第1章

PREFACE Infinishingthecorrectionofthelastproofsofthissketch，I perceivethatsomeofthosewhoreaditmaysupposethatI plannedtowriteadeliberateeulogyofTheodoreRoosevelt。Thisisnottrue。Iknewhimforfortyyears，butIneverfollowedhispoliticalleadership。Ourpoliticaldifferences，however，neverlessenedourpersonalfriendship。Sometimeslongintervalselapsedbetweenourmeetings，butwhenwemetitwasalwayswiththesameintimacy，andwhenwewroteitwaswiththesamecandor。 Icountitfortunateformethatduringthelasttenyearsofhislife，IwasthrownmorewithRooseveltthanduringalltheearlierperiod；andsoIwasabletoobservehim，toknowhismotives，andtostudyhischaracterduringthechiefcrisesofhislatercareer，whenwhathethoughtanddidbecameanintegralpartofthedevelopmentoftheUnitedStates。 AftertheoutbreakoftheWorldWar，in1914，heandIthoughtalike，andifImistakenot，thisclosingphaseofhislifewillcomemoreandmoretobereveredbyhiscountrymenasanexampleofthehighestpatriotismandcourage。Regardlessofpopularlukewarmnessatthestart，andofpersistentofficialthwartingthroughout，herousedtheconscienceofthenationtoasenseofitsdutyandofitshonor。Whatgratitudecanrepayonewhorousestheconscienceofanation？RooseveltsacrificedhislifeforpatriotismassurelyasifhehaddiedleadingachargeintheBattleoftheMarne。 TheGreatWarhasthrownallthatwentbeforeitoutofperspective。Wecanneverseetheeventsoftheprecedinghalf-centuryinthesamelightinwhichwesawthemwhentheywerefresh。Instinctivelyweappraisethem，andthementhroughwhomtheycametopass，bytheirrelationtothecatastrophe。Didtheyleaduptoitconsciouslyorunconsciously？Andaswejudgetheoutcomeofthewar，ourviewsofmentakeonchangedcomplexions。Thewar，asitappearsnow，wastheculminationofthreedifferentworld-movements；itdestroyedtheattemptofGermanImperialismtoconquertheworldandtorivetuponitaPrussianmilitarydespotism。Next，itsetupDemocracyastheidealforallpeoplestoliveby。Finally，itrevealedthattheeconomic，industrial，social，andmoralconcernsofmenaredeeperthanthepolitical。WhenIcametoreviewRoosevelt”scareerconsecutively，forthepurposeofthisbiography，Isawthatmanyofhisactsandpolicies，whichhadbeenmisunderstoodormisjudgedatthetime，werealltheinevitableexpressionsoftheprinciplewhichwasthemaster-motiveofhislife。Whatwehadimaginedtobeshrewddevicesforwinningapartisanadvantage，orforoverthrowingapoliticaladversary，orforgratifyinghispersonalambition，hadanoblersource。IdonotmeantoimplythatRoosevelt，whowasamostadroitpolitician，didnotemploywithterrificeffectthemeansacceptedashonorableinpoliticalfighting。SodidAbrahamLincoln，whoalso，asagreatOpportunist，wasbothapowerfulandashrewdpoliticalfighter，butpledgedtoRighteousness。Itseemsnowtragic，butinevitable，thatRoosevelt，afterbeginningandcarryingforwardthewarforthereconciliationbetweenCapitalandLabor，shouldhavebeensacrificedbytheRepublicanMachine，forthatMachinewasaspecialorganofCapital，bywhichCapitalmadeandadministeredthelawsoftheStatesandoftheNation。 ButRoosevelt”sstrugglewasnotinvain；beforehedied，manyofthosewhoworkedforhisdownfallin1912werelookinguptohimasthenaturalleaderofthecountry，inthenewdangerswhichencompassedit。“Hadhelived，“saidaveryeminentmanwhohaddonemorethananyothertodefeathim，“hewouldhavebeentheunanimouscandidateoftheRepublicansin1920。”Timebringsitsrevengesswiftly。AsIwritetheselines，itisnotCapital，butoverweeningLaborwhichmakesitstruculentdemandsontheAdministrationatWashington，whichithasalreadyintimidated。 Wellmayweexclaim，“Oh，forthecourageofRoosevelt！“Andwheneverthecountryshallbeingreatanxietyorindirectperilfromthecowardiceofthosewhohavesworntodefenditswelfareanditsintegrity，thatcryshallrisetothelipsoftrueAmericans。 AlthoughIhavepurposelybroughtoutwhatIbelievetobethemostsignificantpartsofRoosevelt”scharacterandpubliclife，Ihavenotwishedtobeuncritical。Ihavesuppressednothing。 Fortunatelyforhisfriends，thetwolibelsuitswhichhewentthroughinhislateryears，subjectedhimtoamicroscopicscrutiny，bothastohispersonalandhispoliticallife。Alltheeffortsofveryablelawyers，andofcleverandunscrupulousenemiestounderminehim，failed；andhenceforthhisadvocatesmayrestontheverdictsgivenbytwoseparatecourts。Asforthegreatpoliticalactsofhisofficialcareer，Timehasforestalledeulogy。Doesanyonenowdefendsellingliquortochildrenandconvertingthemintoprecociousdrunkards？Doesanyonedefendsweat-shops，orthemanufactureofcigarsunderworsethanunsanitaryconditions？Whichofthepackers，whoprotestedagainsttheMeatInspectionBill，wouldcaretohavehisnamemadepublic；andwhichofthelawyersandoftheaccomplicesinthelobbyandinCongresswouldcaretohaveitknownthatheusedeverymeans，fairandfoul，topreventdeprivingthepackersoftheprivilegeofcanningbadmeatforAmericans，althoughforeignersinsistedthatthecannedmeatwhichtheyboughtshouldbewholesomeandinspected？DoesanyAmericannowdoubtthewisdomandjusticeofconservingthenaturalresources，ofsavingourforestsandourmineralsupplies，andofcontrollingthewatershedfromwhichflowsthewater-supplyofentireStates？ Thesethingsarenolongerinthefieldofdebate。Theyareacceptedjustastherailroadandthetelegraphareaccepted。Buteachinitstimewasanovelty，areform，andtosecureitsacceptancebytheAmericanpeopleanditssanctioninthestatutebook，requiredthezeal，theenergy，thecourageofoneman—— TheodoreRoosevelt。Hehadmanyhelpers，buthewastheindispensablebackerandaccomplisher。When，therefore，Ihavecommendedhimforthesegreatachievements，Ihavebutechoedwhatisnowcommonopinion。 Acontemporarycanneverjudgeasthehistorianahundredyearsafterthefactjudges，butthecontemporaryviewhasalsoitsplace，anditmaybereallynearertothelivingtruththanistheconclusionformedwhenthepastiscoldandremoteandtheactorsaredeadlongago。Soafriend”soutlinedportrait，thoughobviouslynotimpartial，mustbenearerthetruththananenemy”scanbe——fortheenemyisnotimpartialeither。Wehavefallentoomuchintothehabitofimaginingthatonlyhostilecriticstellthetruth。 Iwishtoexpressmygratitudetomanypersonswhohaveassistedmeinmywork。Firstofall，toMrs。Roosevelt，forpermissiontousevariousletters。Next，toPresidentRoosevelt”ssisters，Mrs。 WilliamS。CowlesandMrs。DouglasRobinson，forinvaluableinformation。EquallykindhavebeenmanyofRoosevelt”sassociatesinGovernmentandinpoliticalaffairs：PresidentWilliamH。Taft，formerSecretaryofWar；SenatorHenryCabotLodge；SenatorElihuRootandColonelRobertBacon，formerSecretariesofState；Hon。CharlesJ。Bonaparte，formerAttorney-General；Hon。GeorgeB。Cortelyou，formerSecretaryoftheInterior；Hon。GiffordPinchot，oftheNationalForestService；Hon。JamesR。Garfield，formerCommissionerofCommerce。 AlsotoLordBryceandthelateSirCecilSpring-Rice，BritishAmbassadorsatWashington；toHon。GeorgeW。Wickersham，Attorney-GeneralunderPresidentTaft；toMr。NicholasRooseveltandMr。CharlesP。Curtis，Jr。；toHon。AlbertJ。Beveridge，ex-Senator；toMr。JamesT。Williams，Jr。；toDr。AlexanderLambert；toHon。JamesM。Beck；toMajorGeorgeH。Putnam；toProfessorAlbertBushnellHart；toHon。CharlesS。Bird；toMrs。 Georgevon。L。MeyerandMrs。CurtisGuild；toMr。HermannHagedorn；toMr。JamesG。King，Jr。；toDeanWilliamD。Lewis；toHon。RegisH。Post；toHon。WilliamPhillips，AssistantSecretaryofState；toMr。RichardTrimble；toMr。JohnWoodbury；toGov。 CharlesE。Hughes；toMr。LouisA。Coolidge；toHon。F。D。 Roosevelt，AssistantSecretaryoftheNavy；toJudgeRobertGrant；toMr。JamesFordRhodes；toHon。W。CameronForbes。 IamunderespecialobligationtoHon。CharlesG。Washburn，ex-Congressman，whosebook，“TheodoreRoosevelt：TheLogicofhisCareer，“IhaveconsultedfreelyandcommendasthebestanalysisIhaveseenofRoosevelt”spoliticalcharacter。IwishalsotothankthepublishersandauthorsofbooksbyoraboutRooseveltforpermissiontousetheirworks。TheseareHoughtonMifflinCo。；G。P。Putnam”sSons；TheOutlookCo。；TheMacmillanCo。 ToMr。FerrisGreenslet，whosefinecriticaltasteIhaveoftendrawnupon；andMr。GeorgeB。Ives，whohaspreparedtheIndex； andtoMissAliceWyman，mysecretary，myobligationisprofound。 W。R。T。 August10，1919 CONTENTS I。ORIGINSANDYOUTH II。BREAKINGINTOPOLITICS III。ATTHEFIRSTCROSSROADS IV。NATURETHEHEALER V。BACKTOTHEEASTANDLITERATURE VI。APPLYINGMORALSTOPOLITICS VII。THEROUGHRIDER VIII。GOVERNOROFNEWYORK——VICE-PRESIDENT IX。PRESIDENT X。THEWORLDWHICHROOSEVELTCONFRONTED XI。ROOSEVELT”SFOREIGNPOLICY XII。THEGREATCRUSADEATHOME XIII。THETWOROOSEVELTS XIV。THEPRESIDENTANDTHEKAISER XV。ROOSEVELTANDCONGRESS XVI。THESQUAREDEALINACTION XVII。ROOSEVELTATHOME XVIII。HITSANDMISSES XIX。CHOOSINGHISSUCCESSOR XX。WORLDHONORS XXI。WHICHWASTHEREPUBLICANPARTY？ XXII。THETWOCONVENTIONS XXIII。THEBRAZILIANORDEAL XXIV。PROMETHEUSBOUND XXV。PROMETHEUSUNBOUND ABBREVIATIONS Autobiography=“TheodoreRoosevelt：AnAutobiography。”MacmillanCo。；NewYork，1914。 ***ThetitlesofotherbooksbyMr。Rooseveltaregivenwithouthisnameastheyoccurinthefootnotes。 Leupp=FrancisE。Leupp：“TheManRoosevelt。”D。Appleton&Co。； NewYork，1904。 Lewis=Wm。DraperLewis：“TheLifeofTheodoreRoosevelt。”JohnC。WinstonCo。