New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1919-02-10

He said himself that he made up his
mind that it was his duty to establish
the canal and have the debate about 1t
afterwards, which seemed to him
better than to begin with indefinite
debate and have no canal at all. This
is a view which posterity both at
home and abroad will accept and APP
prove"
Referring to Roosevelt's fight for
preparedness before the United states
entered the world war, Senator Lodge
said:
ole would have had us protest and
take action at the very beginning III
| 1914 when Belgium was invaded. he
would have had us go to war Wheh
| the murders of the Lusltanla were
perpetrated. He tried to stir the soul
and rouse the spirit Of the American
people, and despite every obstacle ne
did awaken them, so that when the
hour came, in April, 1917, large
proportion of the American people
were even then ready in spirit and in
! hope.
How telling his work has been was
proved by the confession of his coua-
try's enemies for when he died, the
only discordant note, the only harsh
words, came from the German press.
Germany knew whose voice II was
that had more powerfully than any
other called Americans to the battle
in behalf of freedom and civilization.
Because he was not permitted to
go to Europe at the head of BODY
of soldiers" said Mr.. Lodge, "Roose-
welt was denied the reward which he
would have ranked above all others,
the great prize of death il BATTLE
HE lived to see right prevail,
continued the senator. HE lived to
see civilization triumph over organ
lied barbarism and there was great
joy in his heart In all his last days
the thoughts which filled his mind
were to secure a peace which should
render Germany forever harmless and
advance the cause of ordered freedom
in every land and among every race
This occupied MIN to the exclusion of
everything else except what he called
and what we like to call American
ISM There was 40 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 a great patriot grea
man; above all, q great American. His
country was the ruling, mastering
passion of his life, from the beginning
even unto the end.
What a 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 underrate
because he set SO much greater store
upon the moral qualities which We
bring together under the single word
'chara cter.
Appraising Theodore Roosevelt's
utilities, Mr.. Lodge said il part:
He had powerful, We1l-trained
ever active mind. He thought clearly
Independently, and with originality
and ina ginatiol. These great gifts
were sustained by an extraQrdinary
power Of acquisition, Joined to a
greater quickncss of apprehension, a
greater swiftness in Selling upon the
essence of q question, than ! have
ever happened to see in any other
man.
He had q capacity for concentra-
ton which enabled him to read with
remarkable rapidity anything which
He knew and held details always
at his command but he was never
mastered by them. He never failed
to see the forest on account of the
trees or the city on account of the
houses.
I'm speaking as in writing, he was
always full of force aGd vigor.
"He had a large capacity fer ad-
ministration, clearness Of vision,
promptness in decision and thor
ough apprehension of what CONSTITUTE
ed efficient organization.
1.-THE first requisite Of leadership is
to lead and that ability Theodore
Roosevelt possessed in full measure.
His instinct was always 20 say come
rather than go and he had the talent
of command.
HE also had the rare gift of ar
resting attention sharply and suddenly
a very precious attribute,
|. Roosevelt was always advancing
always struggling to make things bet
ter, to carry some much-needed re-
form, and help humanity to a larger
chance. TO fairer condition, to a
happier life. Moreover, he looked al
ways for an ethical question. He was
at his best when he was fighting the
battle Of right against wrong.
THE criticism most commonly made
upon Theodore Roosevelt vas that he
was impulSive and impetuous. that he
acted without thinking. He would
have been the last to claim nfallibli-
tN. His head did not turn when fame
came to him and chOruses Of ad-
miration sounded in his ears, for he
was neither vain nor credulous. He
knew that he made mistakes and
cd n y 10 he
mistakes, and to correct them or put
them behind him when satisfied they
were such. But he never wasted time
in