AMERICA TO-DAY.

Evening Star, Issue 12473, 7 April 1905, Page 3

AMERICA TO-DAY.

> tjRESIBENT THEODORE ROOSEVELT, ■No~2. ,V THE NATION'S STRONG; MAN. AT WORK AND AT PLAY. pjy Mr J.. Db Coxi«vy, Jun., our Special Commissioner in America.] —A Much-described Man.— . There is probably* no literary or sociolo•Sftsti few snore difficult of performance at fhe present time than that of writing an entirely original character sketch of Theodore lkiosevett,, President of the United States. Since his succession to the Presi- . dency at the death of the late Mr M*Kinley, ''American journals, daily and periodical, have enlarged on his every characteristic, and have served, hashed, rehashed, and exaggerated every incident in his private life aud public career. Aged Americans who have seen a dozen changes, in the Presidency in theiT own lives agree that the name of no man in the history l of the United States has ever permeated so thoroughly West and South in this country as. that of Theodore Roosevelt during the. last three years. There are few places, however remote, in the North American- continent that I have not visited in person during the last twelve months, and there were • none in wlikh Mr Roosevelt's name was not freely and intelligently discussed. I have beard bis character summed up in a cowboy camp on a Texas ranch, when the manly Centaurs participating in the discussion considered him but an indifferent President, because he had made* an indifferent cowboy. I have listened to criticisms of the man, in literary dubs of many dries, when distinguished literati measured his Presidential attainments by the merit in the books he has written. I' have heard him eulogised in a California 'military post, when the greatest accomplishment put to his credit was his dash up San Juan Hill in Cuba at the head of his regiment of rough riders. I have witnessed discussions in many of the political clubs in different parte of the States, when "boodling" -politicians agreed that he was a dangerous man, and one who should be put out of the way, not tliat he menaced the welfare of the country, but that hisstraightlorward dealing jeopardised their own pet schemes. —A Man of Many Parts.— Mr Roosevelt is popular because he fs versatile, in public and private. "He is nniversatly popular because he is a lover, and_ all the world loves a lover; because be is a father, and all the world loves a father; because he is a soldier, and all the world loves a soldijr ; because he is a reformer, and all the world loves a reformer; because he is n crood friend, and all the world loves a good friend; and, finally. because ho is a man, and all the world loves % man. These are the qualities which appeal universally, and many others, standing oct prominently in his character, appeal to large sections of the United States people. Like King Edward, he is an intense sportsmin, which assures his popularity with a lartre number of his countrvmeii. As an offset to his sporting propensities, he is a staunch church supporter, which prevents an alienation of sympathv of those who regard sport unfavorably. That he is impulsive everyone admits, and many admire him for his impulsiveness. That he is speetacula*. those who know him well declare, and while he keeps the centre of the stage in the political spectacle, he is certain to please - at least a great number of heTO-worshippers. In his dealings with the public for twenty-five years he has learned that in America there is a certain value in self-advertisement, and Mr Roosevelt's literary abilities are invariably placed to personal advantage in this direction. In 1900 he was nominated in tbe Republican Conversion as Vice-President, and when the election fever was at its height and Mr M*Kinley was busy stumping the country m person and fightintr a frrowmg popularity for Mr Bryan, "Mr Roosevelt, apparently qui!© unconcerned, hied himself off to the mountains to shoot bear. The Press would contain a complete ! report, never by_ any ehance interesting, of MKinley's political meetings, and on the same date there would also appear in the papers a brief telegram from the mountain resort merely stating that the candidate for the Vice-Presidency bad potted a grizzly the day before. And this in a country where emphatically the idea of a candidate for such high office shootinor game at the crisis of a contest appeals most favorably lo its people. —Why He is SueeessfnL— Mr Roosevelt has been called the most national of all the American Presidents. He is one of few that have lived m virions private capacities in different parts of the iStates, and he is as farrriliaT through pergonal contact with the people on the Pacific Slope and the Gulf of Mexico as with the typical "down East" Yankees in the northern parts of tbe Atlantic seaboard. In birth, again, as his admirers gleefully indicate, he is the most national President. His father was a Northern man, his mother ■was a {Southern woman. He was educated and raised in the East, and bis early manhood wm spent in the West The fortunes of birth and his early training thus give him on understanding of the people in the East by ancestry and education, and, as Senator Beveridge has said, he understands the people of the West by " actual contact and peenrkriy vivid sympathies." To-dav, by reason of an unparalleled personal triumph, and a big party majority m tbe two Chambers of Federal Legislature, he stands virtually dictator of a nation comprisinc: eighty nrHKons of people. And be has yet to wait several years for the celebration of his fiftieth birthday. —A Lofty Honesty.