；Philadelphia，1919。 Morgan=JamesMorgan：“TheodoreRoosevelt；TheBoyandtheMan。” MacmillanCo。，newed。，1919。 Ogg=FredericA。Ogg：“NationalProgress，1907-1917。”AmericanNationSeries。Harper&Bros。；NewYork，1918。 Riis=JacobA。Riis：“TheodoreRoosevelt；theCitizen。”OutlookCo。；NewYork，1904。 Washburn=CharlesG。Washburn：“TheodoreRoosevelt；TheLogicofHisCareer。”HoughtonMifflinCo。，1916。 THEODOREROOSEVELT CHAPTERI。ORIGINSANDYOUTH NothingbetterillustratestheelasticityofAmericandemocraticlifethanthefactthatwithinaspanoffortyyearsAbrahamLincolnandTheodoreRooseveltwerePresidentsoftheUnitedStates。Twomenmoreunlikeinorigin，intraining，andinopportunity，couldhardlybefound。 LincolncamefromanincompetentKentuckianfather，apioneerwithoutthepioneer”sspiritofenterpriseandpush；helackedschooling；hehadbarelythenecessariesoflifemeasuredevenbythestandardsoftheBorder；hiscompanionswereroughfrontierwastrels，manyofwhomhadeitherbeen，ormighteasilybecome，ruffians。Thebooksonwhichhefedhisyoungmindwereveryfew，notmorethanfiveorsix，buttheywerethebest。Andyetinspiteofthesehandicaps，AbrahamLincolnrosetobetheleaderandexampleoftheAmericanNationduringitsmostperilouscrisis，andtheidealDemocratofthenineteenthcentury。 TheodoreRoosevelt，onthecontrary，wasborninNewYorkCity，enjoyedeveryadvantageineducationandtraining；hisfamilyhadbeenformanygenerationsrespectedinthecity；hisfatherwascultivatedandhaddistinctionasacitizen，whodevotedhiswealthandhisenergiestoservinghisfellowmen。But，justasincredibleadversitycouldnotcrushAbrahamLincoln，solavishprosperitycouldnotkeepdownorspoilTheodoreRoosevelt。 Inhis“Autobiography“hetellsusthat“about1644hisancestor，ClaesMartensenvanRoosevelt，cametoNewAmsterdamasa”settler”——theeuphemisticnameforanimmigrantwhocameoverinthesteerageofasailingshipintheseventeenthcentury。FromthattimeforthenextsevengenerationsfromfathertosoneveryoneofuswasbornonManhattanIsland。”*ForoverahundredyearstheRooseveltscontinuedtobetypicalDutchburghersinahard-working，God-fearing，stolidDutchway，eachleavingtohissonalittlemorethanhehadinherited。DuringtheRevolution，someofthefamilywereintheContinentalArmy，buttheywonnohighhonors，andsomeofthemsatintheCongressesofthatgeneration——sat，andwerehonest，butdidnotshine。Theodore”sgreat-grandfatherseemstohaveamassedwhatwasregardedinthosedaysasalargefortune。 *Autobiography，1。 Hisgrandfather，CorneliusVanSchaackRoosevelt，aglassimporterandbanker，addedtohisinheritance，butwasmorethanameremoney-maker。 HissonTheodore，bornin1831，wasthefatherofthePresident。 Inheritingsufficientmeanstoliveingreatcomfort，nottosayinluxury，heneverthelessengagedinbusiness；buthehadahighsenseoftheobligationwhichwealthlaysonitspossessors。Andso，insteadofwastinghislifeinmerelyheapingupdollars，hededicatedittospendingwiselyandgenerouslythosewhichhehad。Therewasnothingpuritanical，however，inhiswayofliving。Heenjoyedthenormal，healthypleasuresofhisstation。 HedrovehiscoachandfourandwascountedoneofthebestwhipsinNewYork。Takinghispaternalresponsibilitiesseriously，heimplantedinhischildrenlivelyrespectfordisciplineandduty； buthekeptveryneartotheiraffection，sothatheremainedthroughouttheirchildhood，andaftertheygrewup，theirmostintimatefriend。 Whatfinertributecouldasonpaythanthiswhichfollows？”Myfather，TheodoreRoosevelt，wasthebestmanIeverknew。Hecombinedstrengthandcouragewithgentleness，tenderness，andgreatunselfishness。Hewouldnottolerateinuschildrenselfishnessorcruelty，idleness，cowardice，oruntruthfulness。 Aswegrewolderhemadeusunderstandthatthesamestandardofcleanlivingwasdemandedfortheboysasforthegirls；thatwhatwaswronginawomancouldnotberightinaman。Withgreatloveandpatienceandthemostunderstandingsympathyandconsiderationhecombinedinsistenceondiscipline。Heneverphysicallypunishedmebutonce，buthewastheonlymanofwhomIwaseverreallyafraid。”* *Autobiography，16。 ThusthePresident，writingnearlyfortyyearsafterhisfather”sdeath。HismotherwasMarthaBulloch，amemberofanoldSouthernfamily，oneofherancestorshavingbeenthefirstGovernorofGeorgia。DuringtheCivilWar，whileMr。Rooseveltwasbusyraisingregiments，supportingtheSanitaryCommission，anddoingwhateveranon-combatantpatriotcoulddotoupholdtheUnion，Mrs。Roosevelt”sheartallegiancewentwiththeSouth，andtotheendofherlifeshewasnever“reconstructed。”ButthisconflictofloyaltiescausednodiscordintheRooseveltfamilycircle。 HertwobrothersservedintheConfederateNavy。Oneofthem，JamesBulloch，“averitableColonelNewcome，“wasanadmiralanddirectedtheconstructionoftheprivateerAlabama。Theother，Irvine，amidshipmanonthatvessel，firedthelastguninitsfightwiththeKearsargebeforetheAlabamasank。AfterthewarbothofthemlivedinLiverpooland“UncleJimmy“becamearabidTory。He“wasoneofthebestmenIhaveeverknown，“writeshisnephewTheodore；“andwhenIhavesometimesbeentemptedtowonderhowgoodpeoplecanbelieveofmetheunjustandimpossiblethingstheydobelieve，IhaveconsoledmyselfbythinkingofUncleJimmyBulloch”sperfectlysincereconvictionthatGladstonewasamanofquiteexceptionalandnamelessinfamyinbothpublicandprivatelife。” TheodoreRooseveltgrewuptobenotonlyastanchbutanuncompromisingbelieverintheUnionCause；butthefactthathisparentscamefromtheNorthandfromtheSouth，andthat，fromhisearliestmemory，theSouthernkindredwereheldinaffectioninhishome，musthavehelpedhimtowardsthatnon-sectional，all-Americanpointofviewwhichwasthecornerstoneofhispatrioticcreed。 TheRoosevelthousewassituatedatNo。28EastTwentiethStreet，NewYorkCity，andthereTheodorewasbornonOctober27，1858。 Hepassedhisboyhoodamidthemostwholesomefamilylife。 BesideshisbrotherElliottandtwosisters，ashisUncleRobertlivednextdoor，therewerecousinstoplaywithandanumerouskindredtoformthebackgroundofhisyounglife。Hewas，fortunately，notprecocious，fortheinfantprodigiesofseven，whobecometheamazingomniscientsoftwenty-three，areseldomheardofatthirty。Helearnedveryearlytoread，andhissistersrememberthatwhenhewasstillinstarchedwhitepetticoats，withacurlcarefullypoisedontopofhishead，hewentaboutthehouseluggingathick，heavyvolumeofLivingstone”s“Travels“andaskingsomeonetotellhimaboutthe“foragingants“describedbytheexplorer。Atlasthisoldersisterfoundthepassageinwhichthelittleboyhadmistaken“foregoing“for“foraging。”Nowonderthatinhismatureyearshebecameanadvocateofreformedspelling。Hissenseofhumor，whichflashedlikeamountainbrookthroughallhislaterintercourseandmadeitdelightful，seemstohavebegunwithhisinfancy。Heusedtosayhisprayersathismother”sknee，andoneeveningwhenhewasoutofsortswithher，heprayedtheLordtoblesstheUnionCause；knowingherSouthernpreferenceshetookthishumoroussortofvengeanceonher。She，too，hadhumorandwasmuchamused，butshewarnedhimthatifherepeatedsuchimproprietyatthatsolemnmoment，sheshouldtellhisfather。 Theodoreandtheotherchildrenhadagreatfondnessforpets，andtheiraunt，Mrs。Robert，possessedseveralofunusualkinds——pheasantsandpeacockswhichstruttedaboutthebackyardandamonkeywhichlivedonthebackpiazza。Theywereafraidofhim，althoughtheydoubtlesswatchedhisanticswithafearfuljoy。Fromtheaccountswhichsurvive，lifeinthenurseryoftheyoungRooseveltsmusthavebeenaperpetualplay-time，butthroughitallrantheinvisibleformativeinfluenceoftheirparents，whohadtheartofshapingthemindsandcharactersofthelittlepeoplewithoutseemingtoteach。 AlmostfrominfancyTheodoresufferedfromasthma，whichmadehimphysicallypuny，andoftenpreventedhimfromlyingdownwhenhewenttobed。Buthisspiritdidnotdroop。Hismentalactivityneverweariedandhepouredoutendlessstoriestothedelightofhisbrotherandsisters。“MyearliestimpressionsofmybrotherTheodore，“writeshissister，Mrs。Robinson，“areofarathersmall，patient，sufferinglittlechild，who，inspiteofhissuffering，wastheacknowledgedheadofthenursery……Thesestories，“sheadds，“almostalwaysrelatedtostrangeandmarvelousanimaladventures，inwhichtheanimalswerepersonalitiesquiteasvividasKiplinggavetotheworldagenerationlaterinhis”JungleBooks。”“ OwingtohisdelicatehealthTheodoredidnotattendschool，exceptforalittlewhile，whenhewenttoProfessorMacMullen”sAcademyonTwentiethStreet。Hewastaughtathomeandheprobablygotmorefromhisreadingthanfromhisteachers。Bythetimehewasten，thepassionforomnivorousreadingwhichfrequentlydistinguishesboyswhoarephysicallyhandicapped，beganinhim。HedevouredOurYoungFolks，thatexcellentperiodicalonwhichmanyoftheboysandgirlswhowerehiscontemporariesfed。Helovedtalesoftravelandadventure；helovedCooper”sstories，andespeciallybooksonnaturalhistory。 Insummerthechildrenspentthelongdaysoutofdoorsatsomecountryplace，andthere，inadditiontothepleasureofbeingcontinuouslywithnature，theyhadthesportsandgamesadaptedtotheirage。Theodorewasalreadymakingcollectionsofstonesandotherspecimensafterthehaphazardfashionofboys。Theyoungnaturalistsometimesmetwithunexpecteddifficulties。 Once，forinstance，hefoundalitterofyoungwhitemice，whichheputintheice-chestforsafety。