第2章

CHAPTERIV。NATURETHEHEALER Aperfectbiographywouldshowdefinitelytheinteractionbetweenmindandbody。Atpresentwecanonlyguesswhatthisinteractionmaybe。Insomecasestherelationsareevident，butinmosttheyarevagueandoftenunsuspected。Thepsychologists，whosepretensionsaresogreatandwhoseactualresultsarestillsosmall，mayperhapslead，anageortwohence，tothedesiredknowledge。Butthebiographeroftodaymustbewareofadoptingtheunripeformulasofanyimmaturescience。Nevertheless，hemustwatch，study，andrecordallthefactspertainingtohissubject，althoughhecannotexplainthem。TheodoreRooseveltwasawonderfulexampleofthepartnershipofmindandbody，andanyonewhowriteshisbiographyindetailwilldowelltopaygreatheedtothisintricateinterlocking。Icandonomorethanalludetoithere。WehaveseenthatRooseveltfromhisearliestdayshadaquickmind，happilynotprecocious，andaweakbodywhichpreventedhimfromtakingpartinnormalphysicalactivityandtheplayandsportofboyhood。Sohisintellectuallifegrewoutofscaletohisphysical。Thenhesettoworkbythedeliberateapplicationofwill-powertodevelophisbody，andwhenheenteredHarvardhewasabovetheaverageyouthinstrength。 Beforehegraduated，thosewhosawhimboxorwrestlebeheldafellowsomewhatslimandlight，butunusuallywellsetup。DuringthesucceedingfouryearsheneverallowedhisdutiesasAssemblymantoencroachuponhisexercise；onthecontrary，heplayedregularlyandheplayedhard，addingnewkindsofsporttodevelopnewfacultiesandtogivethespiceofvariety。HerodetohoundswiththeMeadowbrookHunt；hetookuppolo；andheboxedandwrestledasinhiscollegedays。 InafewyearsRooseveltbecamephysicallyaverypowerfulman。I recallmyastonishmentthefirsttimeIsawhim，afterthelapseofseveralyears，tofindhimwiththeneckofaTitanandwithbroadshouldersandstalwartchest，insteadofthecity-bred，slightyoungfriendIhadknownearlier。Hisbodywasnowequaltoanyburdenorstrainwhichhismindmighthavetoendure；andhenceforthitisnoidlefancythatsuggestsaperpetualcompetitionbetweenthetwo。Thankstohisextraordinarywill，however，heneverallowedhisbodytogetcontrol；but，asappetitecomeswitheating，sohisstrongandhealthymusclescravedmoreandmoreexerciseasheusedthem。Andnowhetookanovelwaytogratifythem。 Eversincehisfirsttasteofcamplife，whenhewentintotheMaineWoodsundertheguidanceofBillSewallandWillDow，Rooseveltfeltthelureofwildnature，andonmanysuccessiveseasonsherepeatedthesetrips。Gradually，fishingandhuntinginthewildernessofMaineortheAdirondacksdidnotaffordhimenoughscopeforhisbrimmingvigor。HedecidedtogoWest，totherealWest，wheregreatgameandIndiansstillsurvived，andtheconditionsofthefewwhitemenwerealmostasprimitiveasinthedaysoftheearliestexplorers。Whenthesessionof1883 adjourned，hestartedforNorthDakota，thenaterritorywithafewsettlers，andamongtheBadLandsontheLittleMissouriheboughtaninterestintwocattleranches，theChimneyButteandtheElkhorn。Thefollowingyear，afterthePresidentialcampaignwhichplacedClevelandintheWhiteHouse，Rooseveltdetermined，aswesawinthelettersIhavequoted，toabandontheEastforatimeandtodevotehimselftoaranchman”slife。Hewasstillindeepgriefatthelossofhiswifeandofhismother；therewasnoimmediateprospectofusefulnessforhiminpolitics；theconventionsofcivilization，asheknewtheminNewYorkCity，palleduponhim；asureinstinctwhisperedtohimthathemustbreakawayandseekhealthofbodyandheartandsoulamongtheremote，unspoiledhauntsofprimevalNature。Fornearlytwoyears，withoccasionalintervalsspentintheEast，theElkhornRanchatMedorawashishome，andhehasdescribedthelifeoftheranchmanandcow-puncherinpageswhicharesuretobereadaslongasposteritytakesanyinterestinknowingaboutthetransitionoftheAmericanWestfromwildernesstocivilization。 Hesharedinalltheworkoftheranch。Hetookwitha“frolicwelcome“thehumdrumofitsroutineaswellasitsexcitementsanddangers。Hesaysthathedoesnotbelievethattherewaseveranymoreattractivelifeforavigorousyoungfellowthanthis，andassuredlynooneelsehasglorifieditasRooseveltdidwithhispen。Atonetimeoranotherheperformedallthedutiesofaranchman。Hewentonlongridesafterthecattle，heroundedthemup，hehelpedtobrandthemandtocutoutthebeevesdestinedfortheEasternmarket。Hefollowedtheherdwhenitstampededduringaterrificthunderstorm。Inwintertherewasoftenneedtosavethewanderingcattlefromasuddenanddeadlyblizzard。Thelogcabinor“shack“inwhichhedweltwasrough，andsowasthefare；comfortswerefew。Hechoppedthecottonwoodwhichtheyusedforfuel；heknewhowtocarefortheponies；andonceatleasthepassedmorethantwenty-fourhoursinthesaddlewithoutsleep。Accordingtothebeststandards，hesays，hewasnotafinehorseman，butitisclearthathecoulddoeverythingwithahorsewhichhadtobedone，andthatheneverstoppedfromfatigue。Whentheyneededfreshmeat，hewouldshootit。Inshort，heheldhisownunderallthehardshipsandrequirementsdemandedofacowboyorranchman。Toadapthimselftothesewildconditionsofnatureandworkwas，however，onlyapartofhisexperience。Evenmoredangerousthanpursuingastampedingherdatnightovertheplains，andplungingintotheLittleMissouriafterit，wasintercoursewithsomeofthelawlessnomadsofthatpioneerregion。Nomadstheywere，thoughtheymightsettledowntoworkforawhileononeranch，andthenpassontoanother； thesortofcreatureswholoafedinthesaloonsofthelittlevillagesandamusedthemselvesbyrunningamuckandshootingupthetown。Thesemen，andindeednearlyallofthepioneers，heldthemanfromthecivilizedEast，the“tenderfoot，“inscorn。Theytookitforgrantedthathewasaweakling，thathehadsoftideasoflifeandwasstuck-uporaffected。NowRooseveltsawthatinordertowintheirtrustandrespect，hemustshowhimselfequaltotheirtasks，atruecomrade，whoacceptedtheircodeofcourageandhonor。Thefactthatheworespectacleswasagainsthimattheoutset，becausetheyassociatedspectacleswithEasternschoolmastersandincompetence。Theycalledhim“FourEyes，“atfirstwithderision，buttheysoondiscoveredthatinhimtheyhadno“tenderfoot“todealwith。Heshotaswellasthebestofthem；herodeasfar；henevercomplainedoffoodortasksorhardship；hemeteveryoneonequalterms。Aboveall，heleftnodoubtastohiscourage。Hewouldnotpickaquarrelnorwouldheavoidone。Manystoriesofhisprowesscirculated；mereheckling，orapracticaljoke，hetookwithalaugh；aswhensomeofthemenchangedthesaddlefromhisponytoabuckingbroncho。 Butheknewwheretodrawtheline。AtMedora，forinstance，theMarquisdeMores，aFrenchsettler，assumedtheattitudeofafeudalproprietor。Havingbeenthefirsttosquatinthatregionheregardedthosewhocamelaterasinterlopers，andheandhismenactedverysullenly。Theyevencarriedtheirill-willandintimidationtothepointofshooting。InduetimetheMarquisdiscoveredcauseforgrievanceagainstRoosevelt，andhesenthimaletterwarningthenewcomerthatifthecausewerenotremovedtheMarquisknewhowonegentlemansettlesadisputewithanother。Rooseveltdespisedduelingasasillypractice，whichwouldnotdeterminejusticebetweendisputants；butheknewthatinCowboyLandtheduel，beingregardedasatestofcourage，mustnotbeignoredbyhim。Anymanwhodeclinedachallengelostcasteandhadbetterleavethecountryatonce。SoRooseveltwithinanhourdispatchedareplytothesurlyMarquissayingthathewasreadytomeethimatanytimeandnamingtherifle，attwelvepaces”distance，astheweaponthathepreferred。TheMarquis，aformidableswordsmanbutnoshot，sentbackword，expressingregretthatMr。Roosevelthadmistakenhismeaning：inreferringto“gentlemenknowinghowtosettledisputes，“hemeantthatofcourseanamicableexplanationwouldrestoreharmony。 Thenceforward，hetreatedRooseveltwitheffusivecourtesy。 Perhapsachillrandownhisbackatthethoughtofstandingupbeforeanantagonisttwelvepacesawayandthatthefightersweretoadvancetowardseachotherthreepacesaftereachround，untiloneofthemwaskilled。 SoTheodorefoughtnoduelwitheithertheFrenchMarquisorwithanyoneelseduringhislifeintheWest，buthehadseveralencounterswithlocaldesperadoes。Onecoldnightinwinter，havingriddenfarandknowingthathecouldreachnorefugeformanyhours，heunexpectedlysawalight。Goingtowardsit，hefoundthatitcamefromacabinwhichservedassaloonandtavern。