Evening star., 1916-03-05

and unwayerinG advocacy of an ade-
0uate national preparedness-agains
war if NAV be, for war if must be. In
the reinforcement and support of this
central theme Mr.. Roosevelt reaches
his own highest point of vlgor ana YER
satility In striking outline he sketches
the present world turmoil. Out OF tnls
he draws the warning that where there
is sw ord of offense there must De also
the sword of defense. Belgium ana
Armenia. at this moment, are the
swordless nations set upon by the
ready German and Turk. Going back
into history where he is so much at
home Mr. Roosevelt points out that the
rule for an advancing civilization has
always been the readiness to hold by
arms what it has gained in progress;
otherwise. this civilization has invaria-
bly, slipped back toward the status OF
the conquering barbarian. 1t is at this
point that the writer holds up the
professional pacifiSt to rebuke for MS
ignorance and to ridicule for his senti-
mentality. Along the course of this
discussion of preparedness Mr.. Roose-
welt sets out in concrete terms the
finely robust essentials of pure Amer
icanism. 1t is here that he takes occa- :
sion to give ruthless condemnation
of every brand of the hyphenated
American. Surrounding and permeat-
ing this discussion like an atmosphere
is an open and unqualified diSapproVal
of the present foreign policy of the
United States. The disapproval of this
policy takes on all the qualities of at
tack. At times ii is ferocious, brutal,
open assault. Again it thunders like
the Jehovah of the Hebrews. Here the
psalmist sings. The sound of laughter
and of playing children has beeh
stilled'-this is in respect to the afro
cities in Mexico And there. with ridi-
cule as his weapon he pierces every
weak spot in this policy, opening it up
to laughter that is all condemnation.
Outrageously frank? Shockingly per-
lomatic sense? 1t may be all of these
But it is good. The facts are here to
be tested The opinions are for ones
taking or leaving. To read it is like
denly shocks all of ones currents in
ward and then drives them pounding
toward the surface in a splendid, re-
generating flood.
THEODORE ROOSEVELT. The Logic
of His Career. By Charles C. Wash
burn Boston: Houghton-M -Mifflin
Company.
Politician" This is the nethermost
depth of Objurgation to which the
critics consign Mr.. Roosevelt in their
most devastating moods. As a matter
of course, this commentary gathers it's
dire meaning out of the implication
that politics is, at best, but shady
business. carried on by self-seeking
and not overscrupulous promoters.
The purpose of Mr.. Washburn's inti-
mate Geographic study of Mr.. Roosevelt
is. primarily, to prove that the domi-
mating force in the life of Theodore
Roosevelt has been, from his young
manhood up, the urge of service. of
service directed in it's course and de-
fined in its character by the vision of
national righteousness. Incidental to
this prime purpose. the author aims,
also, to demonstrate the fact that pub
lie Office has been looked upon by Mr..
Roosevelt throughout this period as
merely the instrument of such service,
as the means by which it takes on au-
sembled the salient facts of Mr.. Rcose-
velt's public career, Mr.. Washburn Of
fers them as evidence in this case, as
proof in support Of his claim. From the
records placed in review here, one is
led to recall that more than once Mr..
Roosevelt voluntarily left the highway
of political advancement to enter some
byway of individual pursuit that no.
where along its course offered any OF
the rewards of political favor. This
self-seeking. When. finally, Mr.. Roose-
welt was projected into the presidency,
this was brought about not upon his
own initiative but thrc-,-h the auto
matte effect of an unforeseen and ca
lamitous event AS President he was
Immediately confronted with a most
formidable complex of changed and
changing conditions. The Spanish war
had brought new territory to the
United States. and with this strange
people to be protected and tutored to
the ways of self-government. Out of
this event an expanded and highly SEN
sitized international situation had
opened. An immediate revival of the
question of military preparedness
against foreign intrusion sprang nat
urally to the front. The Monore doc
trine passed speedily from its academic
and rhetorical considerations and uses
into a practical living issue. Mean
while, within the United States itself,
capital and labor were assuming an
attitude toward each other that de-
manded prompt working basis of set
tlement. The trusts were becoming
troublesome The tariff was pressing.
The financial system itself was calling
for reorganization Most obviously.
there was a mans job at the White
House.
Naturally Mr.. Washburn makes pass
ing comment ON the most notable of the
Official acts of Mr.. Roosevelt. 1t will be
recalled. however, that the purpose of
Ille STUDY le not prove Wnetner the
President did or did not settle any of
these problems. 1t is not any part OF
its aim to demonstrate whether he did
or did not attack these questions with
sagacity and efficiency, whether he did
or did not neglect or evade vital mat
ters for those of slighter account Nor
does Mr.. Washburn make any claim
that the prodigious energy, the amaz-
ing activity. of Mr.. Roosevelt was not
expended at times unwisely, even fool
fshly- What he does maintain is that
the evidence submitted here sustains
his contention that Mr. Roosevelt from
the opening of his public career up to
the present has stood, unalterably, as
champion of the doctrine of equal op-
portunity for all men. irrespective OF
any external accident of race, creed or
class; that this doctrine, moreover, has
formed the groundwork of his vision of
national social righteousness: that ii has
inspired his public acts. and that this
unswerying attitude has produced the
public sentiment which alone Is re-
The study is an impressive one. as
striking in it's method and treatment
as IT is important In its deductions.
NOTES OF BUSY LIFE. By Joseph
Benson Foraker. Illustrated. Gin
cinnati: Stewart & Kidd Company.
All of the salient points in the politi-
cal history of the state OF Ohio for the
past fifty years and of the United
States itself for the same period are
included in these two big volumes OF
personal recoIlections by Mr.. Foraker
From the close of the civil war up
to the wear 1914 Mr. Foraker was zc.