Hismothercameuponthem，and，intheinterestOfgoodhousekeeping，shethrewthemaway。 WhenTheodorediscovereditheflewintoatantrumandprotestedthatwhathurthimmostwas“thelosstoScience！thelosstoScience！“OnanotheroccasionSciencesufferedalossofunknownextentowingtohisobligationtomanners。Heandhiscousinhadfilledtheirpocketsandwhateverbagstheyhadwithspecimens。 Thentheycameupontwotoads，ofastrangeandnewvariety。 Havingnomoreroomleft，eachboyputoneofthemontopofhisheadandclappeddownhishat。AllwentwelltilltheymetMrs。 HamiltonFish，agreatladytowhomtheyhadtotakeofftheirhats。Downjumpedthetoadsandhoppedaway，andSciencewasneverabletoaddtheBufoRooseveltianustoitslistofHudsonValleyreptiles。 In1869Mr。RoosevelttookhisfamilytoEuropeforayear。Thechildrendidnotcaretogo，andfromthestartTheodorewashomesickandlittleinterested。Ofcourse，picturegalleriesmeantnothingtoaboyoften，withanaturalist”sappetite，andhecouldnotknowenoughabouthistorytobeimpressedbyhistoricplacesandmonuments。HekeptadiaryfromwhichMr。 Hagedorn*printsmanyamusingentries，someofwhichIquote： *H。Hagedorn：TheBoy”sLifeofTheodoreRoosevelt。Harper& Bros。1918。 Munich，October。“InthenightIhadanightmaredreamingthatthedevilwascarryingmeawayandhadcollorermorbos(asicknessthatisnotverydangerous)butMamapattedmewithherdelicatefingers。” LittleConiealsokeptadiary：thenextentryisfromit： Paris。“IamsogladMamahasletmestayinthebutifulhotelparlorwhilethepoorboyshavebeendraggedofftotheorfulpicturegalary。” NowTheodoreagain： Paris，November26。“Istayedinthehouseallday，varyingthedaywithbrushingmyhair，washingmyhandsandthinkinginfacthaveingaverrydulltime。” “Nov。27。IDidthesamethingasyesterday。” Chamounix。“Ifoundseveralspecimenstokeepandwewentonthegreatglaciercalled”Motherofice！”“ “WewenttoourcousinsschoolatWaterloo。WehadanicetimebutmetJeffDavisessonandsomesharpwordsensued。” Venice。“Wesawapalaceofthedoges。Itlookslikeapalaceyoucouldbecomfortableandsnugin(whichisnotusual)——WewenttoanotherchurchinwhichConiejumpedovertombstonesspankedmebangedEllieshead&c。” “Conie“washisnicknameforhisyoungersisterCorinne。* *ShesubsequentlymarriedMr。DouglasRobinson。 November22。“IntheeveningMamashowedmetheportraitofEidiethCarowandherfacestirredupinmehomesicknessandlongingsforthepastwhichwillcomeagainneverabacknever。” Thelittlegirl，thesightofwhoseportraitstirredsuchlongingsforthepastintheheartoftheyoungTheodore，wasEdithCarow，thespecialplaymateofhissisterConieandoneoftheintimategroupwhomhehadalwaysknown。Yearslatershebecamehiswife。 TheRooseveltfamilyreturnedtoNewYorkinMay，1870，andresumeditsordinarylife。Theodore，whomoneofhisfellowtravelersonthesteamerremembersas“atallthinladwithbrighteyesandlegslikepipestems，“developedrapidlyinmind，buttheasthmastilltormentedhimandthreatenedtomakeapermanentinvalidofhim。HisfatherfittedupinthehouseinTwentiethStreetasmallgymnasiumandsaidtotheboyinsubstance，“Youhavebrains，butyouhaveasicklybody。Inordertomakeyourbrainsbringyouwhattheyought，youmustbuildupyourbody；itdependsuponyou。”Theboyfeltboththeobligationandthedesire；hewilledtobestrong，andhewentthroughhisgymnasticexerciseswithreligiousprecision。Whathereadinhisbooksaboutknightsandpaladinsandheroeshadalwaysgreatlymovedhisimagination。Hewantedtobelikethem。Heunderstoodthattheoneindispensableattributecommontoallofthemwasbodilystrength。Thereforehewouldbestrong。Throughallhissufferinghewaspatientanddetermined。ButIrecallnootherboy，enfeebledbyachronicandoftendistressingdisease，whoresolvedashedidtoconquerhisenemybyawiselyplannedandunceasingcourseofexercises。 Improvementcameslowly。Manywerethenightsinwhichhespenthoursgaspingforbreath。Sometimesonsummernightshisfatherwouldwraphimupandtakehimonalongdrivethroughthedarknessinsearchoffreshair。Butnomatterhowhardthepinch，theboynevercomplained，andwhenevertherewasarespitehisvivacityburstforthasfreshasever。Hecouldnotattendschoolwithotherboysand，indeed，hisrealizationthathecouldnotmeetthemonequalphysicaltermsmadehimtimidwhenhewasthrownwiththem。Sohepursuedhisowntasteswithallthemorezeal。Hereadmanybooks，someofwhichseemedbeyondaboy”sken，buthegotsomethingfromeachofthem。Hispowerofconcentrationalreadysurprisedhisfamily。Ifhewasabsorbedinachapter，nothingwhichwentonoutsideofhim，eithernoiseorinterruption，coulddistracthisattention。Hispassionfornaturalhistoryincreased。Attheageoften，heopenedinoneoftheroomsofhishome“TheRooseveltMuseumofNaturalHistory。”Later，hedevotedhimselfmoreparticularlytobirds，andlearnedfromataxidermisthowtoskinandstuffhisspecimens。 In1873，PresidentGrantappointedMr。RooseveltaCommissionertotheViennaExpositionandtheRooseveltfamilymadeanotherforeigntour。HopingtobenefitTheodore”sasthmatheywenttoAlgiers，anduptheNile，wherehewasmuchmoreinterestedintheflocksofaquaticfowlthaninthehalf-buriedtemplesofDenderaortheobelisksandpylonsofKarnak。HeevenmakesnomentionofthePyramids，butrecordswithenthusiasmthathefoundatCairoabookbyanEnglishclergyman，whosenameheforgot，ontheornithologyoftheNile，whichgreatlyhelpedhim。 Incidentally，hesaysthatfromtheLatinnamesofthebirdshemadehisfirstacquaintancewiththatlanguage。WhileMr。 RooseveltattendedtohisdutiesinViennatheyoungerchildrenwereplacedinthefamilyofHerrMinckwitz，aGovernmentofficialatDresden。There，Theodore，“inspiteofhimself，“ learnedagooddealofGerman，andheneverforgothispleasantlifeamongtheSaxonsinthedaysbeforethevirusofPrussianbarbarismhadpoisonedallthenon-PrussianGermans。MinckwitzhadbeenaLiberalintheRevolutionof1848，afactwhichaddedtoTheodore”sinterestinhim。 Ongettinghome，Theodore，whowasfifteenyearsold，settoworkseriouslytofithimselftoenterHarvardCollege。Uptothistimehiseducationhadbeenunmethodical，leavinghimbehindhisfellowsinsomesubjectsandfaraheadoftheminothers。HehadthegoodfortunenowtosecureasatutorMr。ArthurH。Cutler，formanyyearsheadoftheCutlerPreparatorySchoolinNewYorkCity，thankstowhoseexcellenttraininghewasabletoentercollegein1876。DuringtheseyearsofpreparationTheodore”shealthsteadilyimproved。Hehadagunandwasanardentsportsman，theincentiveofaddingspecimenstohiscollectionofbirdsandanimalsoutweighingthemeresportofslaughter。AtOysterBay，wherehisfatherfirstleasedahousein1874，hespentmuchofhistimeonthewater，buthedeemedsailingratherlazyandunexciting，comparedwithrowing。Heenjoyedtakinghisrow-boatoutintotheSound，and，ifahighheadwindwasblowing，orthesearaninwhitecaps，somuchthebetter。Hewasnowabletoshareinalloftheathleticpastimesofhiscompanions，although，sofarasIknow，heneverindulgedinbaseball，thecommonestgameofall。 WhenheenteredHarvardasaFreshmanin1876，thatinstitutionwaspassingthroughitstransitionfromcollegetouniversity，whichhadbegunwhenCharlesW。EliotbecameitsPresidentsevenyearsbefore。Inspiteofvehementassaults，theGreatEducatorpushedonhisreformslowlybutresistlessly。Heneededtotrainnotonlythepublicbutmanymembers，perhapsamajority，ofhisfaculty。YoungRooseveltfoundabodyofeighthundredundergraduates，thelargestnumberuptothattime。WhiletheElectiveSystemhadbeenintroducedintheupperclasses，FreshmenandSophomoreswerestillrequiredtotakethecoursesprescribedforthem。 Toonewholooksback，afterfortyyears，ontheHarvardofthattimetherewasmuchaboutit，thelossofwhichmustberegretted。Limitedinmanydirectionsitwas，nodoubt，butitsverylimitationsmadeforfriendshipandforthatsenseofintimatemutual，relationship，outofwhichspringsmutualaffection。YoubelongedtoHarvard，andshetoyou。Thatshewassmall，comparedwithherlatermagnitude，nomorelessenedyourloveforher，thanyourloveforyourownmothercouldbeincreasedwereshesuddenlytobecomeagiantess。Theundergraduatecommunitywasnotexactlyalargefamily，butitwas，nevertheless，restrictedenoughnotonlyforafellowtoknowatleastbysightallofhisclassmates，butalsotohavesomeknowledgeofwhatwasgoingoninotherclassesaswellasintheCollegeasawhole。Academicfame，too，hadabetterchancethenthanithasnow。Therewereeightortenprofessors，whommostofthefellowsknewbysight，andallbyreputation； now，however，Imeetintelligentstudentswhohaveneverheardeventhenameoftheheadofsomedepartmentwhoisfamousthroughouttheworldamonghiscolleagues，butwhosecoursesthatstudenthasnevertaken。 InspiteofthesimplicityandthehomelikenessoftheHarvardwitheighthundredundergraduates，however，itwaslargeenoughtoaffordtheopportunityofmeetingmenofmanydifferenttastesandmenfromallpartsofthecountry。Soitgavefreeplaytothedevelopmentofindividualtalents，anditsstandardofscholarshipwasalreadysufficientlyhightoensuretheexcellenceofthebestscholarsittrained。Onequalitywhichweprobablytooklittlenoteof，althoughitmusthaveaffectedusall，sprangfromthefactthatHarvardwasstillacrescentinstitution；shewasinthefullvigorofgrowth，ofexpansion，ofincrease，andwesharedinsensiblyfrombeingconnectedwiththatgrowth。