Onentering，hesawagroupofloafersanddrinkerswhowereapparentlyterrorizedbyabigfellow，rathermorethanhalfdrunk，whoprovedtobethelocalbully。Thefunctionofthispersonwastomaintainhisbullyshipagainstallcomers： accordingly，hesoonpickedonRoosevelt，whoheldhispeaceaslongashecould。Thentherowdy，whograspedhispistolsinhishands，orderedthe“four-eyedtenderfoot“tocometothebarandsetupdrinksforthecrowd。Rooseveltwalkeddeliberatelytowardshim，andbeforethebullysuspectedit，the“tenderfoot“ felledhimwithasledgehammerblow。Infalling，apistolwentoffwideofitsmark，andthebullylayinafaint。Beforehecouldrecover，Rooseveltstoodoverhimreadytopoundhimagain。 Butthebullydidnotstir，andhewascarriedoffintoanotherroom。Thecrowdcongratulatedthestrangeronhavingservedhimright。 Atanotherplace，therewasa“badman“whosurpassedtherestofhisfellowsinusingfoullanguage。Roosevelt，wholoathedobscenityashedidanyotherformoffilth，tiredofthisbadman”stalkandtoldhimverycalmlythathelikedhimbutnothisnastiness。Insteadofdrawinghisgun，asthebystandersthoughthewoulddo，Jimlookedsheepish，acknowledgingthecharge，andchangedhistone。Heremainedaloyalfriendofhiscorrector。 Cattle-thievesandhorse-thievesinfestedtheWestofthosedays。 Tostealaranchman”shorsemightnotonlycausehimgreatannoyance，butevenputhislifeindanger，andaccordinglytherascalswhoengagedinthisformofcrimerankedastheworstofallandreceivednomercywhentheywerecaught。Ifthesheriffoftheregionwaslax，thesettlerstookthematterintotheirownhands，enrolledthemselvesasvigilantes，huntedthethievesdown，hangedthosewhomtheycaptured，andshotatsightthosewhotriedtoescape。Ithappenedthatthesheriff，inwhosejurisdictionMedoralay，allowedsomanythievestogetoffthathewassuspectedofbeingincollusionwiththem。TheranchmenheldameetingatwhichhewaspresentandRoosevelttoldhiminveryplainwordstheircomplaintagainsthimandtheirsuspicions。Thoughhewasahot-temperedman，andveryquickonthetrigger，heshowednowillingnesstoshoothisboldyoungaccuser；heknew，ofcourse，thattheranchmenwouldhavetakenvengeanceonhiminaflash，butitisalsopossiblethatherecognizedthetruthofRoosevelt”saccusationandfeltcompunctions。 SometimelaterRooseveltshowedhowazealousofficerofthelaw——hewastheactingdeputysheriff-oughttobehave。HehadaboatinwhichheusedtocrosstheLittleMissouritohisherdsontheotherside。Onedayhemissedtheboat，itsropehavingbeencut，andheinferredthatitmusthavebeenstolenbythreecattle-thieveswhohadbeenoperatinginthatneighborhood。Bymeansofittheycouldeasilyescape，fortherewasnoroadalongtheriveronwhichhorsemencouldpursuethem。Notwithstandingthis，Rooseveltresolvedthattheyshouldnotgofree。InthreedaysBillSewallandDowbuiltaflat，water-tightcraft，onwhichtheyputenoughfoodtolastforafortnight，andthenallthreestarteddownstream。Theyhaddriftedandpoledonehundredandfiftymilesormore，beforetheysawafaintcolumnofsmokeinthebushesnearthebank。Itprovedtobethetemporarycampofthefugitives，whomtheyquicklytookprisoners，putintotheboat，andcarriedanotheronehundredandfiftymilesdowntherivertothenearesttownwithajailandacourt。Goingandcoming，Rooseveltspentnearlythreeweeks，nottomentionthehardshipswhichheandhistrustymensufferedontheway；buthehadservedjustice，andJusticemustbeservedatanycost。Whenthestorybecameknown，theadmirationofhisneighborsforhispluckandpersistencerose；buttheywonderedwhyhetookthetroubletomaketheextrajourney，inordertodelivertheprisonerstothejail，insteadofshootingthemwhereheovertookthem。 IchronicletheseexamplesofRoosevelt”scourageamongthelawlessgangswithwhomhewasthrowninNorthDakota，becausetheyrevealseveralqualitieswhichcametoberegardedaspeculiarlyRooseveltianduringtherestofhisdays。Weareapttospeakof“mere“physicalcourageasbeinginferiortomoralcourage；anddoubtlesstherearemanyheroesunknowntotheworldwho，underthetortureofdiseaseorthepoignancyofsocialinjusticeandwrongs，deservethehighestcrownofheroism。Menwhowouldleadachargeinbattlewouldshrinkfromdenouncinganacceptedconventionorevenfromslightingapopularfashion。Butafterall，theinstinctoftheraceissoundinreveringthosewhogivetheirliveswithouthesitationorregretatthepointofdeadlyperil，oroffertheirowntosavethelivesofothers。 Roosevelt”sexperienceestablishedinhimthatphysicalcouragewhichhissoulhadaspiredtoinboyhood，whentheconsciousnessofhisbodilyinferioritymadehimseemshyandalmosttimid。Nowhehadabodilyframewhichcouldbackupanyresolutionhemighttake。Theemergenciesinaranchman”scareeralsotrainedhimtobequicktowill，instantaneousinhisdecisions，andequallyquickinthemuscularactivitybywhichhecarriedthemout。Inacommunitywhosemembersgavewaytosuddenexplosionsofpassion，youmightbeshotdeadunlessyougotthedropontheotherfellowfirst。TheanecdotesIhaverepeated，indicatethatRooseveltmustoftenhaveoutspedhisopponentindrawing。 Welearnfromthem，too，thathewasfarfrombeingthepugnaciouspersonwhommanyofhislatercriticsinsistedthathewas。Havinggivenampleprooftothefrontiersmenthathehadnofear，heresolutelykeptthepeacewiththem，andtheyhadnodesiretobreakpeacewithhim。Blusterandswaggerwereforeigntohisnature，andheloathedabullyasmuchasacoward。Ifwehadnotalreadyhadtherecordofhis。threeyearsintheLegislature，inwhichhesurprisedhisfriendsbyhiswonderfultalentformixingwithallsortsofpersons，wemightmarvelathisabilitytomeetthecowboysandranchmen，andeventhedesperadoes，oftheLittleMissourionequalterms，towintherespectofallofthem，andthelifelongdevotionofafew。Theyknewthattheusualtenderfoot，howevermuchhemightwishtofraternize，wasfendedfromthembyhispast，histraditions，hiscivilizedlife，hisinstincts；butinRoosevelt”scase，therewasnogulf，nobarrier。 EvenafterhebecamePresidentoftheUnitedStates，Icannomoreimaginethathefeltembarrassmentinmeetinganyone，highorlow，thanthathescrutinizedthecoatonaman”sbackinordertoknowhowtotreathim。 Tohavegainedsolidhealth，tohavegainedmasteryofhimself，andtohaveputhissocialnaturetotheseveresttestandfounditflawless，werevalidresultsofhislifeontheElkhornRanch。 Itimpartedtohimalsoaknowledgewhichwastoprovemostprecioustohimintheunforeseenfuture。Forittaughthimtheimmensediversityofthepeople，andconsequentlyoftheinterests，oftheUnitedStates。Itgavehimanationalpointofview，inwhichheperceivedthatthestandardsanddesiresoftheAtlanticStateswerenotall-inclusiveorfinal。Yetwhileitimpressedonhimtheimportanceofgeographicalconsiderations，itimpressed，moredeeplystill，thefactthattherearemoralfundamentalsnottobemeasuredbygeography，orbytime，orbyrace。LincolnlearnedthisamongthepioneersofIllinois；insimilarfashionRooseveltlearneditintheBadLandsofDakotawiththeirpioneersandexilesfromcivilization，andfromstudyingthedepthsofhisownnature。 CHAPTERV。BACKTOTHEEASTANDLITERATURE OneSeptemberdayin1886，RooseveltwasreadingaNewYorknewspaperinhisElkhorncabin，whenhesawthathehadbeennominatedbyabodyofIndependentsascandidateforMayorofNewYorkCity。Whetherhehadbeenpreviouslyconsultedornot，Idonotknow，butheevidentlyacceptedthenominationasacall，forheatoncepackeduphisthingsandstartedEast。Thepoliticalsituationinthemetropoliswassomewhatabnormal。TheUnitedDemocracyhadnominatedforMayorAbramS。Hewitt，amerchantofhighstanding，oneofthosedecentpersonswhomTammanyHallputsforwardtoattractrespectablecitizenswhenitfindsitselfinatightplaceandlikelytobedefeated。Atsuchapinch，TammanyevenpolitelykeepsinthebackgroundandallowsittoappearthatthedecentcandidateiswhollythechoiceofdecentDemocrats：fortheTammanyTigerwears，sotospeak，areversibleskinwhich，whenturnedinsideout，showsneitherstripesnorclaws。Mr。Hewitt”schiefopponentwasHenryGeorge，putupbytheUnitedLaborParty，whichhadsuddenlyswelledintoimportance，andhaddiscoveredintheauthorof“ProgressandPoverty“andintheadvocateoftheSingleTaxacandidatewhoseprivatecharacterwasgenerallyrespected，evenbythosewhomosthatedhiseconomicteachings。