Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1920-08-24
Bunk That Won't Buneo.

Bunk That Won't Buneo.
Whereas, Governor Cox shedding
crocodile tears over the emptiness of
the Democratic treasury and lifting
up his voice generously in lamenta-
ton over the Republican campaign
fund is suggestive of raising the
wind" literally and metaphorically.
some of his followers in Maine have
rushed to the rescue with funds suf-
ficient to pay for advertising-not
what Bryan said about Cox at San
Francisco the other day-what Mr..
Harding's paper is said to have said
respecting Theodore Roosevelt in the
heat Of a bitter campaign. And by
the way, we have been reading eu-
logies from Democratic lips of late of
Roosevelt and Lincoln, but nowhere
have we read any advertisement in
which the Democrats referred to the
ISLANDERS anG epithets they heaped on
both in the heat of partisan conflict
Here is what Warren G. Harding
said in the United States Senate,
Feb. 26. 1917. over three years ago:
'Tf Theodore Roosevelt had been
President of the United States the
last four years, the Lusitania would
not have been sunk"
We find no mention made of that
In any of the Democratic advertise
ments, nor do we think the omission
was because of any stringency in the
campaign fund Of the Democratic
party.
This, which Harding said in an adj
dress before the Ohio Legislature.
Jan. 20. 1919, may afford not only
some insight into his mature judg-
ment respecting Theodore Roosevelt
but also some insight into the kind of
man Mr.. Harding is:
Il stood before the fiag-draped
casket in the little church at Oyster
Bay, amid simplicity SO rigid
that one could not help remarking it,
and yielded to conflicting emotions.
I wondered If by some fitting miracle
an inanimate flag could mourn. One
could not see the casket-on it's form
because the vision was filled with
the flag, and it seemed to me the COL
ors chung as though sorrowing at the
loss of their most fearless defender.
One little noted the floral tributes,
one was little concerned about emf
nent statesmen and famous writers
and military chieftains and high Of
ilcials who had gathered with neigh
bors and friends-political and per-
sonal friends-in reverent sorrow for
the long farewell. My own ears were6
deaf to the reading of the ritual and
the recital Of his favorite hymn, l
was thinking of the flag and the soul
less form it draped in jealous sorrow.
Great citizens had passed before. Be-
loved executives. brave soldiers and
far-seeing statesmen-all had come to
the inevitable. either too soon or in
the fullness of distinguished lives
and the nation had mourned, and peo-
pies sorrowed, and potentates had
sympathized, but there was a distinct
conviction that the flag lost it's brav-
est defender when Theodore Roose-
welt passed from life to the eternal,
flaming spirit of American patriot
ism was gone. A great void had
come. and there was none to fill it.
Measured from any viewpoint,
Colonel Roosevelt was one of the emf
nent Americans of all times, and his
tory will write him one of the most
conspicuous figures in all American
history. 1 do not underrate the emf
hence which has gone before, nor
doubt that great and DISTINGUISHED
Americans will follow. but in any ap-
praisal Colonel Roosevelt's name will
be tnseparably linked with the find
ing of the American soul, with the
great awakening and conservation.
Now and hereafter let it be said:
Here was great and courageous
American, who called to the slumber-
ing spirit Of the Republic and made
1t American in fact, as we'll as in
name.
Il say it after full elaboration and
free from all inchnations which
characterize hero worship. I believe
Colonel Roosevelt to have been the
most courageous American Of all
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