New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-06-07
THE THIRD CRISIS
Washington, Lincoln, Roosevelt Speech
That Will Not Be Made at Chicago.

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
SIR Permit me to suggest the text OF
nominating speech appropriate for delivery
before the delegates of the Republican party
at Chicago II reads thus:
Gentlemen Of the Conventions:
Three times since the American nation
won its dependence it has faced crisis des-
tined TO influence its course and affect
IS people through future generations. On
each Of those three occasions it has pos
sessed within the body Of It's citizenship a
man who, because Of his character, beliefs,
acts and previous training, has been IN
usually fitted for the task Of leadership. On
two OF those occasions the one so qualified
was chosen by his fellow men, and history
has written its judgment of their choice.
The third Of those critical periods confronts
Us now.
after the colonies had gained their free
dom and while they stood, hesitant and in
danger amid a tumult Of conflicting opinions
about their proper future course, almost
desparng effort was made to draw a chart
which should guide them Alright in their pc
lit!cal affairs, and TO select man into whose
keeping the carly care Of their enterprise
might most wisely be given. The assembled
representatives. Of the colonies drew up their
chart of political government under the d-
rection of an individual who had already
proved himself by character, word and deed,
and him also they called as their first leader.
They chose George Washington. SO ter
minated the first crisis.
"The second was a moral and economic
crisis, and happened some seventy years
later. BY the year 1860 the country stretched
fron ocean to ocean, but it was not yet a
nation. Sectionaism and weakening jea-
ousies swayed its population, and millions
of its inhabitants were chattels TO be bought
and sold. real freedom and nationality
could not develop under those conditions,
and conflict of some sort to abate those con-
ditonS had always been inevitable. When
a. last IT was seen to be at hand, and the
thoughts of the people turned TO the matter
of leadership for the days just ahead, they
looked about them for some man who had
already shown that prominent clearness of
vision, sobriety of judgment and strength of
character so plainly necessary. He was
there. They chose Abraham Lincoln. So
ended the second crisis.
"Fifty-six years have passed since then,
and now we in our turn stand face 10 face
Win inc lHIiu anu perhaps the greatest crlSlo
Of American history. Still further stretch
our dominions. The pioneers and pioneer
conditions of the days of Washington and
Lincoln are gone. We pass through our con-
tinental possessions in four days. The oceans
have become lakes The eagles are our COM
panons. The voice of man carries across the
waters The nations of the earth no longer
remote from each other, or sufficient unto
themselves, are as members of one household,
and their daily affairs are of intimate CON
Germ TO one another henceforth.
Here in America, amid crisis which is
alike political, moral and economic, we see
the birth Of new and finer spirit Our peo-
pie are considering their own history, with
intent to profit by that study. We see the
things we ought not to have done, and the
things we might have done. Above all else,
we see the duties we are resolved to per-
form hereafter, in order that we may advance
with undivided ranks, in a spirit of common
welfare and for the welfare of the world
And now, as this multitude of a hundred
million people stands at last on the threshold
of real nationality, confronted by the ire
mendous internal and external problems at
tendant on that mighty transformation, we
who are gathered here bear a responsibility
such as was borne by those who chose Wash
ington and Lincoln. We seek him who. by
virtue of character. foresight, experience and
deeds, stands as the one American most fit /
for leadership in the sober days to come
Again he is among US. mean Roosevelt.
So shall we solve the third crisis"
! am quite confident no such address will.
&c delivered, and equally confident it would
not be understood if it were delivered. d. |
New York, June 4, 1916.