ThemerethoughtthatsuchaRadicalshouldbeproposedforMayorscared，notmerelytheBigInterests，buttheownersofrealestateandintangibleproperty。 Againsttheseredoubtablecompetitors，theIndependentsandRepublicanspittedRoosevelt，hopingthathisprestigeandpersonalpopularitywouldcarrytheday。Hemadeapluckycampaign，butHewittwon，withHenryGeorgesecond。Inhisletterofacceptancehewentstraightatthemark，whichwasthatthegovernmentofthecitywasstrictlyabusinessaffair。“Iveryearnestlydeprecate，“hesays，“allattemptstointroduceanyclassorcastefeelingintothemayoraltycontest。Laborersandcapitalistsalikeareinterestedinhavinganhonestandeconomicalcitygovernment，andifelectedIshallcertainlystrivetobetherepresentativeofallgoodcitizens，payingheedtonothingwhateverbutthegeneralwell-being。”*WhenTammanyreversesitshide，theRepublicansinNewYorkCityneednotexpectvictory；andin1886HenryGeorgedrewoffagoodmanyvoteswhichwouldordinarilyhavebeencastforRoosevelt。 *Riis，101。 Nevertheless，thefightwasworthmaking。Itreintroducedhimtothepublic，whichhadnotheardhimfortwoyears，andithelpederasefrommen”smemoriesthefactthathehadsupportedBlainein1884。HiscontestwithHewittandGeorgesethiminhistruelight——aRepublicanbyconviction，apartyman，alsobyconviction，butaboveallthefearlesschampionofwhathebelievedtobetheright，initsstruggleagainsteconomicheresyandpoliticalcorruption。 Theelectionover，RooseveltwenttoEurope，andonDecember2，1886，atSt。George”s，HanoverSquare，London，hemarriedMissEdithKermitCarow，ofNewYork，whomhehadknownsincehisearliestchildhood，theplaymateofhissisterCorinne，thelittlegirlwhosephotographhadstirredupinhim“homesicknessandlongingsforthepast，“whenhewasalittleboyinParis。 CecilSpring-Rice，anoldfriend(subsequentlyBritishAmbassadoratWashington)，washisgroomsman，andbeingmarriedatSt。 George”s，Theodoreremarks，“mademefeelasifIwerelivinginoneofThackeray”snovels。” Mrs。Roosevelt”sfathercameofHuguenotstock，thenamebeingoriginallyQuereau；thefirstFrenchimmigrantsofthefamilyhavingmigratedtoNewYorkintheseventeenthcenturyataboutthesametimeasClaesvanRoosevelt。LiketheRoosevelts，theCarowshadsofreelyintermarriedwithEnglishstockinAmericathattheFrenchoriginofonewasaslittlediscernibleintheirdescendantsaswastheDutchoriginoftheother。ThroughherAmericanlineMrs。RoosevelttracedbacktoJonathanEdwards，theprolificancestorofmanypersonswhoemergedabovethecommonlevelbyeithertheirvirtueortheirbadness。 AfterspendingseveralmonthsinEurope，Mr。andMrs。RooseveltreturnedandsettledatOysterBay，LongIsland，wherehehadbuilt，notlongbefore，acountryhouseonSagamoreHill。Hisplacetherecomprisedmanyacres——abeautifulcountryofhillandhollowandfinetalltrees。TheBaymadeinfromLongIslandSoundandseemedtobeclosedbytheoppositeshore，sothatincalmweatheryoumightmistakeitforalake。ThishomewasthoroughlyadaptedforRoosevelt”sneeds。BeingonlythirtymilesfromNewYork，witharailroadnearby，convenientbutnotintrusive，itgaveeasyaccesstothecity，butwasremoteenoughtodiscouragecasualorundesiredcallers。Ithadsufficientlandtocarryonfarmingandtosustainthenecessaryhorsesanddomesticcattle。Mrs。Rooseveltsupervisedit；hesimplyloveditandgotdistractionfromhismorepressingaffairs；ifhehadchosentowithdrawfromthesehemighthavedevotedhimselftothepleasingandleisurelylifeofagentlemanfarmer。Forawhilehischiefoccupationwasliterary。Intothishepitchedwithcharacteristicenergy。Hisinnatecravingforself-expressioncouldneverbesatiatedbyspeakingalone，andnow，sincehefillednopublicpositionwhichwouldbeacauseorperhapsanexcuseforspeaking，hewrotewithallthemoreenthusiasm。 Althoughhewaslessthansevenyearsoutofcollege，hispoliticalcareerhadgivenhimanationalreputation，whichhelpedandwashelpedbythevogueofhiswritings。TheAmericanpublichadcometoperceivethatTheodoreRooseveltcoulddonothingcommonplace。Thetruthwas，thathedidmanythingsthatothermendidwhichceasedtobecommonplaceonlywhenhedidthem。ScoresofotheryoungmenwentonhuntingtripsafterbiggameintheRockiesortheSelkirks，andevenranchinghadbeenengagedinbytheenterprisingandtheadventurous，whohopedtofinditashortwaytoafortune。Butwhetherasranchmanorashunter，Rooseveltwasbetterknownthanalltherest。Hisskillindescribinghisexperiencesnodoubtlargelyaccountedforthis；butthefactthattheexperienceswerehis，wastheultimateexplanation。 Rooseveltbegantowriteveryearly。HethoughtthattheinstructioninrhetoricwhichhereceivedatHarvardenlightenedhim，andduringhisSenioryearhebeganthe“HistoryoftheNavalWarof1812，“whichhecompletedandpublishedin1882。 Thisworkatoncewonrecognitionforhim，anditdifferedfromthetraditionalaccounts，embeddedintheschoolhistoriesoftheUnitedStates，indoingfulljusticetotheBritishnavaloperations。Probably，forthefirsttime，ourpeoplerealizedthattheWarof1812hadnotbeenaseriesofvictories，startlingandirresistible，fortheAmericanNavy。Nearlytenyearslater，Rooseveltinthe“WinningoftheWest“madehissecondexcursionintohistory。Thesevolumes，whicheventuallynumberedsix，areregardedbyexpertsinthesubjectasofgreatvalue，andIsupposethatinthemRooseveltdidmorethananyotherwritertopopularizethestudyofthehistoricaloriginanddevelopmentofthevastregionwestoftheAlleghanieswhichnowformsavitalpartoftheAmericanRepublic。Oneattributeofarealhistorianisthepowertodiscernthestructuralorpregnantqualityofhistoricperiodsandepisodes；andthispowerRooseveltdisplayedinchoosingboththeWarof1812andtheWinningoftheWest。 InhislargerhistoryRoosevelthadaswift，energetic，anddirectstyle。Heneverlackedforideas。Descriptionscametohimwithexuberantdetailsofwhichheselectedenoughtoleavehisreaderwiththefeelingthathehadlookedonavividandaccuratepicture。Here，forinstance，isaportraitofDanielBoonwhichseemsremarkablylifelike，becauseIrememberhowdifficultotherwritersfindittoindividualizemostofthefiguresofthepioneers。 Thebackwoodsmen，hesays，“alltilledtheirownclearings，guidingtheplowamongthecharredstumpsleftwhenthetreeswerechoppeddownandthelandburnedover，andtheywereall，asamatterofcourse，hunters。WithBoon，huntingandexplorationwerepassions，andthelonelylifeofthewilderness，withitsbold，wildfreedom，theonlyexistenceforwhichhereallycared。 Hewasatall，spare，sinewyman，witheyeslikeaneagle”s，andmusclesthatnevertired；thetoilandhardshipofhislifemadenoimpressonhisironframe，unhurtbyintemperanceofanykind，andhelivedforeighty-sixyears，abackwoodshuntertotheendofhisdays。Histhoughtful，quiet，pleasantface，sooftenportrayed，isfamiliartoeveryone；itwasthefaceofamanwhoneverblusteredorbullied，whowouldneitherinflictnorsufferanywrong，andwhohadalimitlessfundoffortitude，endurance，andindomitableresolutionuponwhichtodrawwhenfortuneprovedadverse。Hisself-commandandpatience，hisdaring，restlessloveofadventure，and，intimeofdanger，hisabsolutetrustinhisownpowersandresources，allcombinedtorenderhimpeculiarlyfittedtofollowthecareerofwhichhewassofond。”* *WinningoftheWest，1，137，138(ed。1889)。 RooseveltcontributedtwovolumestotheAmericanStatesmenSeries，oneonThomasHartBentonin1886，andtheotheronGouverneurMorrisin1887。Theenvironmentandcareersofthesetwomen——theMissouriSenatorofthefirsthalfofthenineteenthcentury，andtheNewYorkfinancierofthelasthalfoftheeighteenth——affordedhimscopefortreatingtwoverydiversesubjects。HewashimselfrootedintheoldNewYorksoilandhehadcome，throughhislifeintheWest，todivinetheconditionsofBenton”sdays。Onceagain，manyyearslater(1900)hetriedhishandatbiography，takingOliverCromwellforhishero，andmakingasummary，impressionisticsketchofhim。BesidestheinterestthisbiographyhasforstudentsofCromwell，ithasalsointerestforstudentsofRoosevelt，foritisaspecimenofthesortofby-productshethrewoffinmomentsofrelaxation。 Morecharacteristicthansuchexcursionsintohistoryandbiography，however，arehismanybooksdescribingranch-lifeandhunting。Intheformer，hegivesyoutruthfuldescriptionsofthemenoftheWestashesawthem，andinthelatterherecountshisadventureswithelkandbuffalo，wolvesandbears。