Inretrospectnow，andgivingduerecognitiontothiscrescentspirit，Irecallthat，inspiteofit，OmarKhayyamwasthefavoritepoetofmanyofus，thatintrospection，whichsometimesdeepenedintopessimism，wasinvogue，andthataspiritualorphilosophiclanguorousdisenchantmentsickliedo”erthesomewhatmottledcastofourthought。 RoosevelttookroomsatNo。16WinthropStreet，aquietlittlelanemidwaybetweentheCollegeYardandCharlesRiver，wherehecouldpursuehishobbieswithoutincessantinterruptionfromcasualdroppers-in。Herehekeptthespecimenswhichhewentoncollecting，somelive——alargeturtleandtwoorthreeharmlesssnakes，forinstance——andsomedeadandstuffed。Hewasno“grind“；thegodstakecarenottomixevenadropofpedantryinthemake-upoftheraremenwhomtheydestineforgreatdeedsorfineworks。Theodorewasalreadysomuchstrongerinhishealththathewentontogetstillmorestrength。Hehadregularlessonsinboxing。HetooklongwalksandstudiedthefloraandfaunaofthecountryroundCambridgeinhisamateurishbutintenseway。DuringhisfirstChristmasvacation，hewentdowntotheMaineWoodsandcampedout，andtherehemetBillSewall，afamousguide，whoremainedTheodore”sfriendthroughlife，andWilmotDow，Sewall”snephew，anotherwoodsman；andthistrip，subsequentlyfollowedbyothers，didmuchgoodtohisphysique。 Hestillhadoccasionalattacksofasthma——he“guffled“asBillSewallcalledit——andtheyweresometimesacute，buthistendencytothemslowlyworeaway。 AllhisdaysRooseveltwasproudofbeingaHarvardman。EvenintheperiodwhenacademicHarvardwasmostcriticalofhispublicacts，heneverwaveredinhisdevotiontoAlmaMaterherself，thatdearandlovelyBeing，who，liketheidealofourcountry，livesontoinspireusinspiteofunsympatheticadministrationsandunlovedleaders。 “TheOneremains，themanychangeandpass。” Nevertheless，inhis“Autobiography，“Theodoremakesveryscantrecordofhiscollegelife。“IthoroughlyenjoyedHarvard，“hesays，“andIamsureitdidmegood，butonlyinthegeneraleffect，fortherewasverylittleinmyactualstudieswhichhelpedmeinafterlife。”*Likenineoutoftenmenwholookbackoncollegehecouldmakenodefiniteestimateoftheactualgainsfromthosefouryears；butitispreciselytheindefiniteness，theelusivenessofthecollegeexperiencewhichmarksitsworth。Thisisnottobereckonedfinanciallybyanincreaseindollarsandcents，orintellectually，bysomanyaddedfoot-poundsofknowledge。HarvardCollegewasofinestimablebenefittoRoosevelt，becauseitenabledhimtofindhimself——tobeamanwithhisfellowmen。 *Autobiography，27。 Duringhisyouthhisphysicalhandicaphadrathercuthimofffromcompanionshiponequaltermswithhisfellows。Now，however，hecouldenterwithzestintheirsportsandsocieties。AttheverybeginningofhisFreshmanyearheshowedhisclassmateshismettle。DuringthepresidentialtorchlightparadewhenthejubilantFreshmenweremarchingforHayes，someTildenmanshoutedderisivelyatthemfromasecond-storywindowandpeltedthemwithpotatoes。Itwasimpossibleforthemtogetathim，butTheodore，whowasalwaysstungatanydisplayofmeanness——anditwascertainlymeantoattacktheparaderswhentheycouldnotretaliate——stoodoutfromthelineandshookhisfistattheassailant。Hisfellowmarchersaskedwhotheirchampionwas，andsothenameofRooseveltandhispugnaciouslittlefigurebecamegenerallyknowntothem。Hewaslittlethen，notabovefivefeetsixinheight，andunderonehundredandthirtypoundsinweight。 Bydegreestheyallknewhim。Hisunusualways，hisloyaltytohishobbies，whichhetreatednotasmerewhimsbutasbeingworthyofseriousapplication，hisversatility，hisoutspokenness，hisalmostunbrokengood-nature，attractedmostofthepersonswithwhomhecameincontact。HerosetobePresidentoftheNaturalHistorySociety，adistinctionwhichimpliedsomerealmeritinitspossessor。Hisfamilyantecedents，butstillmorehispersonalqualities，madeeasyforhimtheascentofthesocialterracesatHarvard——theDicky，theHastyPuddingClub，andthePorcellian。HewaseditoroftheHarvardAdvocate，whichopenedthedooroftheO。K。Society，wherehefoundcongenialintellectualcompanionshipwiththeeditorsfromtheclassesaboveandbelowhim；andwhenDr。EdwardEverettHalewishedtoreviveandperpetuatetheAlphaDeltaPhiFraternity，Rooseveltwasoneofthehalf-dozenmenfromtheClassof1880whomheselected。 MyfirstdefiniterecollectionofhimisattheannualdinneroftheHarvardCrimsoninJanuaryorFebruary，1879。HewasinvitedasaguesttorepresenttheAdvocate。SinceenteringcollegeI hadmethimcasuallymanytimesandhadheardofhisodditiesandexuberance；butthroughoutthisdinnerIcametofeelthatIknewhim。Onbeingcalledontospeakheseemedveryshyandmade，whatIthinkhesaid，washismaidenspeech。Hestillhaddifficultyinenunciatingclearlyoreveninrunningoffhiswordssmoothly。Attimeshecouldhardlygetthemoutatall，andthenhewouldrushonforafewsentences，asskatersredoubletheirpaceoverthinice。Hetoldthestoryoftwooldgentlemenwhostammered，thepointofwhichwas，thatoneofthem，——afterdistressingcontortionsandstoppages，recommendedtheothertogotoDr。X，adding，“Hecuredme。” Atriflingbitofthistledownformemorytohavepreservedafteralltheseyears；butstillitisinterestingtometorecallthatthiswasthebeginningofthepublicspeakingofthemanwholateraddressedmoreaudiencesthananyotheroratorofhistimeandmadeadeeperimpressionbyhisspokenword。 OneotherreminiscenceofRooseveltatHarvard，almostasunsubstantialasthis。LateinhisSenioryearwehadacommitteemeetingoftheAlphaDeltaPhiinCharlesWashburn”sroomat15 Holworthy。RooseveltandIsatinthewindow-seatoverlookingtheCollegeYardandchattedtogetherintheintervalswhenbusinesswasslack。Wediscussedwhatweintendedtodoaftergraduation。 “IamgoingtotrytohelpthecauseofbettergovernmentinNewYorkCity；Idon”tknowexactlyhow，“saidTheodore。 Irecall，still，lookinghardathimwithaneager，inquisitivelookandsayingtomyself，“Iwonderwhetherheistherealthing，oronlythebundleofeccentricitieswhichheappears。” Therewasinmethen，astherehasalwaysbeen，aminglingofskepticismandofdeepreverenceforthosewhodealtwithreality，andIhadnothadsufficientopportunitytodeterminewhetherRooseveltwasrealornot。Oneatleastofhisclassmates，however，sawportentsofgreatnessinTheodore，fromtheirFreshmanyear，andmostofus，evenwhenwewereamusedandpuzzledbyhis“queerness，“wereverysurethatthemanfromwhomtheysprangwasnotcommonplace。 SofarasIremember，Rooseveltwasthefirstundergraduatetoownanddriveadog-cart。Thisexcitedvariouscomments；sodidthereddish，powder-puffsidewhiskerswhichnochaffingcouldmakehimcut。Therewasnevertheslightestsuggestionofthegildedyouthabouthim；thoughdog-carts，especiallywhenownedbyyoungmen，impliedthehabitsandstandardsofthegildedrich。Howexplaintheparadox？Ontheotherhand，TheodoretaughtSundaySchoolatChristChurch，buthewassomuscularaChristianthatthedecorousvestrymenthoughthimanunwiseguideinpiety。Foronedayaboycametoclasswithablackeyewhichhehadgotinfightingalargerboyforpinchinghissister。 Theodoretoldhimthathedidperfectlyright——thateveryboyoughttodefendanygirlfrominsult——andhegavehimadollarasareward。Thevestrymendecidedthatthiswastooflagrantapprovaloffisticuffs；sotheyoungteachersoonfoundawelcomeintheSundaySchoolofadifferentdenomination。 OfallthestoriesofRoosevelt”scollegecareer，thatofhisboxingmatchismostvividlyremembered。Heenrolledinthelight-weightsparringatthemeetingintheHarvardGymnasiumonMarch221879，anddefeatedhisfirstcompetitor。Whentherefereecalled“time，“Rooseveltimmediatelydroppedhishands，buttheothermandealthimasavageblowontheface，atwhichweallshouted，“Foul，foul！“andhissed；butRooseveltturnedtowardsusandcriedout“Hush！Hedidn”thear，“achivalrousactwhichmadehimimmediatelypopular。InhissecondmatchhemetHanks。Theybothweighedaboutonehundredandthirty-fivepounds，butHankswastwoorthreeinchestallerandhehadamuchlongerreach，sothatTheodorecouldnotgetinhisblows，andalthoughhefoughtwithunabatedpluck，helostthecontest。 Moreseriousthanhisshortreach，however，washisnear-sightedness，whichmadeitimpossibleforhimtoseeandparryHanks”slunges。Whentimewascalledafterthelastround，hisfacewasdashedwithbloodandhewasmuchwinded；buthisspiritdidnotflag，andiftherehadbeenanotherround，hewouldhavegoneintoitwithundiminisheddetermination。FromthiscontesttheresprangupthelegendthatRooseveltboxedwithhiseyeglasseslashedtohishead，andthelegendfloatedhitherandthitherfornearlythirtyyears。NotlongagoIaskedhimthetruth。“Personswhobelievethat，“hesaid，“mustthinkmeutterlycrazy；foroneofCharlieHanks”sblowswouldhavesmashedmyeyeglassesandprobablyblindedmeforlife。” Inaclassofonehundredandseventyhegraduatedtwentysecond，whichentitledhimtomembershipinthePhiBetaKappa，thesocietyofhighscholars。Toonewhoexamineshisacademicrecordwisely，thebestsymptomisthathedidfairlywellinseveralunrelatedsubjects，andachievedpreeminenceinone，naturalhistory。Hehadtheall-roundqualitywhichshowsmorepromisethandoesapropensitytolightonaparticulartopicandsuckitdry；buthehadalsopowerofconcentrationandthoroughness。AsIhavejustsaid，hewasahappycombinationoftheamateurishandintense。Hishabitofabsorptionbecameaby-word；forifhevisiteda，classmate”sroomandsawabookwhichinterestedhim，insteadofjoininginthetalk，hewoulddevourthebook，obliviousof，everythingelse，untilthecollegebellrangforthenextlecture，whenhewouldjumpupwithastart，anddashoff。