Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-09-17
RooseveIt at Seattle.

Roosevelt at Seattle.
Editor Courier:
Mr.. Roosevelt In what he termed q
lay sermon at Seattle, Washington on
the 10th inst. is reported to have said
this is the most. important era in the
history Of this country, since the days
of Lincoln, and he makes the follow
ing appeal which we quote as follows:
II ask you to support u.s." he said,
Sin the name of~morality, of honesty,
OF disinterestedness, in the name OF
religion in the deepest and broadcast
sense"
No other man anywhere has equaled
Theodore Roosevelt in the persistent
use in his talk or writings, official or
otherwise on lay preaching, putting
his square deal" to the front on all
occasions. From time immemorial the
universal judgment Of mankind has
been that where one in season and
out Of season lauds his love of virtue
watch him. The rule Is a safe one
and never better exemplifled with the
civilized world as theater, than in
the case Of Theodore Roosevelt.
I He, in the full swing OF dictator
leads, or rather drives his followers
into the formation Of new party,
with its slogan, "Thou shalt not steal
and he boldly declares that Taft Is
the fence" the receiver of stolen
goods, knowing they are stolen With
Taft he classes as thieves, millions of
bis fellow citizens. How shah one
reply to such brutal billingsgate, ex-
cept to pass 1t by in silence as SEN
sible person would the tongue lashings
Of an abandoned street virago.
But, a few words touching the quo
tations above-this man Is constantly
borrowing for himself the character
of Lincoln. Reader, did you ever hear
OF Lincoln saying after the fashion Of
Roosevelt, 81 am the typical embodi-
ment OF the republican party" my
hat is in the ring" Eve slugged them
over the ropes" There can be no
compromise but on me-" Finally did
you ever In all his life history hear
Lincoln heralding his Square deal"
virtues.
Roosevelt appeals In the name Of
religion for support. Now religious
convictions are SO varied among US
that they have been very properly
ignored In the foundations Of our gov
ernmenh respect all mems religions
honestly entertained SO long as they
do not run counter to the plain rights
and the welfare Of mankind. have
respect for the darkest and most un-
tutored soul on earth in its heavenly
aspirations for 1t Is plain God in the
creation Of humanity did not fail to
place therein the germ Of aspiration
toward some kind of creator.
The true test alone for man in pri-
vate or civil life, is ability and char
acter, the life of man, not his reli-
gious creed. To stir up creed bias
is dangerous and foreign to the broad
and liberal basis Of our government.
No one but the demagogue attempts
It. To do this has been apparent ID
the Roosevelt movement. It has panied
me to see 1t here within my own
observation and let us remember that
{ religious bias In this land had been
given sway in Lincoln's day. he would
have stood condemned by IT.
How different from Lincoln is this
man Roosevelt, whose mantle the lat
ter is seeking to borrow. The follow
ing pleasantly I have noted in print,
fits T. r. 4,
Papa. what is q sdemagogue?" "My
son, a demagogue is the fellow who
rocks the boat himself and persuades
its occupants there is q raging storm
outside" .a
"A. H. Hamilton.