— Of his sterling .honesty, which has seldom been questioned, except by bitter political opponents, there need be'no better proof advanced than tbe contrasts of the Adminis-. tration during his two term's of office—one ■when he succeeded to the Presidency through a deplorable assassination, and the other more recent, when elected to the office by the voice of tho people. In the former, rabid Democrats and Conservative Republicans alike viewed his succession with alarm. Knowing what they termed his "impulsive nature" and high Imperialistic ideas, they feared he would be led to commit errors of judgment serious enough to embroil tho United States in unpleasant European troubles. It was then the sterling honesty of the man showed out in the loftiest form. Realising that it was Mr M'KLnley and his policy that had been chosen to administer the affairs of the nation for four years, Mr Roosevelt resolutelv thrust personal ideals aside, and set himself to vigorously carry on- the work outlined by his late chief. At no time in hig former Administration did he claim that he was acting as President Roosevelt, but merely followed -what be sincerely believed to be the wishes of tho late Mr MTftnley. Seizing this point, his tradueers turned around, ceased accusing him of impetuosity, and stigmatised him as a. nonentity and imitatoT. In the recent campaign his political opponents made an issue of the fact that he was a political " accident." Mr Roosevelt's record subsequent to his election of last November has been refutation enough for this puerile charge, —The President Jokes.— An amusing story which is vouched for by tbe President himself is told of has association with the, title of "Political Accident" On the night of the election in •November last, tbe Roosevelt family foregathered in the drawing, room of White House, and awaited the results of the polk from the dhferent States. There were noi others present, excepting the members of hw awn family, a sister, and brother-in-law. Lai* at. night, when it became absolutely certain that he was elected by a large majority, Mr. Roosevelt rose from his seat, valked across tbe room to where his wife ■was sitting, and bowing low before her remarked, sarcastically: " My dear congratalate me; I am no longer an' accidentf" -; r-Wbere He Is Unique,— In mahy.-.ofcher • respects Mr Roosevelt' stands unique amongst United States Presidents.' He is Hfe first one ever elected having claims to aristocratio blood. Americans derive considerable pleasure in advertising, the fact that their chief magistrate rose frbnj White House by sheer «rit. Pat&, 2ncbJ!&&n& to' haa

ordained that t3» first aristocratic President of the United States shall bo the most democratic. This Theodore Roosevelt essentially is. Even Mr Bryan has lately complained that in tbe policy just formu--lated by Presideht .Roosevelt; the latter ; has stolen most of his donocratio'thander. He is, I -understand, the only President who has ever been married 'outside bis own ccnntry. Mrs Roosevelt, -who presides over social functions at White House, is a second wife, and was married to Mr .Roosevelt at St George's Church, Hanover square, London. It was shortly before that/that his first wife died, leaving a baby girl behind. The bud.has blossomed, and the infant has grown into that charming young lady now known throughout the -world as Miss Alice Roosevelt Through the second marriage five children, the embodiment of health, have come into the world. The eldest of these is a manly youth called Kermit, now going through an raxtergniduate course at Harvard. Mr Roosevelt's life has been one of strenuosity. From the moment he left the collegiate cloisters behind him to the present, time, excepting a few vears be engaged in ntnehing in Texas, be'has in many capacities lived a life of. public utility. Leaving Harvard University already possessed of an inherited fortune, ho took up practical politics in. New York. For twenty years he attended National Republican Conventions as a delegate- from New York State, and in each one made his presence an-d influence felt As a reward for party service, he was given the appointment of President of the Civil Service Commission. This provided art ample sphere for his reforming proclivities, which shortly afterwards brought him into prominence. It is in this position that be came in dose contact with Governmental methods and acquired that comprehensive knowledge which has lately psfcted him in Lis Presidential administration. His next work carried him amongst all classes and grades of society, and brought him heart to heart with all forms of misery and crime