The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1919-01-07

A STRENUOUS LIFE" ENDED

When Theodore Roosevelt passed
into his eternal rest, a strenuous life
was ended. Strenuous life" was
term that he. himself brought into
accepted and general use, and none
practiced it more thoroughly than
himself.
Mr.. Roosevelt was certainly one of
Americas greatest men, and made
his mark broad and deep on the
times in which he lived. He will not
be remembered as long as even some
smaller men, but there was nobody
unaware of him while he was here.
He was of the old Dutch-American
ancestry which has done SO much for
New York and the country in gener-
al. His mother was of southern stock,
one of the Bullochs of Georgia, and
Mr.. Roosevelt was the first republican
president who did not appear like a
foreigner to the southern people. He
was born in New York, Oct. u, 1858.
He was child of frail physique and
but for his indomitable spirit would
probably have lived and died nonen-
tity. Outdoor life and vigorous ex-
ercise cured most of his physical de-
ficiencies and he grew up into Wig
orous manhood. Meanwhile he was
an assiduous student. and succeeded
so well both mentally and physically
that he graduated at Harvard and
also won honors among the athletes
of that great school.
Mr.. Roosevelt entered public life
early. He became member OF the
New York assembly in 1882. A few
wears later his health failed and he
successfully tried to restore it by
ranch life in the west.
Returning to New York, he enter
ed on the public career that kept him
before the public gaze until the day
of his death. He was appointed po-
lice commissioner of New York city
In 1889, and in 1895 became president
of the city police board. In both these
offices he persistently worked fol
the efficiency of the police depart
ment, which was never so good as
under his administration. In 1897
under Mckinley, he became assistant
secretary of the navy, and the readi'
ness of the navy for action in the
Spanish-American war was largely
due to his industry and foresight.
When war broke out, desk jot
was too tame for Roosevelt. With
Colonel Leonard Wood, he organized
the famous Rough Riders, who die
such excellent work in the Spanish
American war. After the fighting
around Santiago was over, and bu
reacracy was condemning American
soldiers to die of disease in then
camps, Lieut.-Col. Roosevelt was tbs
leader among the officers who drew
up the famous Ground robin" which
galvanized the torpid war department
into action and saved many lives.
In 1898, Roosevelt was elected gov
ernor of New York, and he had NJ
sooner taken his seat than there be
gan between him and the old repub
hcan machine the feud which ende'
only with his death. In 1900, Ton
Plat and other leaders of the repub
lican ring had Roosevelt nominate
for vice president, believing that the
could thus sidetrack him. But a
assassin's bullet ended Mckinley
life and Roosevelt became presiden
in 1901, to which office he was ais
elected in 1904.
Mr.. Roosevelt's administration
were successful at home and abroad
At home he introduced many needle
reforms. His national policies tende
to the good of all the people and wer
against special privileges. He wa
more like a president of the whol
people. than any the country had ha
since before the civil war. Electe
on the republican ticket, he was MOI
of democrat than many prominer
member of that party. He was a
ways close to the labor element, ar
settled the great coal strike when a
other men had failed.
His foreign policy was broad al