Thequietbutfirmteachingofhisparentsborefruitinhim：hecametocollegewithabodyofrationalmoralprincipleswhichhemadenoparadeof，butobeyedinstinctively。Andso，wheremanyyoungfellowsarethrownofftheirbalanceonfirstacquiringthefreedomwhichcollegelifegives，oraredazedanddistractedonfirsthearingthebabelofstrangephilosophiesornoveldoctrines，hewalkedstraight，heldhimselferect，andwasnotfooledintomistakingnoveltyfortruth，orlibertinismformanliness。 Twooutsideeventswhichdeeplyinfluencedhimmustbenoted。 DuringhisSophomoreyearhisfatherdied；andduringhisSenioryear，TheodorebecameengagedtoMissAliceHathawayLee，daughterofGeorgeC。Lee，ofChestnutHill，Massachusetts。 CHAPTERII。BREAKINGINTOPOLITICS Rooseveltwasafewmonthslessthantwenty-twoyearsoldwhenhegraduatedfromHarvard。Hiscareerincollegehadwroughtseveralimportantchangesinhim。Firstofall，hisstrengthwasconfirmed。Althoughhestillsufferedoccasionallyfromasthma，hewasnolongerhandicapped。Inbusiness，orinpleasure，hedidnotneedtoconsiderhishealth。Next，hehadcometosomedefinitedecisionastowhathewoulddo。Hisearlierdreamofbecomingaprofessorofnaturalhistoryhadfadedaway。Withtheinpouringofvigorintohisconstitutiontheidealofanacademiclife，oftensedentaryinmindaswellasinbody，ceasedtolurehim。Hecravedactivity，andthiscravingwasboundtogrowmoreurgentasheacquiredmorestrength。Next，andthisconsiderationmustnotbeneglected，hewasfreetochoose。Hisfather”sdeathlefthimthepossessorofasufficientfortunetoliveoncomfortablywithoutneedofworkingtoearnhisbreadandbutter——themotivewhichdeterminesmostyoungmenwhentheystartinlife。Finally，hisfather”sexample，reinforcedbywholesomeadvice，quickenedinTheodorehissenseofobligationtothecommunity。Havingmoney，hemustuseit，notformerepersonalgratification，butinwayswhichwouldbenefitthosewhoweredeprived，oroutcast，orbereft。ButTheodorewastooyoungandtooenergetictobecontentedwiththelifeofaphilanthropist，nomatterhownobleandnecessaryitsobjectsmightbe。HehadalreadyacceptedEmerson”sdictum： “Hewhofeedsmen，servesafew； Heservesallwhodaresbetrue。” Youngashewas，hedivinedthatmuchofthecharitablework，towhichgoodpeopledevotethemselvesinordertolightenorrelievetheillswhichthesinsanderrorsofmankindbeget，wouldbeneedlessiftheremedywereapplied，asitoughttobe，tofundamentalsocialconditions。These，hebelieved，couldbereachedinmanycasesthroughpoliticalagency，andheresolved，therefore，tomakeatrialofhistalentsinpoliticallife。Thepointatwhichhedecidedto“breakintopolitics，“asheexpressedit，wastheAssembly，orLowerHouseoftheNewYorkStateLegislature。Mostofhisfriendsandclassmates，onhearingofhisplan，regardeditasaproofofhiseccentricity；afewofthem，themorediscerning，wouldnotprejudgehim，butwereratherinclinedtohope。Bytraditionandinstinct，hewasaRepublican，andinordertolearnthepoliticalropeshejoinedtheTwenty-firstDistrictRepublicanAssociationofNewYorkCity。Thedistrictconsistedchieflyofrich，respectable，andsociallyconspicuousinhabitantsofthevortexmetropolis，withaleavenofthe“masses。”The“classes“hadnorealzealfordischargingtheirpoliticalduty。Theysubscribedtothecampaignfund，buthadtoodelicateasenseofproprietytoaskhowtheirmoneywasspent。Afewofthem——andtheseseemedtobeendowedwithaspecialmodicumofpatriotism——evenattendedthepartyprimariesinwhichcandidateswerenamed。Themajoritywenttothepollsandcasttheirvoteonelectionday，ifitdidnotrainorsnow。ForayoungmanofRoosevelt”spositiontodesiretotakeuppoliticsseemedtohisfriendsalmostcomic。Politicswerelowandcorrupt；politicswerenotfor“gentlemen“；theywerethebusinessandpastimeofliquor-dealers，andofthedegeneratesandloaferswhofrequentedthesaloons，ofhorse-carconductors，andofmanyotherswhosetieswith“respectability“ wereslight。 Tojointheorganization，RoosevelthadtobeelectedtotheTwenty-firstDistrictRepublicanClub，forthepoliticiansofthosedayskepttheirorganizationclose，nottosayexclusive，andinthiswaytheysecuredthedocilityoftheirmembers。TheTwentyfirstDistrictClubmetinMortonHall，adingy，barnlikeroomsituatedoverasaloon，andfurnishedseverelywithwoodenbenches，manyspittoons，andaspeaker”stabledecoratedwithalargepitcherforice-water。TheregularmeetingscameonceamonthandRooseveltattendedthemfaithfully，becauseheneverdidthingsbyhalves，andhavingmadeuphismindtolearnthemechanismofpolitics，hewouldnotneglectanydetail。 Despitetheshynesswhichillhealthcausedhiminhisyouth，hewasreallyagood“mixer，“and，growingtofeelmoresureofhimself，hemetmenonequalterms。Morethanthat，hehadtheartofinspiringconfidenceinpersonsofdiverssortsand，ashewasreallyinterestedinknowingtheirthoughtsanddesires，itnevertookhimlongtostrikeupfriendlyrelationswiththem。 JakeHess，theRepublican“Boss“oftheTwenty-firstDistrict，evidentlyeyedRooseveltwithsomesuspicion，forthenewcomerbelongedtoaclasswhichJakedidnotdesiretoseelargelyrepresentedinthebusinessof“practicalpolitics，“andsohetreatedRooseveltwitha“ratherdistantaffability。”Theyoungman，however，gotonwellenoughwiththeheelers——theimmediatetrustyfollowersoftheBoss——andwiththeordinarymembers。Theyprobablymarveledtoseehimsounlikewhattheybelievedayouthofthe“kid-glove“and“silkstocking“setwouldbe，andtheyacceptedhimasa“goodfellow。” OfallRoosevelt”scomradesduringthisfirstyearofinitiation，ayoungIrishmannamedJoeMurraywasnearesttohim，anhonestfellow，fearlessandstanch，whoremainedhisloyalfriendforfortyyears。MurraybeganasaDemocratoftheTammanyHalltribe，buthavingbeenleftinthelurchbyhisBossatanelection，hedeterminedtopunishtheBoss，andthishedidatthefirstopportunitybythrowinghisinfluenceonthesideoftheRepublicancandidate。TheRepublicanswon，althoughthedistrictwasoverwhelminglyDemocratic，andMurrayjoinedtheRepublicanParty。HeworkedinthedistrictwhereJakeHessruled。Likeotherevengreatermen，Jakebecamearrogantandtreatedthegangunderhimwithcondescension。MurrayresentedthisandresolvedthathewouldhumbletheBossbysupportingRooseveltasacandidatefortheAssembly。Hessprotested，butcouldnotpreventthenominationandduringthecampaignheseemstohavesupportedthecandidatewhomhehadnotchosen。 Rooseveltsentthefollowinglaconicappealtosomeofthevotersofhisdistrict： NewYork，November1，1881。 DEARSIR： HavingbeennominatedasacandidateformemberofAssemblyforthisDistrict，IwouldesteemitacomplimentifyouhonormewithyourvoteandpersonalinfluenceonElectionday。 VeryrespectfullyTHEODOREROOSEVELT Certainly，nothingcouldbesimplerthanthiscard，whichcontainsnopuffofeitherthepartyorthecandidate，ornopromise。Itdrewacordialresponse。 Twenty-firstAssemblyDistrict。 40thto86thSts。，Lexingtonto7thAves。 WecordiallyrecommendthevotersoftheTwenty-firstAssemblyDistricttocasttheirballotsforTheodoreRooseveltformemberofAssemblyandtakemuchpleasureintestifyingtoourappreciationofhishighcharacterandstandinginthecommunity。Heisconspicuousforhishonestyandintegrity，andeminentlyqualifiedtorepresenttheDistrictintheAssembly。 NewYorkNovember1，1881 F。A。P。Barnard，WilliamT。Black，WillardBullard，JosephH。 Choate，WilliamA。Darling，HenryE。Davies，TheodoreW。Dwight，JacobHess，MorrisK。Jesup，EdwardMitchell，WilliamF。Morgan，Chas。S。Robinson，ElihuRoot，JacksonS。Shultz，ElliottF。 Shepard，GustavusTuckerman，S。H。Wales，W。H。Webb。 Thislistbearsthenamesofatleasttwomenwhowillbelongremembered。Therearealsoseveralotherswhichweredoubtlessofmorepoliticalvaluetotheaspiranttoofficein1881。 JustaftertheelectionRooseveltwrotetohisclassmate，CharlesG。Washburn：”Tootrue，tootrue；Ihavebecomea“politicalhack。”Findingitwouldnotinterferemuchwithmylaw，IacceptedthenominationtotheAssemblyandwaselectedby1500majority，leadingtheticketby600votes。Butdon”tthinkIamgoingtogointopoliticsafterthisyear，forIamnot。” Roosevelt”sallusiontothelawrequiresthestatementthatintheautumnof1880hehadbeguntoreadlawintheofficeofhisuncle，RobertRoosevelt；notthathehadastrongleaningtothelegalprofession，butthathebelievedthateveryone，nomatterhowwelloffhemightbe，oughttobeabletosupporthimselfbysomeoccupationorprofession。Also，hecouldnotendurebeingidle，andheknewthattheslightpoliticalworkonwhichheembarkedwhenhejoinedtheTwenty-firstDistrictRepublicanClubwouldtakebutlittleofhistime。Duringthatfirstyearoutofcollegeheestablishedhimselfasacitizen，notmerelypolitically，butsocially。Onhisbirthdayin1880hemarriedMissLeeandtheysetuptheirhomeat6WestFifty-seventhStreet；hejoinedsocialandliteraryclubsandextendedhisathleticinterestsbeyondwrestlingandboxingtohunting，riflepractice，andpolo。 Hislawstudiesseemtohaveabsorbedhimlessthananythingelsethatheundertookduringallhislife。Hecouldnotfailtobeinterestedinthem，butheneverplungedintothemwithallhismightandmainasifheintendedtomakethemhischiefconcern。 Forawhilehehadadeskintheofficeofthepublishers，G。P。 