in New York City, where he assumed control of tile entire police system. Here, again, an acquisition of great knowledge came to him, ami has proved of inestimable service in late years. Resigning from this position, he was elected Coventor of New York State by the Republican party, and through fearlessness and just admirdstration earned the enmity and malice of many boodKng politicians in his own party. These were determined that never again should he have such power as invested the governorship of the Empire State, At the next Convention the party machine was set going to crush him, and by receiving the . nomination of Vice-Presideiit of the United States Theodore Roosevelt -was given what was intended to be an honorable burial. At the time no one could, conceive that he would ever be called on to act as Chief Magistrate, Had the members of the Convention powers of prescience sufficiently keen to enable them to foresee the deplorable assassination of Mr M'Kinley, it is absolutely certain that the unpopular ex-Govemor would have been the last person nominated as Vice-President. —The Power of Knowledge.—"

Mr Roosevelt stands in no need of asking advice from anyone about the runtime of the Federal departments. Be has had exceptional opportunities, largely availed of, to gain most of his information first-hand. He was chosen by President M'Kinley to act as Assistant Secretary of the Navy, and while he filled this position the United States "Navy passed through ita most critical period in history. Naval experts today declare that a speedy termination of the war with Spain and the success attending the movements of the American Navy were largely due to the foresight and resource of Assistant Secretary Roosevelt. Few men in America know as muck of the United States Navy in all its details as the present President. Wliile in the Navy Department he naturally had access to a great fund of reliable data relative to the naval affairs of every nation on earth. In the same way, by actual experience, his knowledge of the army and its requirements is possibly as comprehensive as that possessed by any other man in- his country. He has, by actual work in the field, supplemented by sedulous study, acquired a complete idea of all appertaining to the Army of the Republic. As a soldier, from what I have gleaned in my travels Mr Roosevelt is not the success that svmpathetic historians have declared him to be. His military reputation rests solely on a charge of his Rough Rider Regiment up San Juan Hill at Cuba in the war with Spain. That the charge which resulted in the capture of the position was not successfully made by his regiment is asserted by all soldiers at the front during the war. It is stated authoritatively that fS regiment of Rough Riders, by reason of a dense rifle fire, was unable to advance beyond a certain point, and, lying behind entrenchments, anxiously awaited a lull in the fusillade of Spanish bullets. Unable to advance or retire, their condition was anything but glorious, or even enviable. Just then unexpected support came from a negro regiment brought up from the rear, and these dusky soldiers, with a cheer, made a gallant dash over the regiment of prostrate Rough Riders, and before the latter had recovered from their surprise the colors of the darkies' regiment blew over the forts above. While in California at a public reception given him in Los Gatos, Mr Roosevelt was taxed with the facts, narrated by an outspoken Red Cross nurse, who had accompanied the Rough Rider Regiment, and viewed the battle in its entirety. It is stated that the President laughingly replied to "this young lady: " Weil, what does it matter? Someone took it, didn't theyf This incident is merely quoted as illustrating my statement previously made that Mr Roosevelt was an intelligent advertiser. —Easily Advised.— While relying largely on his own experience and knowledge of men, Mr Roosevelt knows well the value of sincere discussion, and gladly takes every ehauoe of exchanging opinions -with those of whoso honcety he is assured. Old statesmen, such as Elihu Root, John Hay, and veterans of the same school, declare that they have had experience with no other President so ready to take advice as Theodore Roosevelt. These gentlemen also aver that the present incumbent of'the presidential office is "the toughest snag that boodling politicians have ever run up .against." "It is impossible to deceive him—at any rate, to deceive him twice," Mr Hay has said. No one of any party is appointed to a Federal position without the most penetrating inquiries as to personal character and professional capacity being instituted by the President himself. It is here, again, that his great experience in men and governmental affairs stands by him. —Historic Legislation.