Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1919-01-09
ROOSEVELT DEAD


Even while we are thinking the thoughts
that Theodore Roosevelt has taught us in
period demanding the highest patriotism
and the supreme sacrifice we are shocked
by the words He is dead" At first we
are moved to hope it is not so; that the
telegraph has played a trick upon our
credulity. Yet the lapse of short time
confirms the startling intelligence.
1t will bother many of us for a long
time to come to think of Theodore Roose-
welt as having passed into the great be-
yond. He entered so thoroughly and so
vigorously, almost omnpresenty as we'll
as so humanity. into national life
and activities for so many decades that it
will be impossible for us soon to treat
him as dead Even though gone from us
hs will ys speak for a considerable time
The Distinguishing characteristic Of
Theodore Roosevelt was his intense en-
thusasA. bubbling-over patriotism The
words he uttered in a national cause. COM
plying smile as mere lip service. 1t
was impossible to question the patriotism
Of Roosevelt. You may suspect the sim
cerity of man who merely talks loyalty
10 country. A man who strives to serve
his country on the battlefield himself and
who in addition encourages four sons to
fight for their country's flag silences the
tongue of suspicion.
We instinctively think of Theodore
Roosevelt as a fighter. This is true
whether we picture him in the halls of
legislation at Albany as a young man
fehtinS powerful interests; or champion
!. presidency of the United States as he
Samponcd Edmunds in 1884; or as police
missioner of New York fighting the
hes of vice and corruption and
Pe: or as vigorous rough rider on the
Erican plains, or as volunteer fight
in the cause of freedom of Cuba in
or as assistant secretary of the navy
ggling for a greater naval armament
fAIleIICd, VI do SOHcihoI VI Tic 6iSae
Dre State fighting the Platt political
hine in his own way; or as an I'M
ling candidate fighting against the eff
It of Plat and Quay to shelve him po-
IDEALLY by naming him for vce-president
bf the United States in 1900; or as chief
magistrate of this great nation shortly
after as a result of the assassn's bullet
that added President Mckinley to our
for the rights of shippers against trans
portation extortion: for the rights Of con-
sumers agar st dishonest trusts as COM
pared with hat he called good trusts" /;
for the rights of the whole American peo-
pie to have coal as fuel; for the great
cause of conservation of national re-
sources; for good government In an al
| most endless number of ways; for the
realization of the dream of centuries in
the union of the waters of the Atlantic
and Pacific via the Panama canal: for
right Of Americans to enforce the Monroe
| doctrine as against even the power Kali
| ser OF 1tTHldiy do III tHe cdsc VI Ncne-
zuela; for the political rights Of the peo-
pie in real self-government as in 1912: for
\ che participation of America in the war in
behalf OF Belgium as early as 1914: for a
real victory over Germany that would be
crushing and therefore permanent; and
finally for a league Of nations to enforce
peace that would Swing big stick" and
really enforce it.
Whether you agreed with Theodore
Roosevelt or not you never had to ash
whether you had been in a fight with him
or whether he was sincere as well as cour
ageous. His zeal and activity pervadet
his whole existence, in the retirement G
private fife as well as In public affairs
lie was always doing something helpful
for some cause. He was an omnivoroui
reader. Even when making poltica
speeches In trip through Vermont ant
elsewhere he had as an ever-present trav
cling companion on his train one OF hi
iorcd books, Hc was always thinking an.
u soinc large purpose.
0Hr olCeF readers viii recall tho dar1