Themeretrailingandkillingofthesecreaturesdonotsatisfyhim。Hestudieswithequalzesttheirhauntsandtheirhabits。Thenaturalistinhim，whichwerecognizedinhisyouth，foundthisventinhismaturity。Andlongyearsafterward，onhisexpeditionstoAfricaandtoBrazilhedealtevenmoreexuberantlywiththenaturalhistoryofthecountrieswhichhevisited。 TwootherclassesofwritingsmakeupRoosevelt”sastonishingoutput。Hegatheredhisessaysandaddressesintohalfadozenvolumes，remarkablealikeforthewidevarietyoftheirsubjects，andforthevigorwithwhichheseizedoneachsubjectasifitwastheoneaboveallotherswhichmostabsorbedhim。Finally，skimthecollectionofhisofficialmessages，asCommissioner，asGovernor，orasPresident，andyouwilldiscoverthathehadthegiftofinfusinglifeandcolorintotheusuallydrabandcheerlesswastesofofficialdocuments。 IamnotconcernedtomakealiteraryappraisalofTheodoreRoosevelt”smanifoldworks，butIamstruckbythefactthatourprofessionalcriticsignorehimentirelyintheirsummariesorhistoriesofrecentAmericanliterature。AsIre-read，aftertwentyyears，andinsomecasesafterthirtyyears，booksofhiswhichmadeastirontheirappearance，Iamimpressed，notonlybytheexcellenceoftheirwriting，butbytheirlastingquality。 Ifhehadnotdonesomanyotherthingsofgreaterimportance，anddonethemsupremely，hewouldhavesecuredlastingfamebyhisbooksonhunting，ranching，andexploration。NootherAmericancompareswithhim，andIknowofnoother，inEnglishatleast，whohasmadeacontributioninthesefieldsequaltohis。 Throughouttheseeightortenvolumesheproveshimselftobeoneofthoserarewriterswhoseewhattheywrite。AsinthecaseofTennyson，thanwhomnoEnglishpoet，inspiteofnearsightedness，hasobservedsominutelythetiniestdetailsofformorthefaintestnuanceofcolor，sothelackofnormalvisiondidnotpreventRooseveltfrombeingtheclosestofobservers。Hewasalso，bytheway，agoodshotwithrifleorpistol。Ifyoureadoneofhischaptersin“HuntingtheGrizzly“andaskyourselfwhereinitsanimationandattractionlie，youwillfindthatitisbecauseeverysentenceandeverylinereportthingsseen。Hedoesnot，liketheRealist，trytogetaspeciouslifelikenessbyheapingupbanalandcommonplacefacts；heselects。Hisimaginationremindsoneofthetravelingsparkwhichusedtorunalongthegreatchandelierinthetheatre，andlighteachjet，sothatitspassageseemedaflightfrompointtopointofbrilliance。Whereverhefocuseshissurveyaspotglowsvividly。 Theeye，themastersenseofthemind，thusdominateshim，andI thinkthatweshalltracetoitsmasterymuchoftheimmediatepowerwhichheexertedbyhiswritingsandspeechesonpublic，social，andmoraltopics。Hestruckoff，intheheatofcompositionorofspeaking，phrasesandsimileswhichmillionscaughtupeagerlyandmadeasfamiliarashouseholdwords。Heevenrememberedfromhisextensivereadingsomeitemwhich，whenappliedbyhimtotheaffairofthemoment，acquirednewpertinenceandasecondlife。Thus，Bunyan”s“muckraker“livesagain；thus，“thecurseofMeroz，“andmanyanotherBiblereference，springsupwithafreshmeaning。 Nodoubtthepuristwillfindoccasionallapsesintasteorexpression，andthequibblingpeddlerofrhetoricwillgloatoversomedoubtfulconstruction；butneitherpuristnorpeddlerofrhetorichaseverbeenableinhiswritingtodisplaytheease，therush，thenaturalness，thesparklewhichwereasgenuineinRooseveltaswerethefeaturesofhisface。Onreadingthesepages，whichhaveescapedtheattentionoftheprofessionalcritics，IwonderwhethertheymaynothaveafatesimilartoDefoe”s；forDefoealsowasreadvoraciouslybyhiscontemporaries，hispamphletsmadeagreatrustleintheirtime，andthenthecriticsturnedtootherandspicierwriters。Butindueseason，othercritics，aswellastheworld，madethediscoverythatonlyageniuscouldhaveproducedDefoe”s“every-day，““commonplace“style。 Hisinnatevigor，oftenswellingintovehemence，marksalsoRoosevelt”spoliticalessays，andyethehadtimeforreflection，andifyouexaminecloselyevensomeofhiscombativepassages，youwillseethattheydonotspringfromsuddenangerorscorn，butfromaconvictionwhichhasmaturedslowlyinhim。HehadnotthephilosophiccalmwhichformedthebackgroundofBurke”spoliticalmasterpieces，buthehadtheclearness，thesimplicity，bywhichhecoulddrivehomehisthoughtsintothemindsofthemultitude。Burkespokeandwroteforthousandsandforposterity； Rooseveltaddressedmillionsforthemoment，andletposteritydowhatitwouldwithhisburningappealsandinvectives。Hewasnotsoabsolutelyself-effacingasLincoln，butIthinkthatherealizedtothefullthemeaningofLincoln”sphrase，“theworldwilllittlenote，norlongrememberwhatwemaysayhere，“andthathewouldhavemadeithismotto。Forhe，likealltrulygreatstatesmen，wassoimmenselyconcernedinwinningtoday”sbattle，thathewastednotimeinspeculatingwhattomorrow，ornextyear，ornextcenturywouldsayaboutit。Mysticism，therecurrentfadwhichindicatesthatitsvictimsneitherseeclearnorthinkstraight，couldnotspreaditsveilsoverhim。Themanwhovisualizesissafefromthatintellectualweaknessandmoraldanger。ButalthoughRooseveltfelttheswayofthetrueemotions，heallowedonlyhisintimatestoknowwhatheheldmostintimateandsacred。Hefeltalsothecharmofbeauty，andoverandoveragaininhisdescriptionsofhuntingandridingintheWest，hepausestorecallbeautifulsceneryorsomeunusualbitoflandscape；andeveninrememberinghispassagedowntheRiverofDoubt，whenhecamenearertodeaththanheevercameuntilhedied，inspiteoftormentingpainanddesperateanxietyforhiscompanions，hementionsmorethanoncethelovelinessoftheriversceneorofthemassedfoliagealongitsbanks。Naturalistthoughhewas，bentfirstonstudyingthehabitsofbirdsandanimals，heyettookkeendelightintheiridescentplumageorgracefulformorthebeautifulfurofbirdandbeast。 Thequalityofawritercanbestbejudgedbyreadingawholechapter，ortwoorthree，ofhisbook，butsometimesherevealsaphaseofhimselfinasingleparagraph。Read，forinstance，thisbriefextractfromRoosevelt”s“ThroughtheBrazilianWilderness，“ifyouwouldunderstandsomeofthetraitswhichI havejustalludedto。ItcomesattheendofhislonganddismayingexplorationoftheRiverofDoubt，whenthepartywassafeatlast，andtheterribleriverwasabouttoflowintothebroad，lakelikeAmazon，andManaoswasalmostinsight，wherecivilizationcouldbelaidholdonagain，Manaos，whencetheswiftshipswentsteamingtowardstheAtlanticandtheAtlanticopenedaclearpathhome。Hesays：”TheNorthwascallingstronglythethreemenoftheNorth——RockyDellFarmtoCherrie，SagamoreHilltome；andtoKermitthecallwasstrongerstill。AfternightfallwecouldnowseetheDipperwellabovethehorizon——upsidedownwiththetwopointerspointingtoaNorthStarbelowtheworld”srim；buttheDipper，withallitsstars。Inourhomecountryspringhadnowcome，thewonderfulNorthernspringoflong，gloriousdays，ofbroodingtwilight，ofcool，delightfulnights。Robinandbluebird，meadow-larkandsong-sparrowweresinginginthemorningsathome；themaplebudswerered；windflowersandbloodrootwerebloomingwhilethelastpatchesofsnowstilllingered；theraptureofthehermitthrushinVermont，theserenegoldenmelodyofthewoodthrushonLongIsland，wouldbeheardbeforeweweretheretolisten。Eachwaslongingforthehomelythingsthatweresodeartohim，forthehomepeoplewhoweredearerstill，andfortheonewhowasdearestofall。”* *ThroughtheBrazilianWilderness，320。 CHAPTERVI。APPLYINGMORALSTOPOLITICS IhavesaidthatRooseveltdevotedthetwoyearsafterhecamebacktoNewYorktowriting，butitwouldbeamistaketoimaginethatwritingalonebusiedhim。Hewasneveramanwhodidorwoulddoonlyonethingatatime。Hisimmenseenergycravedvariety，andinvarietyhefoundrecreation。NowthatthephysicalRoosevelthadcaughtupinrelativestrengthwiththeintellectual，hecouldtakewhatholidaysrequiringexhaustlessbodilyvigorhechose。TheyearseldompassednowwhenhedidnotgoWestforamonthortwo。BillSewallandWilmotDowwereestablishedwiththeirfamiliesontheElkhornRanch，whichRooseveltcontinuedtoown，although，Ibelieve，likemanyranchesatthatperiod，itceasedtobeagoodinvestment。 SometimeshemadeahurrieddashtosouthernTexas，ortotheSelkirks，ortoMontanainsearchofnewsortsofgame。Inthemountainsheindulgedinclimbing，butthiswasnotafavoritewithhimbecauseitofferedlesssportinproportiontothefatigue。