New-York tribune., 1911-12-17
Anglo-American Memories
MR.. THEODORE ROOSEVELT.
Copyright 1911. George W. smaney,
London. November

80 Poosevelt's English sympathies, of
-s,cb our Irish friends and enemies
times complain, are, l think. of
-,,eratively recent growth. His atti-
- during the Boer War was, TO say
-. Last. critical. His reception Of Irish
.,ss.ries during his Presidency lacked
element Of cordiality to the Ilish' and
.o,,atirnes provoked comment in Eng
"a where, however. incidents OF that
,',,d have been too frequent TO cause
.,,rnrise. The Eng ishman who is aware
!, ,ner ulutters something about the
,.,sb vote in America, and turns d bind
.rs 10 the cable dispatches which record
,ssss singular manifestations OF friend
.,,r 70 a friendly government.
Vothip-. indeed. is more Characteristic
of the Englishman than his indifference
% proceedings Of the kind Mr.. Roosevelt
s,5 other Presidents before him have
thought consistent with international
.or,itv. He knows little about them and
,a-es less. A question may be asked in
Parliament or in private. Somebody
asked one the other day about Mr.. Champ
clark and his schoolboy talk Of annexing
Canada. The new Under Secretary for
Foreign Affairs. Mr.. Acland, answered
With polite contempt that he did not sup
nose Mr.. Champ Clark was TO be taken
seriously. Nor does it appear that his
bufooneries disturb the good feeling
happily existing in both countries. The
cable suppose. must report them and
the papers must print them, but not
ripple is left on the surface.
The Senate Of the United States once
refused 10 adopt a resolution expressing
the regret Of the American people at the
death of Mr. John Bright. the best and
most powerful friend the American peo-
pie had in England In the days when
they had few, Years afterward, upon
some reference 10 IT. Mr.. Brights son
tcld. NE be had never heard of it, and
asked If II were true. OF President
Roosevelt's coquetries with Mr.. O'COn-
nor and other Nationalist agents not
mUcl more notice was taken. One Eng
Hshman, a man as likely as anybody to
be sensitive in such q matter, said
Well, O'Connor IL an amusing devil
and I suppose he amused Mr.. Roose-
velt
The Boer sympathies Of Mr.. Roosevelt
we're developed before he became Presi-
dent. and probably were never declared
IN such a way as 10 attract attention in
England. For that was a inject on
which even an Englishman had suscepti-
bilities. Mr.. Roosevelt's Dutch blood did
not run in his veins for nothing He
probs rly thought Of the Beers as Nr
Gladstone thought Of the Contederates
q people rightly struggling to DO free
snd 70 keep other people in slavery,
since in the annals Of slavery there is
nothing more horrible than the cruelties
of the Beers 10 the African natives
But % quote Mr. Disraeu once more. a
great deal has happened since then. and
pass from the subject. Nor do 7 mean
20 question the sincerity Of Mr.. Roose-
vdts conversion. He has since proved
his good will 10 England on some mem
orabie occasions. Even his outburst in
The Guidhau about Egypt was, in his
own view, an expression Of friendship.
The English. in any case, if they knew
OF Mr. Roossvelt's Boer partialities, bore
uo malice. When the ex-President
started after big game in a part Of AZ
uca under English Jurisdiction. the Gov
ernor OF the province not only gave him
al facilities, but a territory 20 himself
from which so long as Mr.. Roosevelt was
pursuing his game and his natural his
tory researches. all other sportsmen were
,iuded. a stretch Of the Governor >
authority perhaps, though sanctioned at
home. but excellent evidence Of good nat
IRE This again contributed TO swell
his renown as a mighty hunter and 10
augment the cordially Of his reception
N London. believe Mr Roosevelt
thought London more friendly than all
othe- European capitals, and il was
from London that he carried with him.
II may De. the extreme conception of his
own power which led him 20 undertake
that disastrous political campaign at
nome two months later.
He was just as human after he be
came President as before; and just as
nuci Roosevelt His liking for fun
was not lees evident in the White House
than in the Police Headquarters in New
York or the Executive Mansion at Al
oany. AT one moment the ringing laugh
o. ooyhocd; az the next. all seriousness
ana firm purpose. II was just after one
% thesl explosions of irrepressible good
aumor that took up new pattern Of
Doiicsman's club lying on bis desk-s
ming or solid india ruDoer or gutta-
per~ds-and asked him whether he was
gong to adopt it FOR the police force.
Instau-.g his face grew grave
No. il is too lethaL"
told him ] had seen men drop dead
from blow with the clubs then in use.
ne sa!d.
No doubt but the fewer the better"
let he would not shrink from strong
measures AT the time Of the great
F-unsylraHla strikes o notion spread
among the trade uniouists that the
Trssieent was on their side and would
Nol interfere % Keep order. no matter TO
what violence they resorted. ] said 50
70 am The lines Of the jaw tighteued.
and he answered.
" iner think 1 am going 10 tolerate
A'o law they viii lind out their mistake
wye minutes after they have begun"
there spoke the President We admired
'Na trusted. Whatever else he might be,
'' was Che inhexikle guardian Of public
01e' The Washington negroes, or some
vi Ulm. q IurhuIeut rreM- mlsunder-