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

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lshoulder TO shoulder, rich and poor.
Jew and Gentle, newcomer and ma
/ tive-born, we must serve the Republic
in war and in peace, in fair weather
and in storm. He saw in this COM
munity of service, in this equality of
| obligation, the flame to- fuse the di-
verse elements in our population into
! one homogeneous mass of Americans,
| the up-building of a spirit of national
| Eolida rity, and the eSta blishment of
! better understanding between the
groups and classes of our people. He
saw in 1t. also, something of that
/ brotherhood of man which comes
through community of effort and pur-
pose, and that better appreciation of
| each other which comes from closer
| association, especially when this assoc
citation is for a common purpose, and
that purpose lofty one, the defense
| of our country.
In Theodore Roosevelt's opinion no
man who refuses service to the limit
of his ability, whether in war or peace,
is fit to be a citizen.
| knowing our men will always go to
war for what they believe to be right.
| and that when they refuse, we shall
cease to be a Nation, and realizing
that our women will send them and
| despise them if they do not go, and
| that the better trained they are the
fewer will die,-he advocated Univer-
sal Training for National Service,
training on rational lines such as the
Swiss or Australian. He realized that
it was a false humanity indeed it was
brutal inhumanity not to give the men
who are to fight our battles, a sport
ing chance. He saw the hideous I'M
Preparedness of this country as the
war crept upon US, and strove to cor
rect it by voice and pen, for he knew
that not to prepare meant thousands
of unnecessary dead. Having been in
war he realized how great the losses
must be where the men. and especially
the officers are unprepared and where
there is any shortage in the machines
and weapons with which man fights
on the ground. in the air, on the sea
or beneath its surface.
Speak softly but carry a big stick
with him meant~to be Just and fair
but be ready to meet the forces of
wrong with the disciplined strength of
right. He had little patience with
| those adroit in the use of words, and
skilled in the building of phrases, but
lacking the concrete courage to meet
issues when national honor, the lives
of our people, and the best interests
of humanity and civilization demanded
action.
1t was impossible for him to be
neutral in the face of wrong. He be-
ieved in a free press, free speech and
pitiless publicity and understood that
a Democracy resenting criticism,
smothering the press and hampering
publicity, is Democracy in danger if
not a Democracy dying.
His love of the forests and noun
tains, and the knowledge that came to
| him thru extensive travel in our own
country brought to his attention the
necessity of conservation of our ma
| tional forests, which were being ruth
| lessly wasted in many places. Under
| his wise direction, rational conserva-
| ton became a part of our national
| policy. Looking to the future, and
to an equitable distribution of our
| 10 nd for n
| vigorous policy with reference to the
| reservation of water-pover sites and
the reclamation of desert areas, that
| they may be ready fJr the coming
millions.
! The establishment of the depart
ment of commerce and labor and other
| far-seeing acts too numerous to mem
ton, but all constructive, were a part
of his accomplishments.
He dreamed dreams and saw visions,
fhe had strong likes and strong dis
likes, he worked hard, played hard.
put his soul into whatever he was
doing.
A voyage of discovery in the Brazil
ian jungle, hunt in Africa, were rest
periods. An omniverous reader, he
was never without his favorite au-
thors even in the jungle or on the
hunt. He loved bout with the broad
| swords, a hard run, a climb over
rough and dangerous places, Oh a good
game, all the sports of a healthy
strong hearted man. He loved the
wild places of the world, the birds, the
animals, and understood them as few
do. He saw the Creator in nature.
He loved children, loved to be with
| Them, adored to have them with him
on walks, trying always to make them
love the open and understand the
things they saw. He saw and appre-
ciated the efforts of those about him,
10 IL.
encouragement for all who tried. He
believed in the dignity of labor and
that the dignity came not so much
from the character of the work as
from the way in which twas done.
A brave soldier, he was often almost
| reckless of his own safety, but most
careful of his men. Always subordinate
and loyal, yet he understand the dis
tinction between subordination and
servility. His men loved him and he
could instill the best of all discipline,
that which is founded on respect and
confidence. When the situation re-
quired. he stood ready for the extreme
sacrifice. On these occasions his
words were come on, not go.
A many-sided man. but four-quare
to ell the world-Christian gentleman n.
author, student, lover of nature, wise
statesman. soldier, builder of stand
ards, writer OF history. scholar; man
with a clean soul and dauntless spirit,
whose watchword was Duty and whose
life was one of service for God, for
country and the right. Such was
Theodore Roosevelt. He was the most
inspiring and hence the most dominant
figure in American life since Abraham
Lincoln.
With him. no man could be part
American and something else. He
must be all American. Along the
| fighting line in France and Flanders,
there were more inquiries concerning
his opinion, his views. his proba BILE
line of action than concerning all
| other Americans combined. They
saw in him an intense American, but
also citizen OF the world. one who
, loved justice, whose sympathies were
not limited by nationality OF creed.