The Paducah evening sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1906-1929, 1908-06-17
tContinued from last fsstie.)
In the Beginning.


II was January OF that momentous
year when the worlds unrest reached
a climax. aud the president OF the
United States, his Official day done,
sat alone Ia his study. perusing a re.
port from an agent OF the state de
partment and mentally comparing II
with preceding ones. The shaded
light threw into relief against the
darker shadows behind the long. lean
jaw. the grimly determined mouth and
the somber eyes, but lent a touch OF
softness to the queer little lines which
told that on occasion the man could
show infinite kindness and humanity.
Thrust forward from the ranks OF
the people into the most important
Office Of the land, driven reluctantly
into the arena Of action from a secli-
sion which had for him the charms OF
peace. he was still a man in peculiar
isolation. In this. the third year Of
his term. he was yet unknown and
under constant discussion. Half OF his
countrymen hailed him as the Lincoln
OF his time. and the other half declared
him a tyrant in embryo He had
fought so doggedly for his principles
that he had estranged those who had
been his most ardent supporters. His
disregard for party projects had cost
him the friendship Of politicians; his
advocacy of certain reforms had sub
jected him TO caustic comments: his
very dignity and sensitiveness had
been mistaken for austerity; and only
his most intimate friends understood
that in him beat a great heart filled TO
overlooking for his country and fell
.ow men These comprehending
friends were few: but among them.
perhaps the most intimate. was the
friend OF his hoynoc1. "old Bill" Rob
cts, the isveRtGr
Between these two there existed
that sing.'7r- affection found rarely
among master pilnds where eaos adj
mires qualities in the other VIII. n Re
himself lacks. To. Roberts the previ.
dent was the greatest states Sish of me
century. and TO the presiden. Roberts
was the most accomplished scientist
and inventor who had ever lived; Bat
on this night. laden with fate In which
each was TO play his part, the mind
Of neither was on the other. The in
ventor was absorbed I'm the last OF
series OF experiments that had en-
meshed him In dream whereby he
hoped TO eradicate friction. and the
president was perturbed by reports
for which he had waited many weeks.
These latter we're exhaustive in de-
tail, and in reorganization tersely pre-
dicted that IL would be almost an i'm
possibility TO avert war with Japan
as soon as she reached a state OF
preparation. They summed up her
naval strength, which they declared
almost equal at the time OF writing TO
that OF the United States, and told
how every navy yard In Japan was
rushing construction with all available
speed both night and day. so that her
augmented squadrons when built
would be superior TO those Of the
great republic. They reviewed the
land preparations b. showing that
greater number of men were being
drilled than ever before in the coun-
try's history. and that the redoubtable
army sent against Russia would he
small in comparison with that which
vasion. The reports expressed the be-
lief that Japanese capitalists were
anxious TO seize the Philippines, and
we're encoHra ging the ambitions OF the
emperor OF Nippon TO the full extent
OF their purses. hoping ultimately to
find another outlet for investment I'M
der their own flag. AS n in proof that
he government was supporting this
be.licose attitude, the reports gave as
certainty that some high authority
was debating the editorial policies OF
the Japanese press. and in all ways
possible fomentins the Ill feeling
against the United States.
There could be nd underestimation
OF the ability OF the naval officer who
had made these statements for he
had passed more than ten years In
that station OF the orient. spoke the
language thoroughly we'll, understood
the people. and above all was no
alarmist. He gave II as his final opin.
ion that within six months. Japan, her
navy completed, her soldiers drilled to
perfection, and her treasury we'll sup
piled with gold. would find pretext
for a declaration Of war. The only
means Of preventing this deporaBle
event, in his judgment. was to place
The American navy in such a state of
pronounced superiority that II would
stay the warlike Japanese and hold
them In the leash of awe. s
The president read the last clause
again, and with sigh OF discomfort
leaned back In his chair. Hour after
hour he brooded over the complexities
OF the situation. and late at night came
to the conclusion that he must lose
no time in calling together his most
trusted advisers. lay the report be-
fore them, and then by consultation
and discussion decide which would be
the most promising policy to pur.
sue In so grave crisis. Before
he retired the orders were given to
his secretary which resulted In the
first meeting Of that coterie OF men
Who were 10 assume the full RESPONSE