Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1917-05-10
MAY 10, 1917
The Roosevelt of Today

Col Roosevet's patriotic ambition to raise an
army OF volunteers for service in France has APP
parenty been defeated by action of the senate and
house conferees but the thrill which Roosevelt has
sent throughout the nation has not been fruitess.
He has stirred the blood and fired the imagination
BY an appeal to the pure motive Of putting the
Stars and Stripes the west front to show the
world and the straining French nation that Amer
lea has not forgotten Lafayette and its heritage OF
freedom
RooseveIts speeches on this subject have been of
extraordinary interest. Not the least notable part
has been the declaration of faith in he loyalty Of
Americans with German blood in their veins. 1t Is
worth remembering here as in other American com
muuities that in Chicago on April q, the Rough
Rider said;
81 speak as a man who himself has German blood
in his veins The American the future will have In
veins the blood Of many different natonalties ana
he win not be American at all unless he 10 loyal to
tho principle Of the American of the past who opposed
any nationality IL that nationality was foe to his
country and TO humanity 5 "
have asked most earnestly hope that il will have as
large proportion possible Of Americans who are
IN whole or, Hike myself in part Of German blood
q THE other day was with the head of the war col
iege at Washington General Kuhn He Is Of pure Ger
man blood. his father and his mother beng norn IN
IT would welcome the chance, ii I am allowed to-
ra1e division, to serve with that division under him
at the front; and would ask no favor OF any KIND
save thus to serve with him and TO be judged on my
merits by him for my service.
@In similar fashion, would gladly serve under Gen
er Barry who is with you here in Chicago, and who
is 81 irish parentage; under General Pershing or
OF course with deep enthusiasm under my old friend
and commander, General Leonard Wood, who. like
Pershng Is OF revolutionary stock; or under any
other men of the same type. -
- Each Of the men have named has held my COM
nlaalnr vhA emit and II w0u
Ing at the close of my active career than the
chance to under OF them under any other
They differ ia blood and in creed among them
selves and from me. But they and are Americans
and nothing else Our lives are actuated by the same
principles OF honor and our undivided loyalty Is given
10 the same flag
The defeat OF Rooseyelts plan is to lie regretted.
The circumstances under which it is beaten strongly
silgest that the Democratic leaders in Washington
are thinking partly of politics when they refuse to
allow the plan to gosthrough. They probably fore
see the tremendous ascendaney which Roosevelt
Mpuld gain on the affections Of the American people
In his Chicago speech Roosevelt said that he
would 90 to France as a second lieutenant How
ever as has been suggested by military crtics Il Isl
probable that he would 20 with the rank of
hrigadergeneral or enlargement, but not in com
1naDd OF the four divisions That II is coniectured.
would be left to an American officer with more mill
fary training than the colonel
Roosevelt has been two years ahead Of most Of the
rest Of the country in MS attitude toward the war,
Long before The administration could make up IFS
mind on military training. he was for the universal
service plan and said 80 in no uncertain terms. TO
day he stands almost as the personifcation Of the
American patriotic idea.
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