Putnam”sSons：butMajorGeorgePutnamrecallsthathedidlittleexceptsuggestwonderfulprojects，which“hadtobesatdownupon。”Alreadyaloveofwritinginfectedhim。EvenbeforeheleftHarvardhehadbegun“AHistoryoftheNavalWarof1812，“ andthisheworkedoneagerly。ThePutnamspublisheditin1882。 OneincidentofRoosevelt”scanvassmustnotbeoverlooked。TheRedIndiansofoldusedtomaketheircaptivesrunthegauntletbetweentwolinesofwarriors：politicalbossesinNewYorkin1880madetheirnomineerunthegauntletofallthesaloonkeepersintheirdistrict。Accordingly，JakeHessandJoeMurrayproceededtointroduceRoosevelttotherum-sellersofSixthAvenue。ThefirsttheyvisitedreceivedTheodorewithinjudiciouscondescensionalmostasifhewereasuppliant。Hesaidhehopedthattheyoungcandidate，ifelected，wouldtreattheliquormenfairly，towhichthe“suppliant“repliedthatheintendedtotreatallinterestsfairly。Thesuggestionthatliquorlicensesweretoohighbroughttheretortthattheywerenothighenough。 Thereupon，thewaryHessandthediscreetJoeMurrayfoundanexcuseforhurryingRooseveltoutofthesaloon，andtheytoldhimthathehadbetterlookafterhisfriendsonFifthAvenueandthattheywouldlookafterthesaloon-keepersonSixthAvenue。 Thatanydecentcandidateshouldhavetopassinreviewbeforethesaloon-keepersandreceivetheirapproval，issomonstrousastobegrotesque。ThatapossiblePresidentoftheUnitedStatesshouldbethevictimneedsnocomment。ItwasthoroughlycharacteristicofRooseveltthathebalkedatthefirsttrial。 Hesaysinhis“Autobiography“thathewasnotconsciousofgoingintopoliticstobenefitotherpeople，buttosecureforhimselfaprivilegetowhicheveryonewasentitled。Thatprivilegewasself-government。Whenhis“kid-glove“friendslaughedathimfordeliberatelychoosingtoleapintothepoliticalmire，hetoldthemthatthegoverningclassoughttogovern，andthatnottheythemselvesbutthebossesand“heelers“weretherealgovernorsofNewYorkCity。Notthealtruisticdesiretoreform，buttheperfectlypracticalresolvetoenjoythepoliticalrightstowhichhehadaclaimwashisleadingmotive。Itisimportanttounderstandthisbecauseitwillexplainmuchofhisactionasastatesman。RooseveltisthegreatestidealistinAmericanpubliclifesinceLincoln；buthisidealism，likeLincoln”s，alwayshadafirm，intelligent，practicalfooting。RoosevelthimselfthusdescribeshisworkduringhisfirstyearintheNewYorkAssembly： IpaidattentionchieflywhileintheLegislaturetolawsforthereformationofPrimariesandoftheCivilServiceandendeavoredtohaveacertainJudgeWestbrookimpeached，onthegroundofcorruptcollusionwithJayGouldandtheprostitutionofhishighjudicialofficetoservethepurposeofwealthyandunscrupulousstockgamblers，butwasvoteddown。 Thisbriefstatementgivesnoideaofeitherthemagnitudeorqualityofhisworkinwhich，likeyoungDavid，hewentforthtosmiteGoliath，theGiantCorruption，，entrenchedforyearsintheAlbanyStateHouse。Idonotbelievethatinattackingthemonster，Rooseveltthoughtthathewasdisplayingunusualcourage，muchlessthathewaswinningthecrownofamoralhero。 Hesimplysawamassofabuseandwickednesswhicheverydecentpersonoughttorepudiate。Mostdecentpersonssawit，too，butconvention，orself-interest，partyaffiliation，orunromantic，every-daycowardice，madethemholdtheirtongues。BeingassignedtocommitteeswhichhadsomeofthemostimportantconcernsofNewYorkCityincharge，RoosevelthadtheadvantagegivenbyhisinitiationintopoliticalmethodsaspracticedintheTwenty-firstDistrictofknowingalittlemorethanhiscolleaguesknewaboutthelocalissues。ThreemonthsofthesessionelapsedbeforehestoodupintheChamberandattackedpoint-blank，oneformidablechampionofcorruption。ListentoananonymouswriterintheSaturdayEveningPost： ItwasonApril6，1882，thatRoosevelttookthefloorintheAssemblyanddemandedthatJudgeWestbrook，ofNewbury，beimpeached。AndforsheermoralcouragethatactisprobablysupremeinRoosevelt”slifethusfar。Hemusthaveexpectedfailure。Evenhisyouthandidealismandignoranceofpublicaffairscouldnotblindhimtotheapparentlyinevitableconsequences。Yethedrewhisswordandrushedapparentlytodestruction——alone，andattheveryoutsetofhiscareer，andindisregardofthepleadingsofhisclosestfriendsandtheplaindictatesofpoliticalwisdom。Thatspeech——thedecidingactinRoosevelt”scareer——isnotremarkableforeloquence。Butitisremarkableforfearlesscandor。Hecalledthievesthieves，regardlessoftheirmillions；heslashedsavagelyatthejudgeandtheAttorneyGeneral；hetoldtheplainunvarnishedtruthashisindignanteyessawit。* *Riis，54-55。 AstonishmentvergingonconsternationfilledtheAssemblymen，who，throughlongexperience，wereconvincedthatTruthwastooprecioustobeexhibitedinpublic。WorldlywisdomcametotheaidoftheveteranRepublicanleaderwhowishedtotreattheassaultasifitweretheunripeexplosionofyouth。Thecallownessofhisyoungfriendmustexcusehim。Hedoubtlessmeantwell，buthisinexperiencepreventedhimfromrealizingthatmanyareputationinpubliclifehadbeenshatteredbyjustsuchloosecharges。Hefeltsurethatwhentheyoungmanhadtimetothinkitover，hewouldmodifyhislanguage。Itwouldbefitting，therefore，forthatbodytoshowitskindlinessbygivingthenewmemberfromNewYorkCityleisuretothinkitover。 LittledidthisofficialdefenderofcorruptionunderstandMr。 Roosevelt，whosebusinessitwasthentoupholdRight。Thatwasaquestioninwhichexpediencycouldhavenovoice。HeregardedneithertheharmhemightpossiblydotohispoliticalfuturenortothestandingoftheRepublicanParty。Isuspectthathesmartedundertheleader”sattempttotreathimasayoungmanwhosebreaksinsteadofcausingsurprisemustbecondoned。 Althoughthemagnatesofthepartypleadedwithhimandurgedhimnottothrowawayhisusefulness，heroseagainintheAssemblynextdayandrenewedhisdemandforaninvestigationofJudgeWestbrook。Dayafterdayherepeatedhisdemand。ThenewspapersthroughouttheStatebegantogivemoreandmoreattentiontohim。Thepublicapplauded，andthelegislators，whohadsatandlistenedtohimwithcontemptuousindifference，heardfromtheirconstituents。Atlast，ontheeighthday，byavoteof104to6 theAssemblyadoptedRoosevelt”sresolutionandappointedaninvestigatingcommittee。TheevidencetakenamplyjustifiedRoosevelt”scharges，inspiteofwhichthecommitteegaveawhitewashingverdict。Neverthelessthe“youngreformer“hadnotonlyprovedhiscase，buthadsuddenlymadeanameforhimselfintheStateandintheCountry。 Beforehisfirsttermendedhediscoveredthattherewereenemiesofhonestgovernmentquiteasdangerousastheopensupportersofcorruption。Thesewerethedemagogueswho，underthepretenseofattackingthewickedinterests，introducedbillsforthesolepurposeofbeingboughtoff。Slyfellowstheywereandsneaks。 Againsttheir“strike“legislationRoosevelthadalsotofight。 HischieffriendatAlbanywasBillyO”Neil，whokeptalittlecrossroadsgroceryupintheAdirondacks；hadthoughtforhimselfonAmericanpolitics；hadsecuredhiselectiontotheAssemblywithoutthefavoroftheMachine；andnowactedtherewithasmuchindependenceashisyoungcolleagueoftheTwentyfirstDistrict。Rooseveltremarksthatthefactthattwopersons，sprungfromsuchtotallydifferentsurroundings，shouldcometogetherintheLegislaturewasanexampleofthefineresultwhichAmericandemocracycouldachieve。 Thesessioncametoaclose，andalthoughRoosevelthadprotestedtheyearbeforethathewasnotgoingintopoliticsasacareer，heallowedhimselftoberenominated。Naturally，hisdesiretocontinueinandcompletethetaskinwhichhehadalreadyaccomplishedmuchwaswhetted。Hewouldhavebeenafoolifhehadnotknown，whateveryoneelseknew，thathehadmadeaverybrilliantrecordduringhisfirstyear。Afalsestandardwhichcomesverynearhypocrisyimposesaridiculousmockmodestyongreatmeninmoderntimes：asifShakespearealoneshouldbeunawarethathewasShakespeareorthatNapoleonorDarwinorLincolnorCavourshouldeachbeignorantofhisworth。Bettervanity，ifyouwill，thanshammodesty。TherewasnoharmdonethatRooseveltattwenty-threefeltproudofbeingrecognizedasapowerintheAssembly。Wemustneverforgetalsothathewasafighter，andthathisfirstcontestsinAlbanyhadsorousedhisbloodthathelongedtofightthosebattlestoafinish，thatis，tovictory。Wemustmakeadistinctionalsoinhismotives。Hedidnotstraineverynervetowinacausebecauseitwashiscause；buthavingadoptedacausewhichhisheartandmindtoldhimwasgood，hestrovetomakethatcausetriumphbecausehebelievedittobegood。 Soheallowedhimselftoberenominatedandhewasreelectedby2000majority，althoughinthatautumnof1882theDemocraticcandidateforGovernor，GroverCleveland，sweptNewYorkStateby192，000andcarriedintoofficebythemomentumofhissuccessmanyoftheminorcandidatesontheDemocraticticket。 Theyear1883openedwiththecheerofdawninNewYorkpolitics。 Cleveland，theyoungGovernorofforty-four，hadprovedhimselffearless，public-spirited，andconscientious。SohadRoosevelt，theyoungAssemblymanoftwenty-three。OnewasaDemocrat，oneaRepublican，buttheywerealikeincourageandinholdinghonestyandrighteousnessabovetheirpartyplatforms。 Rooseveltpursuedinthissessionthemethodswhichhadmadehimfamousandfearedinthepreceding。Headmitsthathemayhavehadforawhilea“swelledhead，“forinthechaosofconflictingprinciplesandno-principlesinwhichhislifewasthrown，hedecidedtoactindependentlyandtolethisconsciencedeterminehisactiononeachquestionwhicharose。