WhilehewasstillayoungmanhehadgoneuptheMatterhornandMontBlanc，featswhichstillrequiredendurance，althoughtheydidnotinvolvedanger。 Whilewethinkofhim，therefore，asdedicatinghimselftohisliterarywork——the“WinningoftheWest“andtheaccountsofranchlife——wemustrememberthathehadleisureforotherthings。Hewatchedkeenlythecourseofpolitics，forinstance，andin1888whentheRepublicansnominatedBenjaminHarrisonastheircandidateforPresident，RooseveltsupportedhimeffectivelyandtookrankwiththeforemostRepublicanspeakersofthecampaign。AfterhiselectionHarrison，whobothrecognizedRoosevelt”sgreatabilityandfeltunderobligationtohim，wishedtoofferhimthepositionofanunder-secretaryintheStateDepartment；butBlaine，whowasslatedforSecretaryofState，hadnolikingfortheyoungRepublicanwhosecoolnessin1884hehadnotforgotten。SoHarrisoninvitedRoosevelttobeaCivilServiceCommissioner。Thepositionhadneverbeenconspicuous；itssalarywasnotlarge；itsdutieswereoftheroutinekindwhichdidnotgreatlytaxtheenergiesoftheCommissioners，whocouldneverhopeforfame，butonlyfortheapprovaloftheirownconsciencesforwhatevergoodworktheydid。TheMachineRepublicans，whetherofnationalsize，orofStateormunicipal，weregladtoknowthatRooseveltwouldbeputoutofthewayinthatoffice。 TheyalreadythoughtofhimasayoungmandangeroustoallMachinesandsotheyfelttheprudenceofbottlinghimup。TomakehimaCivilServiceCommissionerwasnotexactlysofinalaschloroformingasnarlingdogwouldbe，butitwasastrongmeasureofsafety。Theodore”sfriends，ontheotherhand，advisedhimagainstacceptingtheappointment，because，theysaid，itwouldshelvehim，politically，useuphisbrainswhichoughttobespentonhigherwork，andallowthecountrywhichwasjustbeginningtoknowhimtoforgethisexistence。MendropoutofsightsoquicklyatWashingtonunlesstheycanstandonsomepedestalwhichraisesthemabovethemultitude。 TheOptimistofthefuture，tohastenwhosecomingweareallmakingtheworldsoirresistiblyattractive，willbeendowed，letushope，withasenseofhumor。Withthat，hecanreadhistoryasacosmicjoke-book，andnotastheBiographyoftheDevil，asmanyofusmoderns，besidesJeanPaul，havefoundit。Howlongithastaken，andhowmuchbloodhasbeenspiltbeforethisorthatmostobviousfollyhasbeenabolished！Withwhatabsurdtenacityhavemenflowninthefaceofreasonandfloutedcommonsense！SoourOptimist，lookingintotheconditionswhichmadeCivilServiceReformimperative，willshedtearseitherofpityoroflaughter。 Aslongagoasthetimeofthecave-dweller，whowasclothedinshaggyhairinsteadofinbroadclothorsilk，prehistoricmanlearnedthatthebestarroworspearwasthattippedwiththebestpieceofflint。Inbrief，todogoodwork，youmusthavegoodtools。Translatedintothetermsoftoday，thismeansthattheexpertorspecialistmustbepreferredtotheuntrained。Innearlyallwalksoflifethistruthwastakenforgranted，exceptinaffairsconnectedwithgovernmentandadministration。A Presidentmightbeelected，notbecausehewasexperiencedinthesematters，butbecausehehadwonabattle，orwasthecompromisecandidatebetweentwootheraspirants。AsitwaswithPresidents，sowiththeCabinetofficers，Congressmen，andStateandcityofficials。Fitnessbeingignoredasaqualificationtooffice，madeiteasyforfavoritismandselfishmotivestodeterminetheappointmentofthearmyofemployeesrequiredinthebureausanddepartments。Thatgoodoldpoliticalfreebooter，AndrewJackson，merelyputintowordswhathispredecessorshadputintopractice：“Tothevictorsbelongthespoils。”Andsincehistime，morethanoneuprightandintelligenttheoristongovernmenthassupportedthePartySystemeventothepointwheretheenjoymentofthespoilsbythevictorsseemsjustified。The“spoils“werethesalariespaidtothelowergradeofplacemenandwomen——salariesusuallynotverylarge，butoftenfarabovewhatthosepersonscouldearninhonestcompetition。Asthemoneycameoutofthepublicpurse，whyworry？Andhowcouldpartyenthusiasmduringthecampaignandatthepollsbekeptup，ifsomeofthepartisansmightnothopefortangiblerewardsfortheirservices？ManyrichmensatinCongress，andtheSenatebecame，proverbially，amillionaires”club。Butnotoneoftheseplutocratsconductedtheprivatebusinesswhichmadehimrichbythemethodstowhichhecondemnedthebusinessadministrationofthegovernment。Hedidnotfillhiscounting-roomwithshirkersandincompetents；hedidnotfindsinecuresforhiswife”spoorrelations；hedidnotpadhispayrollwithparasiteswhosecharacteristicswereanitchingpalmandanunconquerableaversiontowork。Heknewhowtoselectthequickest，cleverest，mostindustriousassistants，andthroughthemheprospered。 Thatamanwhohadsworntoupholdanddirecthisgovernmenttothebestofhisability，shouldhavetheconsciencetotreathiscountryashedidnottreathimself，canbeeasilyexplained：hehadnoconscience。Fashion，likealocalanaesthetic，deadensthesensitivenessofconscienceinthisorthatspot；andtheprevailingfashionunderallgovernments，autocraticordemocratic，haspermittedthewasteandeventhedishonestapplicationofpublicfunds。 Theseanomaliesatlastrousedthesenseofhumorofsomeofourcitizens，justastheinjusticeanddishonestywhichthesystemembodiedrousedthemoralsenseofothers；andtheReformoftheCivilService——adreamatfirst，andthenapassionatecausewhichtheethicalwouldnotletsleep——cameintobeing。Buttothepoliticiansoftheoldtype，themenof“inflooence“and“pull，“theprojectseemedsilly。Theyridiculedit，andtheyexpectedtomakeitridiculousintheeyesoftheAmericanpeople，bycallingit“Snivel“ServiceReform。Zealots，however，cannotbesilencedbymockery。Thecontentionthatfitnessshouldhavesomethingtodointhechoiceofpublicservantswaseffectivelyconfirmedbythescientificdepartmentsofthegovernment。ThemostshamelessSenatorwouldnotdaretoproposehisbrother”swidowtoleadanastronomicalexpedition，ortourgetheappointmentofthewardBossofhiscityasChairmanoftheCoastSurvey。SotheAmericanpeopleperceivedthattherewerecasesinwhichtheSpoilsSystemdidnotapply。Thereformerspushedahead；Congressatlasttooknotice，andalawwaspassedbringingagoodmanyappointeesinthePostOfficeandotherdepartmentsundertheMeritSystem。Themovementthengainedgroundslowlyandthespoilsmenbegantoforeseethatifitspreadtotheextentwhichseemedlikely，itwoulddeprivethemofmuchoftheirclandestineandcorruptingpower。SenatorRoscoeConkling，oneofthewittiestandmostbrazenofthese，remarked，thatwhenDr。JohnsontoldBoswellthat“patriotismisthelastrefugeofascoundrel，“hehadnotsoundedthepossibilitiesof“reform。” ThefirstadministrationofPresidentCleveland，whowasagreat，irremovableblockofstubbornnessinwhatevercausehethoughtright，gaveinvaluablehelptothisone。TheoverturnoftheRepublicanParty，afterithadheldpowerfortwenty-fouryears，entailedmanychangesinofficeandinallclassesofoffice-holders。Clevelandhadtheopportunity，therefore，ofapplyingtheMeritSystemasfarasthelawhadcarriedit，andhisactionsgaveCivilServiceReformersmuchthoughnotcompletesatisfaction。Themovementwasjustattheturning-pointwhenRooseveltwasappointedCommissionerin1889。Underlistlessortimiddirectionitwouldhaveflaggedandprobablylostmuchground；butRooseveltcouldneverdoanythinglistlesslyandwhateverhepushedneverlostground。 TheCivilServiceCommissionappointedbyPresidentHarrisonconsistedofthreemembers，ofwhomthePresidentwasC。R。 Procter，laterCharlesLyman，withRooseveltandHughThompson，anex-Confederatesoldier。IdonotdisparageRoosevelt”scolleagueswhenIsaythattheywereworthypersonswhodidnotclaimtohaveanurgentcalltoreformtheCivilService，oranythingelse。Theywerenotofthestuffwhichleadsrevoltsorreforms，buttheywerehonestanddidtheirdutyfirmly。TheystoodbyRoosevelt“shouldertoshoulder，“andThompson”smaturejudgmentrestrainedhisimpetuosity。RooseveltalwaysacknowledgedwhatheowedtotheSoutherngentleman。InaveryshorttimetheCommission，Congress，andthepubliclearnedthatitwasRoosevelt，theyoungestmember，justturnedthirtyyearsofage，whosteeredtheCommission。Hostilecriticswouldsay，ofcourse，thatheusurpedtheleadership；butIthinkthatthisisinaccurate。Itwasnothisconceitorambition，itwasdestinyworkingthroughhim，whichmadewherehesattheheadofthetable。