The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1912-04-11
THE PEOPLES FORUM.
Colonel Roosevelt'S Visit To This Sec
ton AS Seen By A Democrat of
the Old School.

the Old School.
To the Editor of The Republican:
Good Friday opened in Keyser en-
phized by the unusual, happening apt
to make that opening memorable re-
CARELESS of divergence of opinion as
to the actual goodness it may bring to
the day.
On the previous evening news circu-
lated about hotels, public resorts and
streets that, at an early hour the next
morning eX-President Roosevelt, on
a homeward bound, would give breath
| ing moment at KeVser for a twenty
minutes address from the rear end of
his railroad coach. All classes, creeds
and parties acted in good will upon an
opportunity for seeing the most widely
acknowledge curiosity, and in many re-
spects the most richly equipped student
among leaders of men, ever seen in the
lime light of this towns history.
An hour in advance of the scheduled
arrival, the ample grounds curbing the
front of the railroad building showed
continuous jam of spectators sober in
it's desire to see what it had never seen,
that and that alone. After much wait
in the train steamed gracefully down
the long stretch in the bright sun shine
of a perfect spring day. Before the
pause of the painting engine, from the
steps of the hindmost car, a man OF a
thickly built, muscular frame wearing
glasses. could be seen gesticulating in
strenuous efforts to make himself heard
by the circle of humanity along the
track. We looked at the MAN of
Destiny" twice president of the Repub-
lie, reaching the third time, in defiance
of established custom, for the reins of
supremacy and the hero of famous
battle of wind Mill" actualities: and
then in bewilderment to the motion
less line of people rejecting, perhaps,
every shade of popular thought today
visible in this campaign of presidential
election. If that vast gathering was
either a compliment or an endorsement
to the distinguished visitor who had
worn the highest honors the greatest
people of the world could confer, the
fact was strangely hidden. No lifting
of hats, no clapping of hands nor stamp
ing of feet-simplv gratified gaze
upon that they were there to see
The ex-Presldent strikinglv resembles
his pictures in papers and publications
that have been seen for years over the
land. His dress was that of the modest
taste of the average business gentle
man. While his face may exhibit more
of the bluff man than of parlor refine
ment, it often lightened with sugges-
tons of good fellowship and of an all
round man, ready to lend a smile or re-
pei a thrust. His neck is short and
large, the shoulders broad and firmly
set over a stout body, while the glasses
and gold chain impress you as much
part of the face as is the nose or chin.
his voice ueHeu MS concentrated
strength to make it carry beyond the
few Immediately about him; 1t was weak
and husky from over strain.
Through anxious to catch the drift
of his address, could, from my
distance, clearly hear only this
declaration made with an extended
hand and an up-lft of the form: 81
care not how good man may be, if he
lacks the courage of his convictions he
is not worth his salt" This inter-
preted was a broadside discharge from
the Roosevelt artillery against the for
tifcations of President Taft. Personal
prOnouns were the glittering sparks
flashing in fast succession throughout
the brief speech, as if designed to show
the American public how silly it has
been in seeking way to rescue ex-
presidents from oblivion, and to give
the world at large modern meaning to
the epitaph written by an ancient peo-
pie upon the tomb of its greatest chief:
Alexander is not dead; he is living be-
Yond the stars. A DEMOCRAT.