The Washington times., 1912-10-15
THE ATTEMPT ON COLONEL ROOSE-
VELTS LIFE.

VLTS LIFE
The attempt Of q crank, probably madman on
the life Of Colonel Roosevelt is an occasion alike for
national sorrow and national humiliation. Three
Presidents Of the United States have fallen victims
to the bullets Of assassns. The assault on Colonel
Roosevelt illustrates anew the danger Of those ex-
treme expressions which, in ths heat Of political
controversy are too likely to in1ame the passions
Of The light-minded or the morbdly disposed.
10 plain enough that the attempted assassination
Of Colonel Roosevelt was a case Of this kind. Tie
man who did the shooting was from New York, and
seems to have been following the Progressive leader
about the country awaiting his chance with the cum
ming deliberation Of maniac. To say that he comes
from New York goes far, too, toward suggestion Of
the inspiration for his deed In its hatred and bitter
ness against Mr.. Roosevelt, section Of the metro
poan press has avoided no excesses Of acrimonious
expression in characterizing him and his motives.
He has been the head Of a great movement that
aroused the intensest hostility Of a heterogeneous
minority, which conceived that Its hold power was
threatened. Reckless expressions, taken more seri-
ously by those who read and heard than by those
who INDUCED them, have inAamed emotional and
overwrought minds. The fearful crime at Milwaukee
is plainly enough result Of just such causes. The
would.be assassin declares that he had been reading
most unbrdled in their utteranoes about Roosevelt
He decided that il what they said were true, the
former President ought to be killed.
Eleven years ago, when Mckinley fell before
the assassin the real responsibility was energetcay
pressed upon journalistic critic in New York. and
none was more insstent on fixing that responsibility
than the very newspapers which are now named by
the present attempted murderer as his inspiration.
The truth Of all Is that who would be the last
to oountenance design such horrors who strong
and steady enough not to take themselves and their
extreme expressions very seriously, too much disre
gard the possible effects Of such appeals to weaker
personalities.
II must always be the fate of the crusader to
be most violently misunderstood by some Of those
whom he aims to serve. Roosevelt, in his lifelong
struggle in behalf Of social justice an even chance
square DEAL has deserved to be the best understood
and appreciated by the victims Of conditions which
he sought to better. Yet 1t is one Of these very
unfortunates who attempts his life
:. The whole nation unites today in thankfuness
that the assault did not end in q tragedy, and in
| rejoicing at the announcement that no very grave
results are likely But il shudders to think how
| near il stood to the verge Of one more supreme
| tragedy. The marvellous conduct OF Colonel Roose-
velt after the shooting; his commanding appeal to
| the crowd to make no attack on the man who had
shot him. his protestatons at lrst that he was not
shot at ALL and afterward that ne was not injured
enough to interfere with his speech; his calm and
reassuring manner when he actually appeared on
the platform and delivered his speech Of more than
an hour-all these were more than bravado, and
vastly more than mere demonstration Of the possi-
bilites Of his wonderful physique and magnificent
nerve If he had not gone on with the speech, but
instead had been hurried away to hospital the
country would today have been filled with persistent
reports exaggerating the gravity Of his injuries.
There is melodrama no mock-heroics, about
Roosevelt He expressed regret not for himself but
for the poor creature" whose misguided hand had
sought his life. Once before, when he was asked
il he had ever been near death, he replied:
I Perhaps never care to talk about the nearness
of DEATH There things that worse than death
and we know what they are'
To Roosevelt, Of course, the great cause OF hui
manity in which he has been enlisted from the begin
ming Of his career is the supreme concern His pres
ent campaign he regards, and rghtfully as the climax
OF all his service IN that behalf II Is not victory VIM
dcaton, glory or even life itself that means most to
him. Service Is the highest ideal Of his life and ca
reer.
The cause for which he fights would live or
without even him. but II would lose the greatest
leader Il possesses In all the world, Therefore, all
the world OF men and women who understand, who
have faith, who look toward the light are united II
rejoicing that he Is spared to his work and theirs,