The Leavenworth echo. [volume] (Leavenworth, Wash.) 1904-current, 1916-02-18

homely speech which all America could
understand.
Many any curious explanations have
been offered for the popularity and in
huence OF this man, his unsurpassed
genius for holding leadership. Some
ascribe his success to his many-sided
activities and accomplishments he
makes a universal appeal, they say,
because he is at once scholor and a
statesman, a plainsman and scientist,
an explorer and a politician, an histor-
ian and hunter.
Others find the secret in mere po-
litical adroitness; they admit that
Roosevelt can always boast OF great
following, but they say that is because
he cunningly seizes upon popular is
sues and makes them his own by sheer
force OF assertion and emphasis. Still
others think he has built his leadership
upon the championship OF certain spe-
cific doctrines, such as the superiority
Of human rights to property rights.
And many trace his commanding status
to his constructive achievements-th
conservation movement, the Panama
canal and so on.
The truth is that Theodore Roosevelt
dominates public life today, as he has
for nearly twenty years, simply because
he is recognized as the American, be-
cause he is the embodiment Of the
spirit OF the nation, because in thot and
word and action he expresses the bet
ter instinct Of the average citizen.
During the year a perfectly well
meaning, but profoundly pernicious
propaganda OF paciicism has been car
ried on, financed by the millions of
such men as Andrew Carnegie and
promoted by fanaticism. Altho the
events of month after month have
shown that those engaged in the move
ment have no rational conception of
world conditions and no adequate con-
ception of the human mind, they have
pressed their campaign with consider
able success.
1t was really not difficult to gain adj
herants because everyone is agreed in
the abstract that war is cruel, wasteful,
hideous, while peace is pleasant and
helpful. Thus in all parts of the coun-
try public officials and college presi.
dents and philanthropists were able to
organize campaigns for ending the war,
for purchasing peace at the cost of JUS
tice and honor, for decrying defen-
sive preparedness.
Peace at any price actually became
an obsession among a large number of
Americans. Mr.. Bryan threw all his
great influence into the scale in behalf
OF the movement. The national adj
ministration, during the most powerful
period of its existence, joined in the
cause. For time it seemed as if this
doctrine, in some respects inspiring
but fundamentally atrocious and de-
grading, were destined to win major
ity OF the American people.
It was under these conditions that
Theodore Roosevelt began what we be-
lieve will be recognized as his greatest
work. A private citizen, he undertook
to oppose the policy of the administra-
ton, to combat the teaching of hun
dreds of influential publicists, to resist
the great sweep of sentiment which
had been created by the horrors OF the
European war and had been skillfully
fostered by pacifist theorists and dis.
loyal elements in the citizenship.
Il With the unerring instinct of the
true patriot and humanitarian he dis
. cerned that what the time needed wa:
| a reawakening of the American spirit
reassertion of the truths that peace
without justice is shameful; that the
surrender Of rights, not the assertion o
them, is the surest provocative of ag
erosion. and that America will be false
to mankind as we'll as to her great in,
| situations if she does not stand ready
to defend them.
i Whatever others may have thot, he