New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-04-23

near you in Albany in order to facili-
, tate intercourse and for the purpose of
supplying general information about
| the conditions of the state; and, finally,
that while in the end, as an honest
man, you would have to act on your
best judgment and in the light Of your
oath, YOU would seek with him TO keep
the party united and the organization
intact.
"Of course, as you have seen. have
thrown myself into this cause with all
my heart and soul because ! believe
in it. The Governors taunt that | am
opposed to him because ] was inter
ested' in legislation which he prevented
is dishonest talk. | never was other
wise interested in legislation at Al
bany than | am in the Cars peace
proposals and the future of the Phil
ippines, but | believe in you and | be-
lieve in Platt, and, knowing you both
pretty closely, believe that the spirit
which animates you both will render
the Republican party as invincible two
wears from now as it is going TO be in
this election.
81 shall not conceal from YOU the
fact that | have one distinct question
mark in mind. Please do not feel an
noyed with me if | do a little preach
ing. The Senator has AGED. to some
extent at least, on my judgment and
advice sufficiently 10 make me feel
anxious about the way things turn out
hereafter. Even in my short period Of
observation ! have seen so many able
men who have brought themselves for
ward to important and powerful posi-
I tions finally fall down and wander off
into political retirement that | have
looked into the cause of IT, and have
always found substantially the same
state of facts. They have been brought
forward by the organization, promoted
| by the organization, sustained by the
organization, developed by the organl-
cation. until the idea became virtually
fixed in their minds that they were the
whole thing. This notion. first in
, spired by mugwump fattery and then
+ expanded by their own ambitions, has
carried them into opposition with Sem
ator Platt and into attempts to estab-
lish new machines of their own. Then
came the end. and in no case has their
collapse been due to any particular ef-
fort on the part of Senator Platt 70
turn them back. He has made no such
effort in Blacks case.
"They have collapsed solely because
they allowed themselves TO get out OF
Joint with that general party sentiment
which has gradually centred around
Platt as a leader, and which has &C
quired such strength under mis- leader
ship as to make departures under new
ambitions impracucable.
IL want you, my dear Roosevelt 70
90 on and on. You are rare good
fellow, and you have got the American
spirit which, with the multitude, !
greatly admire. You are dead honest,
and | like that, too, but IN the great
office to which you are being so GER
tainly called you have got to remem-
Der that nobody Is ever surely right
and nobody else ever absolute y wrong.
You have got TO remember that COM
promise and adjustment are unfall-
ingly necessary to all human progress.
If YOU laugh at my commonplace. you
will at least be assured that they are
well meant.
"The thing | fear is that these plaus-
ible and poisonous Mugwumps VIII at
some time or other involve yOu in some
of their good government entangle-
ments. intended, as they always are, to
help the Democratic party and 10 ere
ate dishonest prejudice against decent
Republicans. and that the first thing
we know there will be hitch. II ever
a man will have need Of patience, tact
and good judgment il will be you when
YOU are Governor. for everybody IS eN-
Meeting so much Of you and expecting
so many impossible things and from
such conflicting points Of view.
"Now, write me that YOU are not Of
Tended with me for sending you this
homily. and remember that it come,
from friendship which you will hnd
to be reasonably disinterested and
earnestly loyal.
"P. 5. The Senator thinks that you
should meet him at the Republican
State Committee rooms IN the FhIh
Avenue Hotel"
Colonel Roosevelt's answer 70