The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1909-05-30

Union. We have not read the opinion
OF the latter. but this is the way The
Tampa Times puts the case:
1t affords The Times pleasure to
support the Times Union in its ap-
prevail of Roosevelt's estimate of Toll
sto1 as foolish and immoral Years
ago The Times set him down as q
degenerate or a lunatic, although a
genius.
The Journal has no especial regard
fer the opinion of Golfers when it
comes to questions of political or so
Geological Importance as applied to the
immediate requirements o. our gov
eminent. In That respect it displays
to the obserVant mind a bias cleverly
hid behind straight exterior. But
il the treatment of generalities-the
forces which govern the worlds af-
fairs On broad basis, apart from the
issues which may involve the loss
of prestige or cash-it has brains be-
hind it which know how to express
Themselves. For this reason, we pro-
duce the following from the last num-
Der:
/ have naturally aroused attention,
since their publication in the out
! look" Il doubt if his influence has
really been very extensive among
men of action" Just who is this
. Man of ActiOn?> Mr.. Roosevelt and
others have been busily and rever-
emily creating credit for him, but
what Man is he? The Man of Action
has a slight smack of the Man of
| Destiny. He is of faint kin to the
Man in the Iron Mask. MIR. Roose-
Welt makes him the final test for
| literature as well as for other values.
Imagine some such fragile growth as
THE Eve of St. Anges" brought to
the Man of Action. This will never
do" says ne. Il rather like it," he
declares of some bouquet of Tenny-
son. A few years ago the Man OF
Action was the great financier, run
ming insurance or railroads. An OBJ
scuration took place, ana several he
roes resigned, died, or became in
sane. About every other century the
worship of action" returns to trou-
bic this world with the notion That
there is some virtue in action for IL
self. With it enters the companion
idea that action" consists in keep
ing busy in the external world 1t
means defamation, running about, jos
Ting, talking, TedistTibuting atoms. A
Man OF our acquaintance is a physi-
clan W1o is forever working at expert
ments in an unfrequented office. He
would blink among a Tennis Cabinet
or at a gathering o. politicians. He
is unhappy in ''rough-house" gayety.
Discoveries and certain adaptations
which he has made have lessened the
death-rate among babies. The Man
n
busy ways, would deem the little doc
tor a feeble soul. He is not master
full He clatters not about his vic
tories. Mr.. Roosevelt sheds no light
when he condemns the world-figure
and world-influence of TolstOi- He is
right, we believe, in putting high
value on mis- fiction; wrong in failing
| to appreciate the inspiration which
/ the great Russian has been to a
| world which so easily tires of diff
| cult, spiritual, patient, and long-con
| tinued work. --
And actions rather than words
speak to the world Men of the
Roosevelt type understand this and
take advantage of it. They expand
their chests and infest all sorts OF
places and face all kinds of people tC
exhibit their action. It is a great and
| impressive proposition. 1t is dema
gogical but it holds the attention and
evokes the admiration of an immense
contingent Of guileless folk.
But the quiet action, the work o.
the hand wrinkled by years and, per
chance, paralyzed-if it could be para
ilyzed-by the astrophy of age and
used to express thoughts from {
higher kingdom, is one against whic1
the despots of the world have re
beIIed in vain. Action is from the
people. It cannot be received il
America when directed by a despot G.
those who are Subservient to hin
either for profit or through foolish ad
miration.
If the editor of The Tampa Time:
hat ever read TOlstoTs works ant
weighed the philosophy which God ha:
uECUestionably inspired Cor thu
: solution of the sociologic problem
which they deal with, he would never
have been guilty of using such ligh
language. And if the Times-Uniol
nan really Joined him in placing ToI
: sto: among the degenerates or luna
: tics The Journal must promptly re
call every kindly expression it ha'
= given to the literary ability of it!
: big Jacksonville contemporary.