— Since bis succession to the Presidency in I£ol there has probably been more historic legislation than at any other time since the Civil War. He has disposed of Cuba to the satisfaction of Yankees and Cubans alike. He has emphatically expressed a belief that the Monroe Doctrine, with its " hands off" policy, not only gives immense immunities to the United States, but also burdens tbat Republic with many great responsibilities. Mr _ Roosevelt has determined that the Washington Government shall police the whole continent of | America south of the Caaadian frontier, and that "one-night" Republics in Central and South America must promptly fulfil their financial .obligations to European Powers. He expects that simply by a show of Yankee naval force in the waters of the recalcitrant Republics Continental Governments will be able to secure justice through Washington : without disturbing existing . conditions on the American continent Just at present he himself is passing through the acutest crisis of his whole career. It has to be decided in a few weeks, once and for all time, whether the President is greater than the Senate, or the Senate superior in power to the President. Mr Roosevelt has been a fighter from babyhood- Every day he receives a professional pugilist at White House, and nothing is permitted to disturb the President during the. half-hour he'sets apart for getting o ; punched. by one; burly gentleman bearing the euphonious name of Mike Sullivan. The Senate, on the other hand, is composed of: men determined to commit themselves in no way to jeopardise their prerogative."' The;particular trouble arose through the disturbed 'financial conditionsof the W«sfc":lndian:''Repubiici-'Santo' .Tkmwßgq,. which- is vkbiallj hankomfcrjaant,

extensively in debt to European financiers. This small republic conceived the idea of repudiating its foreign liabilities. -The President, foreknowing, that such action would bring half a dozen hostile fleets into American waters to compel the .honesty of the Dominicans, promptly,despatched a number of Yankee battleships to the island, and on his gwn responsibility forced its Government to become a signatory to a now famous protocol. Santo Domingo has a popu-. latxm of 610.0C0. Approximately. rM public debt is seven million pounds, of which five million is owed in Europe, The deficiency in sight for the present year exceeds £400,000. The protocol provides that Uncle Sam fchall adjust all debts, foreign and domestic, that American officials take charge of the island Customs, returning 45 per cent, to the republic, and disbursing the residue amongst clamorous creditors in Europe. Further, it is stipulated there shall' be no change in the tariff of the island without the personal consent of the President of the United States, and that the latter country shall remain in the island, os-sift in restoring its credit and stability, and to be responsible for the preservation of all in the republic. Ugly things have been said of Mr Roosevelt by venerable Senators at Washington, who are determined, if possible, to teach him a humiliat. ing lesson, —When He Is Impulsive.— ' While clear and sharp • thinking is one o£_ Mr Roosevelt's characteristics, he retains no pride of opinion. His mind runs very quickly, aad often he answers questions before they are asked. It is on this account that- more cumbersome mdndfi declare him to be impatient To gain the end quickly that others are moving slowly for, he adopts methods which are sometimes severely condemned by his wannest friends. In his present struggle with the Senate, be feds that he has acted in the speediest way to reach the best ends, and is determined that the Senate shall not undo one single tiling he h«s accomplisb<*d. While one can seldom question the expediency of his actions, the morality may very often be looked on with dnbiety. For instance, in no way has be conferred a greater benefit on the entire commercial world) than by his action in regard to the construction of the Panama Canal. Yet the methods adopted were flagrantly immoral Fifteen months ago the Isthmus of Panama, the most precious and tantalising territorial morsel on the globe, was part, and parcel of the South American Republic of Colombia. Uncle Sam hid for many years been in negotiation with that Government, which, to make as much as possible from the Canal operations, dallied in a most unsaticfactory manner. When Mr Roosevelt went into the matter, he was forced to the conduskwi that while the Colombians remained in a position to dictate terms the Canal would ntver be more than barely begun. It will be interesting to, hear of the means he employed to make the Canal a possibility. This will involve an historical recital of the birth of the Panama Republic The fact that the complete history of this Utile republic may ba related! in a dozen words will stamp it as the most unique in the Western oontinent .At three o'clock one afternoon the Isthmus of Panama was a peaceful adjunct of the Colombian Republic: At six on the same day, without a drop of blood having been shed or. a shot fired, a number of natives on the isthmus seceded from Colombia and' styled themselves the constituents of the new Republic of Panama, At nine o'clock next morning there walked into the office of John Hay, at Washingtoa, a dusky little gentleman making has first formal call as Minister of the Republic of Panama. He presented his papers, and was promptly acknowledged. On the same day the United States, while unofficially disdaimmg all foreknowledge of the revolution, announced itself to the world as protector of the new Republic of Panama. Strangely enough, a few days later Great Britain acknowledged the existence of tbe Isthmian Republic as a separate governmental entity. Short, quick, and bloodless revolution was this—brought abo*fc by a daring diplomacy which, under most conditions, nright be called cunning conspiracy. —America arid Great Britain.