The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-08-17
A BOOST FROM TEDDY

The letter Of ex-President Roosevelt to Secre-
tary Davis of the Southern Commercial Con
gress breathes spirit of breadth and understand
ing of Southern conditions and progress, which
Is none the less gratifying because of the fact
that former utterances of the distinguished let
ter writer have displayed a note of sectional ami
mostly where this one shows forth a staunch
Americansm.
The ex-P President, measuring greatness by in
fuence, is concededly great" He holds the CON
fdence of vast portion of the earnest and sub
stantial people of the country. Whatever be says
commands universal attention. 1t is, therefore,
as distinct a gain when he speaks, even prosai-
cally, sound TRUTH as it is distinct loss when
he permits himself the impulsive utterance of
folly. If consistency be the 'hob-goblin of
small minds" Roosevelt, conversely, is mentally
magnificent. However that may be, it is pleas
ure in this instance to find him inconsistent in
the cause of truth and in the interest of South
ern development and Southern people. The
South is inherently strong enough to survive the
Roosevelt dispeasure; II can now blossom with
the more freedom, that 1t has it's farer.
The letter IN question states with the ex-Presi-
dents usual vigor of phrase the case of section
that has held its traditions in the face of adver-
sity and has yet managed to meet and conquer
conditions in progressive spirit 1t shows a
full appreciation on the part of the ex-President
of the constructive truths concerning this sec
ton. Better it discloses an expression of sym
pathv and goodwill that is both reassuring and
valuable In part Colonel Roosevelt saws:
This nation is thrilling with ideals
at this very moment, and these ideals
relate to constructive work in the future
The South must do its full share in reali-
zing it, and from now on it must partci-
pate in full in the solution of all the
national problems. All of US alike must
turn to the special problems of this age
with the courage that our fathers showed
in those heroic days 10 which we look
back with moulnful pride.
"The statute of General Lee in Con-
federate uniform, stands in the halls of
Congress to-day, and his memory is hon
ored no more by the SoutR than it is by
the North, and in the North and in the
South alike / think wo are now learning
to apply absolutely in good faith the great
words of Grant: Let us have peace
'The part played by the South in the
constructive craftsmanship of our nation
during all our earlier years was of in
calculable weight and value. / firmly
believe that the time has now come when
the Souths influence will again be felt,
not only in constructive craftsmanship,
but in the enormous field of constructive
business endeavor. No part of our coun-
try has seen such progress as the South
has made in the last twenty years along
material lines, and | believe the next
twenty years will see greater progress.
For long the eyes of this nation have been
set steadily westward to watch it's great
and typical growth. From now on
think the South will share with the West
in rapidity of growth. This leadership
will be fastened by the completion of tho
Panama Canal. The East has the Allan
tic and the West the Pacific; the South,
even more than the East and West will
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