The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1919-02-10
Fitting Tribute Paid
!. 10 Memory Of
Col. Roosevelt
CONTINUED from Page IL

IciVHizdtiou triumph over ORGANIZED
barbarism, and there was great 10,
in his heart. In all his last days thu
thought which filed his mind were
to secure q peace which should rem
der Germany forever harmless and
advance the cause of ordered freedom
in every land and among every race
This occupied him to the exclusion
OF everything else except what he
called and what we like to call Amer
icanism. There was no hour down to
the end when he would not turn aside
from everything else to preach the
doctrine of Americanism, of the prin.
ciples and the faith upon which Am.
erican government rested and which
all true Americans should wear In
their heart of hearts.
He was great patriot, q great
man; above all, a great American.
His country was the ruling, mastering
passion of his life, from the begin
ming even unto the end.
What man was is ever more i'm
portant than what he did. Theodore
Roosevelt always believed that char
acter was Of greater worth and mo-
ment than anything else. He pos
sessed abilities of the first order,
which he was disposed to under-rate
because he set so much greater store
upon the moral qualities which we
bring together under the single word
character"
Appraising Theodore Roosevelt's
abilities, Mr.. Lodge said in part:
HE had powerful, well-trained,
ever active mind. He thought clear
~, independently, and with originate
ty and imagination. These great
gifts were sustained by an extraordi-
nary power of acquisition, Joined to
a greater quickness Of apprehension,
q greater swiftness in Selling upon
the essence Of a question, than II
have ever happened to see in any
other man.
HE had capacity for concentra.
ion which enabled him to read with
remarkable rapidity anything which
le took up.
HE knew and held details always
It his command, but he was never
by them. He never failed
o see the forest on account of the
rees or the city on account Of the
louses.
I'm speaking as in writing, he was
ways full Of force and vigor.
He had large capacity for ad-
clearness of vision,
romptness in decision, and a thor
ugh apprehension Of what consti- s
tied efficient organization.
"The first requisite of leadership Is {
lead, and that ability Theodore |
oosevelt possessed in full measure. c
is instinct was always to say come l
ltber than go and he had the talent {
command. {
"He also had the rare gift of ar l.
sting attention sharply and sud- t
,nly, a very precious attribute.
Roosevelt was always advancing. h
ways struggling to make things bet L
r, to carry some much-needed re.
rm, and help humanity to large d
lance, to fairer condition, to a p
lppier life. Moreover, he looked e.
ways for a ethical question. He Il
rs at his best when he was fighting n
g battle of right against wrong. h
The criticism most commonly jc
ade upon Theodore Roosevelt was Il
at he was impulsive and impetuous.
at he acted without thinking. He r.;
'uld have been the last to- claim J
Fallibility. His head did not turn
len fame came to him and choruses
admiration sounded in his ears.
ne was neither vain nor crudu-
is, He knew that he made mis-
xes and never hesitated to admit
EN- to be mistakes, and to correct
I'm or put them behind him when
Listed they were such. But he |
YER wasted time in mourning, ex. !.
dning or vainly regretting them. |,
isNalso true that the middle wayl +
not attract him, He was ant to |.
far both in praise and censure !.
hough nobody could analyze quail. /
IS and balance them Justly in |;
cling men better than he. !!
He spoke out with the most nm. Il
trained franlSness at all times and Il
all companies. L
When he had reached his conclu- |;
he acted quickly and drove hard Is
his object and this it was, probably Il
Oh gave an impression that he act. I:
sometimes hastily and thought. Is
NY which was complete misap- IS
hension saf the man ma. -, lt