— There are many reasons existing to render it inexpedient for the arrangement of a formal treatv between America and Great Britain, Principal of these is the strange complexity of the population in the former country, where the majority of foreign citizens are German and Irish, and most of them active politicians. It is hardly likely that a Government would incur their displeasure by openly declaring a particular friendship for a country they most cordially hate. Nevertheless, the friendship does exist, and events of the last few years have proved conclusively that there is a well-defined uriderstanding between London and Washington on all matters affecting international relations. It is only recently that Great Britain has given ample proof of her trust in Uncle Sam 'as a square dealer. In a few months' time the naval force in American waters will be considerably reduced, and Great Britain is doing away with a number of subsidiary stations in her island possessions dastribated over American waters. The Home Government has also announced, its intention of reducing the military garrisone in these islands. This has all been decided on since the election of President Roosevelt became a certainty. The President, John Hay, and Elihu Root, tho three strong men of America, are "Anglo-Saxons," and sincerely desire to work harmoniously with Great Britain in all matters affecting 1 the world. Tho Dutch blood predominates in Mr Roosevelt, but he takes particular pride in referring to a Scotch strain.in it. His literary work shows him to be a keen and impartial student of English history and politics. Hia writing, "nqver brilliant, is characteristic of the man in its clean-cut, straightforward style. He has never written above the minds of the general public, nor below, but has a.happy faculty of keeping breast to breast and heart to heart with his countrymen. He is the one man to have written an accurate biography of Oliver Cromwell, and to have aclministered the laws of a first class nation. —Mr Roosevelt at Home.— Mr Roosevelt has established a severer code of etiquette rules at White House than any of his ]>redecessors. While personally frank and manly, he is the first President to insist on the ceremony of everyone standing when be or Mrs Roosevelt enters a room. Oh the day of my visit to White House there was an unusual number of foreign visitors of distinction, and a recital of the doings on that day would not give an accurate idea of the general daily routine of Presidtent Roosevelt Mr John Morley, the famous English statesman, had left hut the day before for New York. At the dinner given at White House in his honor, a number of American authorities on capital and labor were specially invited to meet tho English visitor. Mr Roosevelt had previously asked Mr Morley as to whom he would care to have invited to meet him.' The latter promptly replied: "Those who can tell me most of existing conditions between capital and labor in America." The President immediately wired invitations to several leading capitalists and as many prominent labor union presidents. They came from all parts of America, and, owing to the foresight and consideration of his host, Mr Morley was placed in a splendid position to acquire authoritative knowledge in a brief time of a subject very near to his heart Prince Fushami, cousin of the Mikado of Japan and special Ambassador from that monarch, had just arrived at Washington on tbe day of my visit, and a number of functions demanding the presence and supervision of the President were carried out in his honor. On the same, day also a.delegation arrived from the German Emperor to confer with Mr Roosevelt as to the unveiling of the statue of Frederick the Great, sent by the Kaiser as a gift to tbe American people. The ordinary routine of White House-was disturbed through Mrs and Miss Roosevelt having left for New York to attend the opening '; of the horse show and the grand opera .'season.' In addition, there were hundreds of callers from "all parte of the world asking for to congratulate Mr Roosevelt; personally on his recent, -victory. : ; To give an aoenrate idea of how the President spends his ordinary week days, I quote a programme authorised for publication by Mr Roosevelt him-