Heflockedbyhimselfonapeak。Hewastoopractical，however，toholdthiscourselong。 Experiencehadalreadytaughthimthatunderaconstitutionalgovernmentpartieswhichadvocateoropposeissuesmustrule，andthatinordertomakeyourissueswinyoumustsecureamajorityofthevotes。Notbyplayingsolitaire，therefore，notbystandingaloofasonecryinginthewilderness，butbyhonestlypersuadingasmanyasyoucouldtosupportyou，couldyoupromotethecauseswhichyouhadatheart。TheprofessionalpoliticiansandtheMachineleadersstillthoughtthathewasstubbornandtooconceitedtolistentoreason，butinrealityhehadafewintimateslikeBillyO”NeilandMikeCostellowithwhomhetookcounsel，andagroupofthirtyorfortyothers，bothRepublicanandDemocratic，withwhomheactedharmoniouslyonmanyquestions。 TheyallunitedtofighttheBlack-HorseCavalry，asthegangof“strike“legislatorswascalled。OneofthemostinsidiousbillspushedbytheserascalsaimedatreducingthefaresontheNewYorkElevatedRailwayfromtencentstofivecents。Itseemedsoplausible！Soentirelyintheinterestofthepoorman！Indeed，theaffairsoftheElevatedtookupmuchofRoosevelt”sattentionandenrichedforyearstheBlack-HorseCavalrymenandthelobbyists。HealsoforcedtheAssemblytoappointacommissiontoinvestigatetheNewYorkCitypoliceofficials，thepolicedepartmentbeingatthattimenotoriouslycorrupt。TheyemployedastheircounselGeorgeBliss，alawyerofprominence，withasharptongueandacontemptforself-constitutedreformers。WhileRooseveltwascross-examiningoneoftheofficials，Bliss，wholittleunderstoodthemanhewasdealingwith，interruptedwithascornfulandimpertinentremark。“Ofcourseyoudonotmeanthat，Mr。Bliss，“saidtheyoungreformerwithimpressivepoliteness，“forifyoudidweshouldhavetoputyououtinthestreet。” Eveninthoseearlydays，whenRooseveltwasindeadearnest，hehadawayofpointinghisforefingerandoffixinghisunderjawwhichthepersonwhomheaddressedcouldnotmistake。Thatforefingerwasasmenacingasasevenshooter。Mr。Bliss，withalltheprestigeofasuccessfulcareeratthebarbehindhim，quicklyunderstoodthemeaningofthelook，thegesture，andthestudiedcourtesy。Hedeemeditbesttoretractandapologizeatonce；anditwas。 Rooseveltconsentedtorunforathirdtermandhewaselectedinspiteoftheoppositionofthevariouselementswhichunitedtodefeathim。Suchamanwastoo。dangeroustobeacceptabletoJayGouldandthe“interests，“toBlack-HorseCavalry，andtogangsofallkindswhomadealiving，directlyorindirectly，byoffice-holding。Hisfriendsurgedhimforthespeakership；butthiswasaskingtoomuchoftheDemocraticmajority，andbesides，therewereRepublicanswhohadwincedunderhisscourgetheyearbeforeandweregladenoughtodefeathimnow。Occasionally，somekindelderlyfriendwouldstillattempttoshowhimthefollyofhisways，andwehearreportsofonegentleman，amemberoftheAssemblyandan“oldfriend，“whotoldhimthatthegreatconcerninlifewasBusiness，andthatlawyersandjudges，legislatorsandCongressmen，existedtoservetheendsofBusiness。“Thereisnopoliticsinpolitics，“saidthismoralguideandsage。Buthecouldnotbudgetheyoungman，whobelievedthattherearemanyconsiderationsmoreimportantthanthepolitical。 Duringthisthirdyear，hemadeastraightandgallantfighttoimprovetheconditionunderwhichcigarsweremadeinNewYorkCity。Byhisowninvestigation，hefoundthatthecigarmakerslivedintenements，inoneroom，perhapstwo，withtheirfamiliesandoftenaboarder；thesemadethecigarswhichthepublicbought，inignoranceofthefacts。Rooseveltproposedthat，asahealthmeasurewhichwouldbenefitalikethecigar-makersandthepublic，thisevilpracticebeprohibitedandthatthepoliceputastoptoit。Hisbillpassedin1884，butthenextyeartheCourtofAppealsdeclareditunconstitutional，becauseitdeprivedthetenement-housepeopleoftheirlibertyandwouldinjuretheownersofthetenementsiftheywerenotallowedtorenttheirpropertytothesetenants。Initsdecision，thecourtindulgedinnauseatingsanctimonyofthissort：“Itcannotbeperceivedhowthecigar-makeristobeimprovedinhishealth，orhismorals，byforcinghimfromhishomeanditshallowedassociationsandbeneficentinfluencestoplyhistradeelsewhere。”ThiswasprobablynotthefirsttimewhenRooseveltwasenragedtofindthecourtsofjusticesleeklyupholdinghot-bedsofdiseaseandvice，onthepretensethattheywereprotectingliberty。Commentingonthisepisode，Mr。Washburnwellsays：“AsappliedtothekindoftenementIhavereferredto，thisreferencetothe”homeanditshallowedassociations”seemsgrotesqueortragicdependinguponthepointofview。”* *Washburn，11。 Amidworkofthiskind，fightingandfearless，constantlyaddingtohisreputationamongthegoodasahightypeofreformer，andaddingtothedetestationinwhichthebadheldhim，hecompletedhisthirdterm。HeresolutelyrefusedtoserveagainanddeclinedtheofferswhichwerepresseduponhimtorunforCongress；nordidheacceptaplaceontheRepublicanNationalCommittee。 ThedeathofhismotheronFebruary12，1884，followedintwenty-fourhoursbythatofhiswife，whodiedafterthebirthofadaughter，broughtsorrowuponRooseveltwhichmadetheburdenofhispoliticalworkheavierandcausedhimtoconsiderhowheshouldreadjusthislife，forhewasfirstofallamanofdeepfamilyaffectionsandthelossofhiswifelefthimadrift。 ToS。N。D。North，editoroftheUticaHeraldandawell-wisherofhis，hewrotefromAlbanyonApril30，1884： DearMr。North：Iwishtowriteyouafewwordsjusttothankyouforyourkindnesstowardsme，andtoassureyouthatmyheadwillnotbeturnedbywhatIwellknowwasamainlyaccidentalsuccess。Althoughnotaveryoldman，Ihaveyetlivedagreatdealinmylife，andIhaveknownsorrowtoobitterandjoytookeentoallowmetobecomeeithercastdownorelatedformorethanaverybriefperiodoversuccessordefeat。 Ihaveverylittleexpectationofbeingabletokeeponinpolitics；mysuccesssofarhasonlybeenwonbyabsoluteindifferencetomyfuturecareer；forIdoubtifanyonecanrealizethebitterandvenomoushatredwithwhichIamregardedbytheverypoliticianswhoatUticasupportedme，underdictationfrommasterswhowereinfluencedbypoliticalconsiderationsthatwerenationalandnotlocalintheirscope。I realizeverythoroughlytheabsolutelyephemeralnatureoftheholdIhaveuponthepeople，andtheveryrealandpositivehostilityIhaveexcitedamongthepoliticians。IwillnotstayinpubliclifeunlessIcandosoonmyownterms；andmyideal，whetherliveduptoornot，isratherahighone。ForverymanyreasonsIwillnotmindgoingbackintoprivatelifeforafewyears。Myworkthiswinterhasbeenveryharassing，andIfeelbothtiredandrestless；forthenextfewmonthsIshallprobablybeinDakota，andIthinkIshallspendthenexttwoorthreeyearsinmakingshootingtrips，eitherintheFarWestorintheNorthernwoods——andtherewillbeplentyofworktodowriting。* *Douglas，41-42。 Thisletterisastrikingrevelationoftheinmostintentionsofthemanoftwenty-five，whoalreadystoodonapinnaclewherehardheadsandmaturemightwellhavebeendizzy。Evidentlyheknewhimself，andeveninhisbriefexperiencewiththeworldheunderstoodhowuncertainandevanescentarethewindsofFame。Ifhehadeversufferedfroma“swelledhead，“hewasnowcured。Hefelttheemptinessoflife”sprizeswhenthedearestwhoshouldhavesharedthemwithhimweredead。 CHAPTERIII。ATTHEFIRSTCROSSROADS Theyear1884wasaPresidentialyear，andRooseveltwasoneofthefourdelegates-at-large*ofNewYorkStatetotheRepublicanNationalConventionatChicago。ThedayseemedtohavecomeforanewbirthinAmericanpolitics。TheRepublicanPartywasgrownfatwithfourandtwentyyearsofpower，andthefathadoverlainandsmothereditsnobleaims。Thepartywasarrogant，itwascorrupt，itwasunashamed。AftertheWar，immenseprojectsinvolvinghugesumsofmoneyhadtobemanaged，andtheRepublicansspentlikespendthriftswhentheydidnotspendlikeembezzlers。IdonotimplythattheDemocratswouldnothavedonethesameiftheyhadbeenincommand，orthattherewerenotamongthemmanywhosawwheretheirprofitlay，andtookit。ThequadrupedswhichfeedattheTreasurytroughareallofonespecies，nomatterwhethertheirskinsbeblackorwhite。 *Theotherdelegates-at-largewerePresidentAndrewD。WhiteofCornellUniversity，J。T。Gilbert，andEdwinPackard。 Butnowanewgenerationwasspringingup，withitsleavenofhopeandidealismanditsintuitivefaithinhonesty。 Morecompletelythananyoneelse，Rooseveltembodiedtothecountrythegloriouspromiseofthisnewgeneration。Buttheoldalwaysdieshardafterithaslongbeenthebloodandmindofacreed，aclass，oraparty。Terriblealsoistheblind，remorselesssweepofacustomwhichmayhavesprungupfromgoodsoil，notlessthanonespawnedandnurturedininiquity。 Frankensteinlaboriouslyconstructinghismonsterseemstopersonifysocietyatitsimmemorialtaskofcreatinginstitutions；eachinstitutionasitbecomesviablerendsitscreator。 SotheRepublicanPartylivedonitstraditions，itsprivileges，itsappetites，itsarrogance，anditrefusedtobetransmutedbyitsyoungestmembers。In1876itresortedtofraudtoperpetuateitsholdonpower。Unchastenedin1880，threehundredandsixofitsdelegatesattemptedthroughthickandthintoforcethenominationofGeneralGrantforathirdterm。ThechiefopposingcandidatewasJamesG。Blaine，whoseunsavoryreputation，however，causedthemajorityoftheconventionwhichwasnotpledgedtoGranttorepudiateBlaineandtochooseGarfieldasacompromise。