BeingtremendouslyinterestedinthiscauseandincomparablyablerthanLymanorThompson，henaturallydidmostofthework，andhisdecisionsshapedtheircommonpolicy。Theappealtohissenseofhumorandhissenseofjusticestimulatedhim，andbeingamanwhoalreadysawwhatlargeconsequencessometimesflowfromsmallcauseshemusthavebeenbuoyedupbythethoughtthatanyofthecaseswhichcamebeforehimmightsetaveryimportantprecedent。 Rooseveltactedontheprinciplethattheofficeholderwhoswearstocarryoutalawmustdothiswithouthesitationordemur。Ifthelawisgood，enforcingitwillmakeitsgoodnessapparenttoeverybody；ifitisbad，itwillbecomethemorequicklyodiousandneedtoberepealed。RooseveltenforcedtheCivilServiceLawwiththeutmostrigor。Itcalledfortheexaminationofcandidatesforoffice，andtheexaminerspaidsomeheedtotheirmoralfitness。Itsopponentstriedtostiruppublicopinionagainstitbycirculatingwhatpurportedtobesomeofitsexaminationpapers。Why，theyasked，shouldamanwhowishedtobealetter-carrierinKeokuk，berequiredtogivealistofthePresidentsoftheUnitedStates？OrwhatwastheshortestrouteforalettergoingfromBombaytoYokohama？Bytheseandsimilarspuriousquestionsthespoilsmenhopedtogetridofthereformers。But“shrewdslander，“asRooseveltcalledit，couldnotmovehim。Twospecimencaseswillsufficetoshowhowhereducedshrewdslandererstoconfusion。ThefirstwasCharlesHenryGrosvenor，aninfluentialRepublicanCongressmanfromOhio，familiarlyknownasthe“GentleShepherdofOhio，“ becauseofhiseffortstoraisethetariffonwoolforthebenefitoftheownersofthefewthousandsheepinthatState。A CongressionalCommitteewasinvestigatingtheCivilServiceCommissionandRooseveltaskedthatGrosvenor，whohadattackedit，mightbesummoned。Grosvenor，however，didnotappear，butwhenhelearnedthatRooseveltwasgoingtohisDakotaranchforavacation，hesentwordthathewouldcome。Nevertheless，thisgallantactfailedtosavehim，forRooseveltcanceledhisticketWest，andconfrontedGrosvenorattheinvestigation。TheGentleShepherdprotestedthathehadneversaidthathewishedtorepealtheCivilServiceLaw；whereuponRooseveltreadthisextractfromoneofhisspeeches：“Iwillvotenotonlytostrikeoutthisprovision，butIwillvotetorepealthewholelaw。” WhenRooseveltpointedouttheinconsistencyofthetwostatements，Grosvenordeclaredthattheymeantthesamething。 BeingcaughtthusbyonefootinRoosevelt”smantrap，hequicklyproceededtobecaughtbytheother。HedeclaredthatRufusP。 Putnam，oneofthecandidatesindispute，hadneverlivedinGrosvenor”sCongressionaldistrict，oreveninOhio。ThenMr。 RooseveltquotedfromaletterwrittenbyGrosvenor：“Mr。RufusP。Putnamisalegalresidentofmydistrict，andhasrelativeslivingtherenow。”Withbothfeetcaughtintheman-trap，theGentleShepherdwassufferingmuchpain，butTruthissogreatastrangertospoilsmenthathefounddifficultyingettingwithinspeakingdistanceofher。Forheprotested，first，thatheneverwrotetheletter，next，thathehadforgottenthathewroteit，andfinally，thathewasmisinformedwhenhewroteit。Sofarasappears，heneverriskedatiltwiththesmilingyoungCommissioneragain，butreturnedtohismuttonsandtheirfleeces。 AstillmoredistinguishedpersonagefellbeforetheenthusiasticCommissioner。ThiswasArthurPueGorman，aSenatorfromMaryland，aDemocrat，oneofthemostpertinaciousagentsoftheBigInterestsintheUnitedStatesCongress。Evidently，also，heservedthemwell，astheykepthimintheSenatefornearlytwenty-fiveyears，untilhisdeath。TheyemployedDemocratsaswellasRepublicans，justastheysubscribedtobothDemocraticandRepublicancampaignfunds。For，“inpoliticsthereisnopolitics。”Gorman，whoknewthattheSpoilsSystemwasalmostindispensabletotherunningofapoliticalmachine，waitedforachancetoattacktheCivilServiceCommission。Thinkingthatthepropitiousmomenthadcome，heinveighedagainstitintheSenate。He“describedwithmovingpathos，“asRoosevelttellsthestory，“howafriendofhis，”abrightyoungmanfromBaltimore” aSunday-Schoolscholar，wellrecommendedbyhispastor，wishedtobealetter-carrier；“butthecruelexaminersflooredhimbyaskingtheshortestroutefromBaltimoretoChina，towhichherepliedthat，asheneverwishedtogotoChina，hehadn”tlookeduptheroute。Then，SenatorGormanasserted，theexaminersquizzedhimaboutallthesteamshiplinesfromtheUnitedStatestoEurope，branchedoffintogeologyandchemistry，and“turnedhimdown。” GormanwasunawarethattheCommissionerskeptrecordsofalltheirexaminations，andwhenRooseveltwrotehimapolitenoteinquiringthenameofthe“brightyoungmanfromBaltimore，“ Gormandidnotreply。Rooseveltalsoaskedhim，incaseheshrankfromgivingthenameofhisinformant，togivethedatewhentheallegedexaminationtookplace。HeevenofferedtoopenthefilestoanyrepresentativetheSenatorchosetosend。Gorman，however，“nothithertoknownasasensitivesoul，“asRooseveltremarks，“expressedhimselfassoshockedatthethoughtthattheveracityofthebrightyoungmanshouldbedoubted，thathecouldnotbringhimselftoanswermyletter。”Accordingly，RooseveltmadeapublicstatementthattheCommissionershadneveraskedthequestionswhichGormanalleged。GormanwaiteduntilthenextsessionofCongressandthen，inaspeechbeforetheSenate，complainedthathehadreceivedavery“impudent“letterfromCommissionerRoosevelt“cruelly“callinghimtoaccount，whenhewassimplyendeavoringtorightagreatwrongwhichtheCommissionhadcommitted。Butneitherthennorafterwardsdidhefurnish“anycluetotheidentityofthatchildofhisfondestfancy，thebrightyoungmanwithoutaname。” RooseveltmusthavechuckledwitharighteousexultationatsuchevidenceasthisthattheLordhaddeliveredthePhilistinesintohishands；andhisabominationoftheSpoilsSystemmusthavedeepenedwhenhesawitsGrosvenorsanditsGormansbrazenoutthelieshecaughtthemtelling。 WhenthespoilsmenfailedtogetridoftheCommissionbyridiculeandbyopenattack，theyresortedtothetrickofnotappropriatingmoneyforitinthisorthatdistrict。Butthisdidnotsucceed，fortheCommission，owingtolackoffunds，heldnoexaminationsinthosedistricts，andthereforenocandidatesfromthemcouldgetoffices。Thismadethepoliticiansunpopularwiththehungryoffice-seekerswhomtheydeprivedoftheirfoodatthepublictrough。 TheCommissionhadtostruggle，however，notonlytokeepunfitcandidatesoutofoffice，buttokeepinofficethosewhodischargedtheirdutyhonestlyandzealously。AftereveryelectiontherecamearushofCongressmenandothers，toturnoutthetriedandtrustyemployeesandtoputintheirownapplicants。Suchanoverturnwasofcoursedetrimentaltotheservice；first，becauseitsubstitutedgreenhornsfortrainedemployees，andnext，becauseitintroducedthehaphazardofpoliticians”whimsforajustschemeofpromotionandretentioninoffice。Rooseveltlamentedbitterlyovertheinjusticeandhedenouncedthewaste。Manycasesofgrievoushardshipcametohisnotice。Widows，whoseonlymeansofsupportforthemselvesandtheirlittlechildrenwastheirsalary，werethrownuponthestreetinorderthatrapaciouspoliticiansmightsecureplacesfortheirhenchmen。Rooseveltmightplead，butthepoliticianremainedobdurate。Whatwasthetragiclotofawidowandstarvingchildrencomparedwithkeepingpromiseswithgreedy“heelers“？Rooseveltsawthattherewasnoredressexceptthroughtheextensionoftheclassifiedservice。Thisheurgedatalltimes，andtenyearslater，whenhewashimselfPresident，headdedmorethanfiftythousandofficestothelistofthosewhichthespoilsmencouldnotclutch。 HeservedsixyearsasCivilServiceCommissioner，beingreappointedin1892byPresidentCleveland。TheoverturninpartieswhichmadeClevelandPresidentforthesecondtime，enabledRoosevelttowatchmorecloselytheworkingoftheReformSystemandhedidwhathecouldtosafeguardthoseGovernmentemployeeswhowereRepublicansfrombeingoustedforthebenefitofDemocrats。Ingeneral，hebelievedinlayingdowncertainprinciplesonthetenureofofficeandinstandingresolutelybythem。Thus，in1891，underHarrison，onbeingurgedtoretainGeneralCorse，theexcellentDemocraticPostmasterofBoston，herepliedtohisfriendCurtisGuildthatCorseoughttobecontinuedasamatterofprincipleandnotbecauseCleveland，severalyearsbefore，hadretainedPearson，theRepublicanPostmasterofNewYork，asanexception。 