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his secretary, and signs official documents, appointments, commissions, pardon papers, etc. 10 to 11, receives Senators and' Congressmen. 11 to 12. receives public officials by special appointment. 12 to 12 30 p m., reception to the public. 12.30 to 1.30, receives people by special appointment. 1.30 to 2.30, luncheon.' 2.30 to 4, receives Senators, Congressmen, Cabinet officers, and other partiesby special appointment. 4 to 4.30, disposes of accumulated mail and public papers with his secretary. 4.30 to 6.30, takes a walk, horseback ride, or other outdoor exercise. 7.30, dines.' 9.30, receives Cabinet officers or Senators and other persons on important pressing public business, or else dictates important State papers. 11 p.m., retires. Besides, there are nine Governmental departments—viz., State, Treasury, War, Justice, Post Office, Agriculture, Commerce and Labor, Navy, and Interior. These departments are divided into small bureaus, ami with the working of every department and its subdivisions the President keeps intimately in touch. In governing his family Mr Roosevelt has before him tho highest ideals of home—ideals which in this country ore generally described as oldfashioned. He is an active member of the Dutch Eeformed Church, and whenever spending a Sabbath away from home he is particular in attending a service at a Presbyterian church. • The Presbyterian denomiaat ion, apparently, is his second choice, as he invariably attends one of its churches when a Dutch Reformed congregation is not easily aceetsible. His leisure moments come to him when the rest of the family have retired. Then, stretching himself out in a comfortable position, he regales himself' with the perusal of his favorite literarv works and the latest magazines. It is to be noted that he is a warm admirer of everything from Rndyard Kipling's pen. —The National Morale.— If Mr Roosevelt were allowed perfect freedom of action he would govern the United States precisely as he rules his private household. He is a strong, strenuous, and aggressive American. He understands the value of commercial activity and of permitting liberty in individual enterprise. But, when liberty grows into license and breeds immense trusts which ride roughshod over the general public, it is realised by Mr Roosevelt that the soul of the nation must become tarnished. Ho had not been elected President three weeks before he commenced a vigorous fight against the monoplies preying on the general public. He is one of those Americans, deplorably few and fax between, who recognise that the most important part of a nation is its soul. To correctly interpret his views on this subject I cannot do better than merely quote from a characteristic letter recently written by Mr Roosevelt to M. Frederic Mistral, an ernfnent French author, a copy of which has come into my possession, and reads as follows.:— White House, Washington, • December 15, 1904. Dear M. Mistral, —Mrs Roosevelt and I were equally pleased with the. book and the medal, and none the less because for nearly twenty years we have possessed a copy of ' Mireine.' That copy .we shall keep for old associations' sake, though this new copy, with the personal inscription by you, must hereafter occupy the place of honor. AH success to you arid your associates. Ton are teaching the lesson that none more need to learn than we of the West of this eager, restless, wealth-seek-ing nation—the lesson that, alter a certain not very high level of material wellbeing has been reached, then the things that really count in life are the things of the spirit,. Factories and railways are good up to a certain point, but courage and endurance, love of wife and child, love of home and country, love of lover for sweetheart, love of beairty in man's work and in nature, love and emulation of daring and of lofty endeavor, the homely, workaday virtues and the heroic virtues—they are better still, and if they are lacking, no piled-np riehes, no roaring, clanging irMnstriaJism. no feverish and many-sided activity, shall avail either the. individual or the nation. Ido hot undervalue these things of a nation's body; I only desh-e thai they shall not make us forget that besides the nation's body there is also the nation's souL Again thanking you, on behalf of both of ns, believe me. very faithfully yoars, Thbocdoke Roosbvki/t. —A Forecast.— On the morning following his election in November last Mr Roosevelt announced to his countrymen that he would under no circumstances become a candidate for the Presidency again—in 1908. This announcement was honest, or diplomatic, or both. Under ordinary circumstances he has the best twenty years of his life ahead of hfm. The time is coming, and approaches very fast, when the United States will have to meet its gravest troubles. These will come from within, her own borders. In those days, when capital will be fighting labor with rifles and labor fighting capital with dynamite, when trusts and monopoEes, to retain their power, will squander mfllkms in corrupting governments and judiciaries easily corrupted, America will cry out for a man. ' Then once more Theodore Roosevelt, cowboy, soldier, aristocrat, democrat, father, lover, good friend, capable President, and honest man, wSI step'into White House and teach his countrymen that the soul of a nation should be its most cherished possession. Washington February 10.