Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-01-06
ROOSENELT'S ENDOWMENTS
OF INSPIRING IDEALISN
Another Man of Destiny Who Was Raised to
American Leadership When the Coun.
try Needed Him

N
memory will be able to read of Theo
dore Roosevelt's death without a sense
Of something very much like grief In
after years, when the SKI have cleared
and the country has had time to settle
down and look back TRANQUILITY at the
sources Of that inspiration which has
strengthened this generation and given
| wings to its purposes, we shall realize
how greatly this dynamic personality
contributed to the present greatness of
the Republic
Colonel Roosevelt's devotion TO his
country was not of the routine sort It
was passionate and almost religious. In
the end Roosevelt is sure to be listed
with the men Of destiny. He appeared
at time when the great political par
ties, grown shiftless and mercenary. had
permitted shrewd, selfish and powerful
minorties to concentrate national ener-
gles under their own direction. His sery-
ice in this crisis was extraordinary. He
went to battle with the forces that were
destroying the faith and courage OF the
electorate, and his leadership was like
trumpet call to the younger men in the
country.
When Woodrow Wilson entered New
Jersey politics as the candidate of a
party that had every reason to fear
modernized Republicanism, he consist
emily praised Colonel Roosevelt and. time
after time. characterized him as the inspi-
ration of the general movement which
tended to bring about a wholesome revo-
luton N the ethics of party methods and
party administration. MIR. Wilson said
more than once in his earlier addresses
that one Of his great aims was to con-
tnue and broaden the work that Roose-
welt had begun.
Because he was unselfish and devoted
Colonel Roosevelt became terror 10 the
clques. Like every other great Amer
lean statesman his concerns and his faith
were with the people rather than with
the self-constituted powers ranged above
the people.
Zoo much attention has been given 10
the picturesque side OF Rooscvelt's career
by those who try to understand the
secret Of his extraordinary popularity,
What the vast majority OF Americans
saw in Roosevelt was merely the vivid
reflection of their own dominant char
acteriStIcs--audacity, clean purposes. a
hatred Of mean things and you.bc-
damned attitude Of mind toward ,verv
group and every influence not in accord
WIKI the common desire Tor decency and
fair play.
Those who have criticized Colonel
Roosevelt for hi. restless war of words
upon the present Administration have. in
fact, missed the significance Of one Of the
subtle and moving tragedies Of American
public life.
The 'olonel's latter DAYS were sad
dened and colored heavily by personal al
fictons and intimate sorrow. lie mus,
have endured the aches that come TO
every strong man brought suddenly TO a
realization that his work is done. In
l!ne when the greatest Of all service was
to he done for his country ne found him.
self out Of action by the lneXorable iudg-
ment Of passing years and by the force
Of circumstances.
Some Of Colonel Roosevelt. yest
friends felt that not all his attacks upon
Mr.. Wilson and the international policies
Of the present Administration were al.
urely wise, They We're not. But, unlihe
much else that has been said Of the
President in these tumultuous wears,
Iolonel Roosevelt criticism was no
inspired by seldshncas or desire
deliberately 10 diScgcdit leader of The
opposition party. Roosevelt would have
been more than human if he had b.en
able to escape every sense Of bitterness
because Of his inability to participate in
one way or another al the end and climax
of the shining adventure which involved
hi, country strength and spirit.
In addition TO the spiritual isolation
tina, must have weighed upon him.
Colonel Roosevelt had to endure the loss
Of one Of his sons and the injury Of an
other. Certainly his sense of separation
and loss must have been thus intensified
The war brought him nothing but suffer
ing and disappointment. lie would have
fought if he had been permitted to go.
AS it was, he fought as best he could and
on the side that he believed to be right
almost up to the moment Of his death.
In the future We shall know exactly
why his counsel was consistently rejected
at the White House. 1t must appear to
any astute observer that his active par
ticipation in administration affairs at this
crisis was a manifest impossibility.
Roosevelt hsd the habit of dominance.
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