The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1908-06-12

5 ss>ee
United States, his official day done
sat alone in his study, perusine a re-.
port from an agent Of the state de.
partment and mentally comparing It
with preceding mes. 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
ONCE OF the land, driven reluctantly
into the arena Of action from a seclu-
sion which had for him the charms Of
peace, he wal 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 q tyrant in embryo. He had
fought 30 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: hip
very dignity and constituencies had
been mistaken for a%usterity; and only
his most intimate friends understood
that in him beat a great heart filled to
overlooking for his country and fel.
low men. These comprehending
friends were few; but among them,
perhaps the most intimate. was tho
friend Of his boyhood, "Old Bill" Rob-
erts, the inventor.
Between these two there existed
that singular affection found rarely
among master minds where each ad-
mires qualities in the other which he
himself lacks. To Roberts the presi-
dent was the greatest statesman of the
century, and to the president Roberts
was the most accomplished scientist
and inventor who had ever lived; but
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 in the last of a
series of experiments that had en-
meshed him in a dream whereby he
hoped to eradicate friction, and the
president was perturbed by reports
fo~ which h1 LoJ -,o;tol o-1v 1,vooJye
These latter were exhaustive in de-
tail, and in recapitulation tersely pre-
dicted that it would be almost an inn
possibility to avert wal 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 by showing that q
greater number of men were being
drilled than ever before in the coun-
try's history, and that the r%edoubtable
army sent against Russia would be
small in comparison with that which
could be modified for another in
vasion. The reports expressed the be-
lief that Japanese capitalists were
anxious to seize the Philippines. and
were encouraging the ambitions of the
emperor of Nippon to the full extent
Of their purses, hoping ultimately to
find another outlet for investment un-
der their own flag. AS If in proof that
the government vas supporting this
b~ellicose attitude. the reports gave as
q certainty that some high authority
was debating the editorial policies of
the Japanese press, and in all ways
possible fomenting the Ill feeling
against the United States.
There could be no characterization
Of the ability Of the naval odacer who
had made these statements: for he
had passed more than ten years in
that station of the orient. spoke the
language thoroughly well. understood
the people, and above all was no
alarmist. He gave It az 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 q declaration Of var The only
means Of preventing this deplorable
event, in his judgment, was to place
the American navy in such a state Of
pronounced superiority that it would
stay the warlike Japanese and hold.
them in the leash Of awe.
The president read the last clause
again, and with q 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 10, grave Z crisis. ! Before
he retired the orders were given to
his secretary which resulted In the
first meeting Of that coterie of men
uhn woro ~ aaauma the fiji resDOnai.