New-York tribune., 1919-03-12

he recognizes their supremacy and accords
his chief respect to those who meet them.
Moreover, when these claims are presented
in emphatic and urgent terms he seldom
fails TO respond TO them. We witnessed
such response q large scale at the be-
ginning of this war. With the invasion of
Belgium the moral issue suddenly became
unmistakable; there could be no reasonable
doubt as to it's character. The British peo-
pie here and beyond the seas recognized
this, and spontaneously and Immediately
ranged themselves and all they possessed
on the side of the moral law.
On similar grounds the American people
can make similar claim. Their traditional
detachment from European affairs made it
less easy for them to recognize at once the
crucial character of the situation which
had arisen here. But when this became
clear 10 them their reaction was in nowise
different from ours.
And then a great thing happened. Deep
called to deep, we and our kinsmen met on
the moral level, and we became conscious
that in the essential things of life no diff
ferences divide us, that with regard to them
we think and feel they do, that our
fundamental aims and aspirations and
ideals identical with theirs 1t is not
overstating the case to say that this may
prove, to be by far the most important out
come of this war
Now, in the process which led up TO this re-
suit it was given to Theodore Roosevelt to
play leading part He knew his fell
ow-countrymen, and that when once their
attention was aroused they would feel as he
felt and act as he would have them act
He was their prophet in the strctest sense
of the word-one who interpreted to them
the secrets of their hearts and revealed to
them principles already implicit there. He
spent himself in the efforts which he made,
he sacrificed his life for the cause as truly
as if he had laid it down on the battle
field But before he died he had accom-
plshed his allotted task. He had passed
on to his fellow -countrymen the message he
had received and had heard them respond
ing to it in conclusive terms Of overwhelm-
ing power.
1t is small wonder that they should feel
impelled to pay high tribute to his memory
1t is equally small wonder that this tribute
should be reechocd here in the Motherand
of the Anglo-Saxon race.
We English are not intellectual idcalists.
Through long experience in self-govern-
ment we have learned that most practical
problems far too complex and intricate
TO admit Of theoretical solutions SO.
though we like listening to idealists and
discussing their views. when confronted
with a concrete situation We are disposed
to deal with it by instructive rather than
by intellectual methods. But we are at
heart moral idcalsts. The instinct on
which we ultimately depend is the moral
instinct In the long run it is men
of character who command our confidence
and mould our opinion II Is on their judg-
ment and guidance that we finally depend.
Sincere, Straightforward, single minded
men, who believe in goodness and in its
ultimate victory and are not afraid to pro-
claim and act upon their belief, and if nee
cssary, to face opposition and to incur op-
probrium in its behalf
Such man was Theodore Roosevelt. In
our common admiration for his life and
character we and our American kinsmen re
veal ourselves to one another and become
conscious of our essential affinity He has
contributed no small share TO the movement
for reunion between us, too long delayed
by past arrangements and present preju-
dices and misunderstanding. 1t is alto
gether fitting that we should remember with
thankfulness and with all honor one to
whom it was given by God to render such
notable service to his fellow men
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