Attheendofsixyears，RooseveltfeltthathehadworkedontheCommissionlongenoughtolettheAmericanpeopleunderstandhownecessaryitwastomaintainandextendtheMeritSystemintheCivilService。AsuddenaccessofvirtuehadjustcastouttheTammanyRinginNewYorkCityandsetupMr。Strong，aReformer，asMayor。HewishedtosecureRoosevelt”shelpandRooseveltwaseagertogiveit。TheMayorofferedhimtheheadshipoftheStreetCleaningDepartment，butthishedeclined，notbecausehethoughttheplacebeneathhim，butbecausehelackedthenecessaryscientificqualifications，andMayorStrong，wasluckyinfindingforitthebestmaninthecountry，ColonelGeorgeE。 Waring。Accordingly，theMayorappointedRooseveltPresidentoftheBoardofPoliceCommissioners，andheaccepted。 ThePoliceSysteminNewYorkCityin1895，whenRoosevelttookcontrol，wasamonstrositywhich，inalmosteveryrespect，didexactlytheoppositefromwhatthePoliceSystemisorganizedtodo。MoralvalueshadbeensopervertedthatittookastrongmantoholdfasttotherudimentarydistinctionsbetweenGoodandEvil。ThePoliceexisted，intheory，toprotectthelivesandpropertyofrespectablecitizens；tocatchlaw-breakersandhandthemovertothecourtsforpunishment；tohuntdowngamblers，swindlers，andalltheothervariouscriminalsandpurveyorsofvice。Inreality，thePoliceunderTammanyabettedcrimeandprotectedthevicious。Thistheydid，notbecausetheyhadanyspecialhostilitytoVirtue——theyprobablyknewtoolittleaboutittoformadispassionateopinionanyway——butbecauseVicepaidbetter。Theyheldthecynicalviewthathumannaturewillalwaysbreedagreatmanypersonshavingapropensitytolicentiousorviolenthabits；thatlawsweremadetocheckandpunishthesepersons，andthattheymightgotheirperniciouswaysunmolestedifthePolicetooknonoticeofthem。SothePoliceestablishedasystemofimmunitywhichanybodycouldenjoybypayingtheprice。 Notoriousgambling-hells“ranwideopen“afterhandingtherequiredsumtothehighpoliceofficialwhoextortedit。 Hundredsofhousesofill-famecarriedontheirhideoustrafficundisturbed，solongasthePoliceCaptainofthedistrictreceivedhisweeklybribe。Gangsofroughs，toughs，andgunmenpursuedtheirpiraticalbusinesswithoutthinkingofthelaw，fortheysharedtheirspoilswiththesupposedofficersofthelaw。 Andthereweremoredegeneratemiscreantsstill，whoconnivedwiththePoliceandwentunscathed。Asifthevastsumscollectedfromthesewillingbriberswerenotenough，thePoliceaddedasystemofblackmailtobeleviedonthosewhowerenotdeliberatelyvicious，butwhosoughtconvenience。Ifyouwalkeddowntownyoufoundthesidewalkinfrontofcertainstoresalmostbarricadedbypacking-boxes，whereasnextdoorthewaymightbeclear。Thissimplymeantthatthefirmwhichwishedtousethesidewalkforitsprivateadvantagepaidthepolicemanonthatbeat，andhelookedtheotherway。Astherewasanordinanceagainstalmosteveryconceivablething，sothePolicehadapriceformakingeveryordinanceadeadletter。Wasthisacosmicjoke，anightmareofcynicism，adelusion？No，NewYorkwasclassedinthereferencebooksasaChristiancity，andthiswasitsChristianity。 Rooseveltknewtheseamlessbondwhichconnectedthecrimeandviceofthecitywithcorruptpolitics。ThepartyBosses，RepublicansandDemocratsalike，werethefinalprofitersfrompoliceblackmailandbribery。AsheheldhismandatefromaReformAdministration，hemightexpecttobeaidedbyitonthepoliticalside；atleast，hedidnotfearthattheheadsoftheotherdepartmentswouldsecretlyworktoblockhispurificationofthePolice。AswiftexaminationshowedhimthattheNewYorkPoliceDepartmentactuallyprotectedthecriminalsandpromotedeverykindofiniquitywhichitexistedtoputdown。Itwasasifinahospitalwhichshouldcurethesick，thedoctors，insteadofcuringdisease，shouldmakethesickworseandshouldmakethewellsick。HowwasRoosevelt，equallyvaliantandhonest，toconquerthisHydra？Hetookthestraightwaydictatedbycommonsense。Firstofall，hegainedtheconfidenceandrespectofhismen。Hesaidafterwards，thatevenatitsworst，whenhewentintooffice，themajorityofthePolicewantedtodoright；thattheirinstinctswereloyal；andthismeantmuch，becausetheyweretemptedonallsidesbyviciouswrongdoers；theyhadconstantlybeforethemtheexampleofsuperiorswhotookbribesandtheyreceivedneitherrecognitionnorpraisefortheirownworthydeeds。 TheForcecameverysoontounderstandthatunderRoosevelteverymanwouldgeta“squaredeal。”“Pulls“hadnoefficacy。TheChiefCommissionerpersonallykepttrackofasmanymenashecould。 WhenhesawinthepapersonemorningthatPatrolmanXhadsavedawomanfromdrowning，helookedhimup，foundthatthemanhadbeentwenty-twoyearsintheservice，hadsavedtwentyfivelives，andhadneverbeennoticed，muchlessthanked，bytheCommission。Morethanthis，hehadtobuyhisownuniform，andasthiswasoftenrenderedunfitforfurtherusewhenherescuedpersonsfromdrowning，orfromaburninghouse，hisheroismcosthimmuchindollarsandcents。ByRoosevelt”sorderstheDepartmenthenceforthpaidfornewuniformsinsuchcases，anditawardedmedals。Byrecognizingthegood，andbyweedingoutasfastaspossiblethebadmembersoftheForce，RooseveltthusorganizedthebestbodyofPolicewhichNewYorkCityhadeverseen。Therewere，ofcourse，someblacksheepamongthemwhomhecouldnotreach，buthechangedthefashion，sothatitwasnolongerapointofexcellencetobeablacksheep。 Rooseveltrigorouslyenforcedthelaws，withoutregardtohispersonalopinion。IthappenedthatatthattimethegoodpeopleofNewYorkinsistedthatliquorsaloonsshoulddonobusinessonSundays。Thisprohibitionhadlongbeenonthestatutebook，butithadbeengenerallyevadedbecausethesaloonkeepershadpaidtheBosses，whocontrolledthePoliceDepartment，toletthemkeepopen——usuallybyasidedoor——onSundays。Indeed，thestatutewasevidentlypassedbytheBossesinordertowidentheiropportunityforblackmail；butinthistheyoverreachedthemselves。Fortheliquor-sellersatlastrevolted，andtheyheldconferenceswiththeBosses——DavidB。HillwasthentheDemocraticStateBossandRichardCrokertheTammanyBoss-andtheypublishedintheWineandSpiritGazette，theirorgan，thisstatement：“AnagreementwasmadebetweentheleadersofTammanyHallandtheliquor-dealers，accordingtowhichthemonthlyblackmailpaidtotheforceshouldbediscontinuedinreturnforpoliticalsupport。”Crokerandhispals，takingitasamatterofcoursethatthepublicknewtheirmethods，neitherdeniedthisincriminatingstatementnorthoughtitworthnoticing。ForawhileallthesaloonsenjoyedequalimmunityinsellingdrinksonSunday。ThencameRooseveltandorderedhismentocloseeverysaloon。Manyofthebar-keeperslaughedincredulouslyatthepatrolmanwhogavetheorder；manyothersflewintoarage。ThepublicdenouncedthisattempttostrangleitslibertiesandreviledthePoliceChiefasthewouldbeenforcerofobsolescentbluelaws。ButtheycouldnotfrightenRoosevelt：thesaloonswereclosed。Nevertheless，evenhecouldnotprevailagainsttheoverwhelmingdesirefordrink。Crowdsofvirtuouscitizenspreferred。anhonestpoliceforce，buttheypreferredtheirbeerortheirwhiskeystillmore，andjoinedwiththecriminalclasses，thedisreputables，andalltheotherswhoregardedanylawasoutrageouswhichinterferedwiththeirpersonalhabits。 Accordingly，sincetheycouldnotbudgeRoosevelt，theychangedthelaw。Acompliantlocaljudgediscoveredthatitwaslawfultotakewhatdrinkyouchosewithameal，andtheresultwasthat，asRooseveltdescribesit，amanbyeatingonepretzelmightdrinkseventeenbeers。 RoosevelthimselfvisitedallpartsofthecityandchieflythosewhereVicegrewflagrantatnight。Thejournalists，whoknewofhistoursofinspectionandwerealwaysonthealertforthepicturesque，likenedhimtothegreatCaliphwhoinsimilarfashioninvestigatedBaghdad，andtheynicknamedhimHarounalRoosevelt。HehadforhiscompanionJacobRiis，aremarkableDanewhomigratedtothiscountryinyouth，gotthepositionofreporterononeoftheNewYorkdailies，frequentedthecourts，studiedtheconditionoftheabjectpoorinthetenement-houses，andthehauntswhereVicebreedslikescumonstagnantpools，andwroteabook，“HowtheOtherHalfLives，“whichstartledtheconsciencesofthewell-to-doandthevirtuous。RiisshowedRoosevelteverything。PoliceheadquarterswereinMulberryStreet，andyetwithinastone”sthrowiniquityflourished。