The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1909-03-03
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 8, 1909.
ROOSEVELT.

After seven years of faithful and
diligent service as president OF the
United States, Mr.. Roosevelt will
retire to priv ate life Thursd ay, March
4, with the consciousness of duty we'll
performed. That of itself should be
ample reward for any public official,
but when it is accompanied by the
appreciation aud esteem of q majority
of his fellow citizens, as is certainly
the case with Mr.. Roosevelt, his pub
lie career may be regarded as a pro.
nounced success.
Theodore Roosevelt will rank high
in the list of American presidents as
IN executive who had, at all times,
the courage of his convictions and
was capable of expressing them in
plain and vigorous language. His
mistakes-snd like other well.inten.
toned mortals, he was prone to error
are readily forgiven, in view of the
patriotic purpose Of his endeavor on
all occasions. His faculty for giving
offense to his political opponents and
personal critics has not lessened bis
popularity with the masses of the
American people, many Of whom "love
him for the enemies he has made"
Resolute of purpose, sensitive to
and readyt:of speech, Mr..
hasIbeen involved in many
controversies during his administra-
ton, and from most of them he has
emerged without Iserious impairment
of his standing las the champion of
the ''square deal'' and the defender
of his own personal reputation. In
come respects, II viewed from the
standpoint of precedent, Mr.. Roose.
welt may have disregarded the dignity
associated with his official position
by engagingsin several of these dis.
putes, but he is a scrapper-was built
that way-aud apparently is unable
to refrain from ~resenting any opposi.
ton to or reflection upon himself.
The record of the Roosevelt admin.
istration will form an important
chapter in American history. The
good work performed by Mr.. Roose-
welt in ending the Russo.Japanese
war, in adjusting disputes between
foreign nations, in calling the peace
conference, and participating in
movements affecting the peace and
welfare of other nations, has caused
the United States government to be
recognized as one of the most inluen-
tial and powerful institutions in the
world. The inauguration of work on
the Panama canal Is also an incident
of worldwide Importance that will
always be associated with the name of
President Roosevelt.
One of theugreatest achievements of
the Roosevelt administration, how.
ever, is the high standard of American
citizenship that has been established
by the national executive. The en-.
forcement of existing law and the en-.
actment of measures calculated to
guarantee just and equal treatment to
all citizens, rich and poor, have been
features Of thelRoosevelt policy that
appeal to all fair-minded men. Civic
virtue, business honesty and those
qualities Of citizenship that all true
Americans admire and commend have
been promoted by the president who
is about to relinquish his official re.
sponsibilities, and his record has been
an inspiration to his fellow citizens
throughout the United States. The
public conscience has been aroused to
an appreciation of the fact that graft
is a crime against the commonwealth,
that law-breaking of any kind calls
for condemnation and punishment,
that citizens who observe the rule OF
the "square deal" exemplify the high.
est form of patriotism.
In resigning the duties ofSthe presi.
dency to q successor whose greatest
recommends alton is that the good work
begun shall be continued during the
next our years, Mr.. Roosevelt retires
to private life with the best wishes OF
American citizens that he may ENJOY
q long period of recreation, health
and happiness.
RENOl r AGAINST