Thenfollowedfouryearsoffactionalbitternessintheparty，andwhen1884cameround，Blaine”sadmirerspushedhimtothefront。 Blainehimselfwasnotapersonofdelicateinstinct。TherepudiationwhichhehadtwicesufferedbythebetterelementoftheRepublicanParty，seemedonlytoredoublehisdeterminationtobeitscandidate。Hehadmuchpersonalmagnetism。Bothinhismethodsandideals，herepresentedperfectlythepoliticianswhoduringthedozenyearsafterLincoln”sdeathflourishedatWashington，andateveryStatecapitolintheUnion。BytheluckofacatchingphraseappliedtohimbyRobertG。Ingersoll，hestoodbeforetheimaginationofthecountry“astheplumedknight，“althoughonlookingbackwesearchinvainforanytraitofknightlinessorchivalryinhim。ForascoreofyearshefilledtheNationalCongress，HouseandSenate，withthebustleofhisegotism。Hisknightlyvalorconsistedinshakinghisfistatthe“RebelBrigadiers“andinwavingthe“bloodyshirt，“ featswhichseemedtohimheroic，nodoubt，butwhichweresafeenough，theBrigadiersbeingfewandBlaine”ssupportersmany。 ButwhereontheNation”sstatutebookdoyoufindnowasingleimportantlawfatheredbyhim？Whatbookcontainsoneofhismaximsformentoliveby？Manypersonsstilllivewhoknewhim，andrememberhim，butcananyofthemrepeatasayingofhiswhichpassescurrentonthelipsofAmericans？Somuchsoundandfury，somuchintrigueandsophistry，andself-seeking，andnowthesilenceofanemptysepulchre！ ThebetterelementoftheRepublicanPartywenttotheChicagoConventionsworntosavethepartyfromthedisgraceofnominatingBlaine。Rooseveltbelievedthechargesagainsthim，andbyallthathehadwrittenandspoken，andbyhispoliticalcareer，hewasboundtoopposethepolitician，who，asSpeakeroftheNationalHouse，had，bytheshowingofhisownletters，takenbribesfromunscrupulousinterests。Intheconvention，andinthecommitteemeetings，andintheincessantparleyswhichpreparetheworkofaconvention，RooseveltfoughtunwaveringlyagainstBlaine。ThebetterelementmadeSenatorGeorgeF。Edmundstheircandidate，andRoosevelturgedhisnominationonallcomers。Whentheconventionmet，Mr。Lodge，ofMassachusetts，nominatedJ。R。 Lynch，anegrofromMississippi，tobetemporarychairman，therebyheadingoffPowellClayton，aveteranRepublican“war-horse“andoffice-holder。Roosevelthadthehonor——anditwasanhonorforsoyoungaman——tomakeaspeech，whichprovedtobeeffective，inLynch”sbehalf；andwhenthevotewastaken，Lynchwaschosenby424to384。ThisfirstvictoryovertheBlaineMachine，theEdmundsmenhailedasagoodomen。 RooseveltwaschairmanoftheNewYorkStatedelegation。ThewhirlingdaysandnightsatChicagoconfirmedhispositionasanationalfigure，buthestroveinvaininbehalfofhonesty。Themajorityofthedelegateswouldnotbegainsaid。TheyhadcometoChicagoresolvedtoelectJamesG。Blaine，andnoother，andtheywouldnotquituntiltheyhadaccomplishedthis。Pleasformoralityandforpartyconcordfellondeafears，asdidwarningsofthecomfortwhichBlaine”snominationwouldgivetotheirenemies。Hissupporterspackedthegreatconventionhall，andwhenhisnamewasputinnomination，therefollowedariotofcheers，whichlastedthebetterpartofanhour，andforebodedhissuccess。 Ashadbeenpredicted，Blaine”snominationsplittheRepublicanParty。ManyofthebetterelementcameoutforGroverCleveland，theDemocraticcandidate，who，asGovernorofNewYork，haddisplayedunfailingcourage，integrity，andintelligence。Othersagain，disgustedwithmanyoftheprinciplesandleadersofbothparties，formedthemselvesintoaspecialgrouporpartyofIndependents。TheywerehatefulaliketotheBosseswhocontrolledtheRepublicanorDemocraticorganization；andCharlesA。Dana，oftheNewYorkSun，whotookcarenevertobe“onthesideoftheangels，“derisivelydubbedthem“mugwumps“——atitlewhichmaycarryanhonorablemeaningtoposterity。 IwasoneoftheseIndependents，andifIcitemyowncase，itisnotbecauseitwasofanyimportancetothepublic，butbecauseitwastypical。DuringthedaysofsuspensebeforetheChicagoConventionmet，theproposednominationofBlaineweigheduponmelikeanightmare。IwouldnotadmittomyselfthatsogreatacrimeagainstAmericanidealscouldbecommittedbydelegateswhorepresentedthestandardofanypoliticalparty，andweredrawnfromalloverthecountry。Icherished，whatseemstomenowthesadlyfoolishdream，thatwithRooseveltintheconventiontheabominationcouldnotbedone。Ithoughtofhimasofapaladinagainstwhomtheforcesofevilwoulddashthemselvestopieces。 Ithoughtofhimastheyounganddauntlessspokesmanofrighteousnesswhosewordswouldsilencethespecialpleadersofiniquity。Iwrotehimandbesoughthimtostandfirm。 Therefollowedthedaysofsuspensewhenthenewspapersbroughtnewsofthewildproceedingsattheconvention，andformetheshadowdeepened。ThenthetelegraphreportedBlaine”striumphantnomination。Iwaited，weallwaited，tolearnwhatthedelegateswhoopposedhimintendedtodo。OnemorningadispatchintheNewYorkTribuneannouncedthatRooseveltwouldnotbolt。ThatverydayIhadalittlenotefromhimsayingthathehaddonehisbestinChicago，thattheresultsickenedhim，thatheshould，however，supporttheRepublicanticket；butheintendedtospendmostofthesummerandautumnhuntingintheWest。 Iwasdumfounded。IfeltasAbolitionistsfeltafterWebster”sSeventhofMarchspeech。Myoldacquaintance，ourtrustedleader，whosecareerintheNewYorkAssemblywehadwatchedwithanalmostholysatisfaction，seemedtohavestrangelyabandonedthefundamentalprincipleswhichweandhehadbelievedin，andhehadsonoblyupheld。Whittier”spoem“Ichabod“seemedtohavebeenaimedathim，especiallyinitsthirdstanza： “Oh，dumbbepassion”sstormyrage，WhenhewhomightHavelightedupandledhisage，Fallsbackinnight。” Amidtheluridgleamsandheatofsuchadisappointment，mencannotseeclearly。Theyimputewrongmotives，basemotives，tothebackslider。Intheirwrath，theyassumethatonlyguiltcanaccountforhisdefection。 WeseeplainlyenoughnowthatwemisjudgedRoosevelt。Weassumedthatbecausehewaswithusinthecrusadeforpurepolitics，heagreedwithusintheestimateweputonpartyloyalty。 Independentsandmugwumpsfeltlittlereverenceandsetevenlessvalueonpoliticalparties，whichweregardedsimplyasinstrumentstobeusedincarryingoutpolicies。Ifapartypursuedapolicycontrarytoourown，weleftitasweshouldleaveatrainwhichwefoundgoinginthewrongdirection。Therewasnothingsacredinapoliticalparty。 InassumingthatRooseveltmusthavecoincidedwithusintheseviews，wedidhimwrong。Forheheldthen，andhadheldsincehefirstenteredpolitics，thatpartytranscendedpersons，andthatonlyinthegravestcaseimaginablewasonejustifiedinboltinghispartybecauseonedisapprovedofitscandidate。HedidnotrespectBlaine；onthecontrary，heregardedBlaineasabadman： buthebelievedthatthefutureofthecountrywouldbemuchsaferunderthecontroloftheRepublicanPartythanundertheDemocratic。Thisdoctrineexposesitsadherentstoobviouscriticism，ifnottosuspicion。Itenablespersonsofcallousconsciencestosupportbadplatformsandbadcandidateswithoutblushing；butafterall，whoshallsayatwhatpointyouarejustifiedinboltingyourparty？Thedecisionmustrestwiththeindividual。AndalthoughitwashardfortheboltingIndependentsin1884toacceptthetenetthatpartytranscendspersons，itwasRoosevelt”sreason，andwithhimsincere。SomeofhiscolleaguesinthebetterelementwhohadstruggledashehadtodefeatBlaine，andthen，almosteffusively，exaltedBlaineastheirstandard-bearer，werelessfortunatethanheinhavingtheirsinceritydoubted。GeorgeWilliamCurtis，CarlSchurz，CharlesFrancisAdams，andotherIndependentsoftheirintransigenttemperformedaMugwumpPartyandthisturnedthescaleinelectingGroverClevelandPresident。 ThereusedtobemuchdiscussionastowhopersuadedRoosevelt，althoughhedetestedBlaine，tostandbytheRepublicansin1884。 Thosewerethedayswhenveryfewofhiscriticsunderstoodthat，inspiteofhisyouth，hehadalreadythoughtforhimselfonpoliticsandhadreachedcertainconclusionsastofundamentalprinciples。ThesecriticsassumedthathemusthavebeenwonoverbyHenryCabotLodge，withwhomhehadbeenintimatesincehisHarvarddays，andwhowassupposedtobehispoliticalmentor。 Thetruthis，however，thatRoosevelthadformedhisownopinionaboutbolting，andthatheandLodge，indiscussingpossibilitiesbeforetheywenttotheChicagoConvention，hadindependentlyagreedthattheymustabidebythechoiceofthepartythere。 Theyheld，andamajorityofmeninsimilarpositionstillhold，thatdelegatescannotinhonorabandonthenomineechosenbythemajorityinaconventionwhichtheyattendasdelegates。Iftherule，“Myman，ornobody，“weretoprevail，therewouldbenouseinholdingconventionsatall。Andafterthatof1884，GeorgeWilliamCurtis，oneofthechiefleadersoftheIndependents，admittedthatRoosevelt，instayingwiththeRepublicanParty，playedthegamefairly。WhileCurtishimselfboltedandhelpedtoorganizetheMugwumps，Roosevelt，afterhistriptotheWest，returnedtoNewYorkandtookavigorouspartinthecampaign。 Nevertheless，Roosevelt”sdecision，in1884，tocleavetotheRepublicanPartydisappointedmanyofus。Wethoughtofhimasalostleader。Somecriticsintheirignorancewereinclinedtoimputefalsemotivestohim；butintime，thecloudofsuspicionrolledawayandhisactioninthatcrisiswasnotlaidupagainsthim。TheelectionofClevelandrelievedhimofseemingperfunctorilytoupholdBlaine。