaches.' l feel sure that the
President will consider that criticism III
preach his theory Of existence, and it is
for this reason that, in what he says
and writes, there are repetitions, Danali-
ties certain degree Of monOtony W Mitn
out discussing their conclusions, how can
it be denied that their criticism is false:
Mr.. Roosevelt, who is far from man OF
small education, who is highly cultured,
speaks three languages, who has read ana
written a great deal, has never desired to
be considered man of letters If ne
to act. Whether he writes a magazine ar
ticle or book, or makes a speech, he CON
siders it an instrument of action. He de-
sires to make known his ideas; it matters
little to him whether or not he does so
artistically. He repeats himself because
repetition is the best means of convincing
people, He seeks not literary but practical
effect. He thinks that he knows the truth.
He is a lawyer who wishes to win his
case, and, wishing to win his case, PLEADS
with the prejudices of the jury in mind
rather than the abstract rules of the
game.
Roosevelt's Americanism.
What particularly characterizes his policy
is it's essential and emphatic AmericaniSm.
10 express 1.-THE American IDEAL by acts;
that is it's object. Ardent love of country,
pride for what it is, solicitude for what it
will be; that is the instrument. To handle
it with success a spontaneous feeling of
moral unity must be maintained among the
citizens.
In order to practice Americanism in that
way one must be strong. Mr.. Roosevelt,
more than any of his predecessors, has
tried to develop the strength of the United
States. To do this he mad to go against
the current
For a long time Americans would not be-
leve in Il foreign peril During the seven
years of his term of Office Mr.. Roosevelt
has worked to awaken in their breasts the
instinct of defense. There, are people who
wrote recently. The army and the navy are
the sword and buckler which the United
States must carry if it is to do it's duty
among the nations of the earth.
Policy Is Aggressive.
In spite of opposition from some of his
countrymen MI Roosevelt 93g !. has carried l his
gressive and real. Wherever there were
American interests to protect-in Porto
Rico, the Philippines, Panama, Cuba-he
reminded his countrymen Of their duty to
protect those interests.
AS far back as 1899, N. Tardieu
points out Mr.. Roosevelt said in d
speech at Chicago: I'VE are great peo-
pie and must play great part. All
that we may decide on the subject is
II
Thanks to him, the Frenchman con-
tinues, and to his colleagues, Messrs.
John Hay, Elihu Root, and William Taft,
the United States has played it's part well.
the world today is stronger than it was
ten years ago. The country has gone
through a crisis of growth. During that
science of the country; the living voice,
one may say, of the nations duty. His
last. act, the sending of the fleet to the
has political act been more opportunely
decided upon or more energetically car
ried out
National Rather Than Party Figure.
Mr. Roosevelt has put into practice
those ideas which he often expressed be-
to merit, after setting aside Isolated er-
rors common to human nature in general,
is that he has conceived national policy
for the Characteristic trait of the last
quarter century one will find it to be the
ever-growing intensity of internationaI
has clearly discerned. And that is why
his entire policy has tended toward MAX
ing that formidable partnership called the
United States a power of the first order.
That today is the first duty of rulers of
nations None of them has fulfilled it
more ably or successfully than Mr. koose-
yet.
Here is a statement by Mr.. Tardieu
which, to many Americans, will provide
food for thought:
Not Like William II.
Mr.. Roosevelt has often been compared
with Emperor William II. Never was
comparison more arbitrary. The German
Emperor is a man of keen and brilliant
mind, but strikingly changeable. Mr..
Roosevelt does not aim at brilliancy. and
for thirty years almost has been repeating
the same thing William II. is man or
impressions. Mr.. Roosevelt is obstinate.
The Emperor frequently changes his ideas
and opinions; his charm is in his supple
ness. Mr. Roosevelt is riveted to his prin-
ciples: his master virtue is his obstinacy.
Read his articles of former years; you Will
fnd there all the doctrines advanced in
his recent messages. Never was career
more coherent than his. He has been as a
President what he was as man. His pr1-
vate statements are identical with his po-
litieal statements.
On the occasion of his first interview
with Mr. Roosevelt. NJ. Tardieu was es--
pecially struck with the impression of
Joyous vigor and youth produced by the
President. He found him younger than
his pictures. younger than his age. seem
ingly not more than 40 years old. with
out the shadow of a pose" about him.
After excusing his bad French-an I'M
pecessary precaution. declares the
IiT1,r fo n jIrl