The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-02-10

over main-traveled roads nor wa he
ever commonplace. Cold and POM
pous formalities would be unsuited to
him who was devoid of affectation,
who was never self-conscious, and to
whom posturing to draw the public
gaze seemed not only repellant but
vulgar. In his spirit of devotion to
truths simplicity, / shall try-to speak
of him today.
Refused Life of Ease.
HE lacked the spur of necessity
to prick the sides of his intent Theo-
dore Roosevelt put behind him temp
tation to a life Of sports and pleasure,
to lettered ease, to an amateurs ca
reer in one of the fine arts, perhaps
to a money-making business.
How he refused to tread the pleas
ant paths that opened to him on all
sides. and took the rough roads of toll
and action. his life discloses.
In the Panama canal, he let the
most enduring, as it was the most
visible, monument of his administra-
ton. Much criticised at the moment
for his action i'll regard to it, which
time since then has justified and
fact remains that the canal is there.
Was for Preparedness.
He would have had us protest and
take action in 1914, when Belgium was
invaded. He would have had us to
war when the murders of the Lusi-
stir the soul and rouse the spirit of
the American people, and despite
every obstacle he did awaken them, SO
that when the hour came, in April,
1917, a large proportion of the Ameri-
can people were even then ready in
spirit and hope.
How telling his work has been
proved by the confession of his coun-
try's enemies, for when he died, the
only discordant note, the only harsh
dSs=r
Germany knew whose voice it was
that had more powerfully than any
other called Americans to the battle
in behalf of freedom and civiliza ton"
Because he was not permitted to
go to Europe at the head of a body
of soldiers, he was denied the reward
which he would have ranked above all
others, the great prize of death in
battle.
He lived to see right prevail" con-
tinued the senator. He lived to see
civilization triumph over organized
barbarfsm, 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 ad-
vance 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 Americanisn.
when he would not turn aside from
everything else to preach the doctrine
OF Americanism, of the principles and
the faith upon which American gov
eminent rested, and which all true
Americans should wear in their heart
of hearts.
Great American, Above All.
HE was a great patriot. a great
man; above all, a great American His
country was the ruling, mastering pas
sion of his life. from the beginning
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 tbs first order, which
| he was disposed to under-rate, because
! he set so much greater store upon the
| n.~-al qualities which we bring to-
| gether under the single word char
| acter.'
| He had a powerful, well-trained,
ever-active n4'nd. He thought clearly.
| nd-penuent-y, and with originality
ard imagination. These great lifts
were sustained by all extraCs binary
power of &C .uisition, Joined to a
greater quickness of apprehension, a
greater swiftness in Selling upon the
| essence of a question, than have
| ever happened to see in any other
man.
He had a capacity for concentra-
| ton which enabled him to read with
remarkable rapidity anything which
| he took up.
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.
Vigor in Speaking and Writing.
I'm speaking as in writing, he was
always full of force and vigor.
He had a large capacity for admin
| istration, clearness of vision, prompt
| ness in decision, and a thoro appre-
| hension of what constituted efficient
| organization.
| 1.-The first requisite of leadership is
to lead, and that ability Theodore
| Roosevelt possessed in full measure.
His instinct was always to say come
krather 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 larger
chance. to fairer condition, to a hap
| pier life. Moreover, he looked always
for an ethical question. He was at
| his best when he was fighting the bat
| tie of right against wrong.
The criticism most commonly made
| upon Theodore Roosevelt was that he
was impulsive nd impetuous, that he
acted without thinking. He would
| have been the last to claim infallibil-
| ity. His head did not turn when fame
| came to him and choruses of admira-
| ton sounded in his ears, he was
neither vain nor credulous. He knew
| that he made mistakes and never hes
| itated to admit them to be mistakes.
and to correct them or put them be-
hind him when satisfied they were
| such. But he never wasted time in
| mourning, explaining or vainly regret
ting them 1t is also true that the
| middle way did not attract him. He
was apt to go far, both in praise and
| censure, altho nobody could analyze
qualities and balance them justly in