Gilpin observer., 1909-03-11
A CLEAN of Light for
the senighted Continent.

The world will be looking forwari
to the return of President Roosevelt
from the wilds. of Africa. From
physical and mental standpoint nc
one Is better fitted for such an un
dertaking. Possessed of a powerful
physique and wonderful endurance
he Is well qualified to cope with the
climatic conditions of that undiscov.
cred country, and to stand the strain
OF travel over that wild waste which
Is the undisputed home of the kings
OF the animal world. Mentally speak.
ing we will expect an intelligent des-
crlptlon OF the interior of the dark
continent, and a knowledge of biology
which may parallel the cruise of
the Beagle which carried the greatest
OF all observers, Darwin into the
south seas. He will have an oppor-
tunity to study every phase of life,
both the flora and fauna, in the
cradle of nature, and far removed
from the pruning hand of man. My
ron Reed said that mankind is divid-
ed into two classes, one half who do
things, and the other half who sit on
the fence and wonder why they don't
do 1t some other way Roosevelt is
one of those mighty personalities
whose Influence is felt as an ener-
gizing force in the world. His acts
reach out to the engirdling of the
earth with the greatest naval pageant
in the worlds experience the peaceful
elimination of war among nations,
and the cutting asunder of a conti-
nent
He has stepped down from the
chair of state after seven years in
which he has zealously guarded the
country's veal, battling against wick
edness in high places, not content to
see right upon the scaffold and
wrong upon the throne" His name
will go down in history as "Roose-
welt the Great" Willet's and Cooks
vilifications to the contrary notwith-
standing, long after themselves and
their maledictions are forgotten in
the dust.
He has been a history maker and
a nation builder-one who does things
regardless of those who sit on the
fence and criticise. He will study
the economic and social conditions of
the country and what the governments
of the old world have done to build
up their respective sections and give
their people the right of life, liber-
ty and the pursuit of happiness
AS teacher of world ethics and
Christianity, he will leave his i'm
press upon the people with whom he
comes In contact and he will endeav-
or to act the part of the missionary
in the cause of Christianity, as Dav-
i'd Livingston and Gordon, and HenI7
NJ. Stanley.
The country is sadly in need of
the light of civilization and educa-
ton although such men as Living
ston and Gordon have given their
lives that the Christian religion
might be established there. We hear
great deal in this day about the
constitution following the flag, but
there is something that precedes the
flag. and that is the bible.
Bancroft pays this tribute to the
priest and puts him ahead of the SOL
der or the teacher. He says, Not
a cape was turned, not a river en-
tered, but the priest led the way"
Often all the bread he had was for
conservation. all the wine he had was
for the communion cup. The Egypt
ian's idea of a God was produced in
the sphinx, with the body of lion
and the head of a man, as com
bination of intellect and power but
neglected to combine the element OF
morality and the result was failure
under the Pharoahs and Cleopatra
Some will say those tribes are moi
worth the blood and money that has
been expended on them.
We believe that they have advan
ced far enough in the course Of de
velopment to at least hope for fu
ture existence and as they entertain
that hope. We may reasonably gran
that 1t will be satisfied, and aside
from this question 1t is incumben
on those nations that have been bles
sed with civilization. to lift thos
unenlightened and superstitious pee
Pile to a higher life. and create
liberty. Drummond says that h
came across black men in the hear