Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-06-27
Giving the Colonel His Due

LNXCEPT in those few thick -and-thn
- newspapers which have sworn by
Colonel Roosevelt and accepted his every
word as their political inspiration, it has
become the fashion lately to ignore the
fiery prophet Of Sycamore Hill in the public
prints In fact, with the exception noted
there has been strange silence almost
thunders of it--concerning his Kansas City
Star editorial fulmnations against the
way in which the war is being run. This
is a new experience in the career of the
Colonel. So that when an editorial utter
ance like the following from the New
York Tribune raises it's voice without pre-
vious warning it seems worth reprlnting
so here il is. to be taken for what the
reader himself thinks it worth:
The Impatience OF Theodore Roosevelt
There Is certain disposition to criti-
ciZe Theodore Roosevelt for what is termed
his ultra views regarding the war. II is
not all captious criticism. Some of 1t Is
thoughtful and not unfriendly, with the
idea that he has taken an extreme posi-
tion. that he has been impatient and fault
finding. Much of the picture is true He
has been impatient He has taken what
may be called an ultra position. 1t Is true
that he has found fault
But we should like to point out one very
distinct fact. Theodore Roosevelt from
the first day we entered the war has stood
unreservedly and wholeheartedly for throw
ing the complete strength of the nation into
the war. For that matter he held this
position, preached this doctrine long before
we entered the war, He preached the draft.
he preached preparation. he preached the
sending Of the largest possible army
to France-from the beginning. Now,
the fact wish to point out is
that the country is not growing away
from Theodore Roosevelts position. 1t Is
growing toward it. 1t has been actually
moving toward it of late very rapidly
This is true not merely of the great mass
of the people, but of their representatives
at Washington, and of greater number of
newspapers that were lukewarm, and per-
haps also of some members of the Cabinet
and of the President himself. Practically the
whole nation now is unreservedly for
throwing the whole strength Of the nation
to the side of the Allies.
This was not true year ago today
although had then been officially at
war with Germany for more than two
months. 1t not true a full six months
ago We had almost said that It was not
true in the fullest sense, three months ago
Today the whole nation stands where
Theodore Roosevelt stood one year ago,
and two years ago, and three years ago
in point of fact ever since the day when
by the sinking of the Lusitania Germany
declared itself an outlaw and the enemy Of
civilization.
We do not mean to suggest that this
overwhelming national sentiment now is the
result Of Theodore Roosevelts impassioned
propaganda. We do not mean to say that
he was it's sole leader. But we do wish to
say that he was very distinctly a leader
| "a leader in the highest and best sense-a
man who saw. far ahead of many others,
| what ought to be and what must be, and
then threw his whole heart and soul into
| bringing nation and many reluctant
| minds, to his point Of view.
| It would be absurd to suggest that all
| of the reluctant-mnded have come to
Theodore Roosevet's position because of has
arguments or because of sympathy with
| him or his views. But 1t lis not beyond
the bounds of probability that many have
| come to unqualified adherence, unlimited
| adhesion. to the Allied cause because OF
his great weight with the people and be,
| cause of the fact 1t daily became
| 10 see this war with the same eyes, the
same head and the same heart as Theo'
| dore Roosevelt
| We repeat: He may have been mpa
| tient; he may have found fault But we
| think that most Americans of whatever
| party color. II they now have any re.
| grets whatever. have these because W,
| could not earlier have come nearer to the
| ideal set up a year, or two years. or three
| year ago by Theodore Roosevelt If this
| is not one Of the highest standards OF
| leadership we do not understand the
meaning of the term.
| No xvouder Ihe nj ht r.f INST fla .TJ,,n~a