HeguidedhimthroughtheTenderloinDistrict，andthewharves，andsotheymadetheroundsofthevastcity。MorethanonceRooseveltsurprisedashirkingpatrolmanonhisbeat，buthispurposetheyallknewwastoseejusticedone，andtokeeptheofficersoftheForceuptothehigheststandardofduty。 OneotheranecdoteconcerninghisexperienceasPoliceCommissionerIrepeat，becauseitshowsbywhathappytouchesofhumorhesometimesdispersedmenacingclouds。AGermanJew-baiter，RectorAhlwardt，cameoverfromBerlintopreachacrusadeagainsttheJews。GreattrepidationspreadthroughtheJewishcolonyandtheyaskedRoosevelttoforbidAhlwardtfromholdingpublicmeetingsagainstthem。This，hesaw，wouldmakeamartyroftheGermanpersecutorandprobablyharmtheJewsmorethanitwouldhelpthem。SoRooseveltbethoughthimofadevicewhichworkedperfectly。HesummonedfortyofthebestJewishpolicemenontheForceandorderedthemtopreserveorderinthehallandpreventAhlwardtfrombeinginterruptedorabused。Themeetingpassedoffwithoutdisturbance；AhlwardtstormedinvainagainsttheJews；theaudienceandthepublicsawthehumoroftheaffairandJew-baitinggainednofootholdinNewYorkCity。 AlthoughRooseveltthoroughlyenjoyedhisworkasPoliceCommissioner，hefeltrightlythatitdidnotaffordhimthefreestscopetoexercisehispowers。Muchashevaluedexecutivework，theputtingintopracticeandcarryingoutoflaws，hefeltmoreandmorestronglythedesiretomakethem，andhisinstincttoldhimthathewasfittedforthishighertask。When，therefore，thenewlyelectedRepublicanPresident，WilliamMcKinley，offeredhimtheapparentlymodestpositionofAssistantSecretaryoftheNavy，heacceptedit。 TherewasgeneralgrievinginNewYorkCity——exceptamongthecriminalsandTammany——atthenewsofhisresignation。Allsortsofpersonsexpressedregretsthatwerereallysincere，andtheirgratitudeforthegoodwhichhehaddoneforthemall。Someofthemprotestedthatheoughtnottoabandonthedutywhichhehaddischargedsovaliantly。OneofthesewasEdwinL。Godkin，editorofTheNationandtheNewYorkEveningPost，acriticwhoseldomspokepolitelyofanythingexceptidealswhichhadnotbeenattained，orcommendedpersonswhowerenotdeadandsobeyondreachofpraise。 SinceRoosevelthimselfhasquotedthispassagefromGodkin”slettertohim，Ithinkitoughttobereprintedhere：“Ihaveaconcern，astheQuakerssay，toputonrecordmyearnestbeliefthatinNewYorkyouaredoingthegreatestworkofwhichanyAmericantodayiscapable，andexhibitingtotheyoungmenofthecountrythespectacleofaveryimportantofficeadministeredbyamanofhighcharacterinthemostefficientwayamidathousanddifficulties。AsalessoninpoliticsIcannotthinkofanythingmoreinstructive。” Godkinwasagreatpowerforgood，inspiteoftheobviousunpopularitywhichanincessantcriticcannotfailtodrawdownuponhimself。Themostpessimisticofussecretlycravealittlerespitewhenforhalfanhourwemayforgetthecircumambientandall-pervadinggloom：music，oranentertainingbook，oradearfriendliftstheburdenfromus。Andthencomesouruncompromisingpessimistandchidesusforoursoftnessandforlettingourselvesbeledastrayfromourpessimism。Hisjeremiadsareprobablyjustified，andasthehistorianlooksbackhefindsthattheygivethetrueststatementofthepast；forthepresentmustbeverybad，indeed，ifitdoesnotdiscoverconditionsstillworseinthepastfromwhichithasemerged。ButGodkinlivingcouldnotescapefromtwosortsofunsympatheticdepreciators：first，thewickedwhosmartedunderhisjustscourge，andnext，theupright，whotiredofunremittentcensure，althoughtheyadmittedthatitwasjust。 Rooseveltcame，quitenaturally，tosetthedoerabovethecritic，who，hethought，quicklydegeneratedintoafaultfinderandfromthatintoacommonscold。Whenamanplungesintoarivertosavesomebodyfromdrowning，ifyoudonotplungeinyourself，atleastdonotjeerathimforhismethodofswimming。 SoRoosevelt，whoshrankfromnobodilyormoralriskhimself，heldinscornthe“timidgood，“the“acidlycantankerous，“thepeace-at-any-pricepeople，andtheentiretribeofthosewho，insteadofattackinginiquitiesandabuses，attackedthosewhoaredesperatelyengagedinfightingthese，ForthisreasonheprobablyfailedtoabsorbfromGodkin”scriticismsomeofthebenefitwhichitmighthavebroughthim。Thepillswerebitter，butsalutary。WhilehewasPoliceCommissioneroneofJosephChoate”sepigramspassedcurrentandisstillworthrecalling。 WhensomeoneremarkedthatNewYorkwasaverywickedcity，Choatereplied，“Howcanyouexpectittobeotherwise，whenDanamakesVicesoattractiveintheSuneverymorning，andGodkinmakesVirtuesoodiousinthePosteveryafternoon？“CharlesA。 Dana，theeditoroftheSun，thestanchsupporterofTammanyHall，andtheapologistofalmosteveryevilmovementfornearlythirtyyears，wasawriterofdiabolicalclevernesswhosenewspapercompetedwithGodkin”samongtheintellectualreadersinsearchofamusement。Atonetime，whenGodkinhadbeenparticularlycaustic，andtheMugwumpsatHarvardwereunusuallycritical，RooseveltattendedacommitteemeetingattheUniversity。AftertalkingwithPresidentEliot，hewentandsatbyaprofessor，andremarked，playfully，“Eliotisreallyagoodfellowatheart。Doyousupposethat，ifhebitGodkin，itwouldtake？“SoRooseveltwentbacktoWashingtontobehenceforth，asitproved，anationalfigurewhosecareerwastobeforeverembeddedinthestructuralgrowthoftheUnitedStates。 CHAPTERVII。THEROUGHRIDER WhenRooseveltreturnedtoWashingtoninMarch，1897，totakeuphisdutiesasasubordinateofficerintheNationalGovernment，hewasthirty-eightyearsold；amanintheprimeoflife，withthestrengthofanox，butquickinmovement，andtoughinendurance。Arapidthinker，hisintellectseemedasimpervioustofatigueaswashisenergy。Alongwiththisphysicalandintellectualmakeupwentcourageofbothkinds，passionforjustice，andabuoyingsenseofobligationtowardshisfellowsandtheState。Hiscareerthusfarhadpreparedhimforthehighestservice。Bornandbroughtupamidwhatoursocietyclassifiers，withtheirsuredemocraticinstincts，lovedtocallthe“aristocratic“circleinNewYork，histhreeyearsintheAssemblyatAlbanyintroducedhimtothemotleygroupofRepresentativesofhighandlow，bankpresidentsandfarmers，blacklegsandphilanthropists，whogatheredtheretomakethelawsforNewYorkState。Therehedisplayedthepreference，characteristicofhimthroughlife，ofchoosinghisintimatesirrespectiveoftheiroccupationorsociallabel。ThenhewentoutonthePlainsandlearnedtolivewithwildmen，forwhomtheartificialdistinctionsofcivilizationhadnomeaning。Headaptedhimselftoaprimevalstandardinwhichcourageandaroughsenseofhonorwerethechiefvirtues。Butthisexperiencedidstillmoreforhimthanprovehispersonalpowerofgettingalongwithsuchlowertypesofmen，foritrevealedtohimthehumanextremesoftheAmericanNation。Howvastitwas，howvaried，howintricate，and，potentially，howsublime！Lincoln，comingoutoftheKentuckybackwoods，firsttoSpringfield，Illinois，thentoChicagoinitsyouth，andfinallytoWashington，similarlypassedinreviewtheAmericancontrastsofhistime。MorespecificwasRoosevelt”strainingasaCivilServiceCommissioner。Thepublichadbeenapplaudinghimasayouthfulprodigy，asafellowofhighspirit，ofundisputedvalor，ofbrilliantflashes，ofversatility，buttheworldly-wise，whohavebeentoooftenfooled，werehauntedbythesuspicionthatperhapsthisastonishingyoungmanwouldturnouttobeonlyameteorafterall。HissixyearsofroutineworkontheCivilServiceCommissionputthisanxietytorest。Thatworkcouldnotbecarriedonsuccessfullybyamanofmoodsandspurts，butonlybyamanofsolidmoralbasis，whocouldnotbedisheartenedbyoppositionordeflectedbythreatsorbytemptations，and，asIhavebeforesuggested，thepeoplebegantoaccustomitselftothefactthatwhateverpositionRooseveltfilledwasconspicuouspreciselybecausehefilledit。Agoodwhilewasstilltoelapsebeforeweunderstoodthatnotorietywasinseparablefromhim，anddidnotneedtobeexplainedbythetheorythathewasconstantlysettingtrapsforself-advertisement。 AsPoliceCommissionerofNewYorkCityhecontinuedhisfamiliarmethods，anddeepenedtheimpressionhehadcreated。Hecarriedboldnesstothepointofaudacityandglorifiedthe“squaredeal。”Whateverheundertook，hedrovethroughwiththeremorselessnessofazealot。Hemadenopretenseoftreatinghumbugsandshamsasiftheywerehonestandreal；andwhenhefoundthatthelawswhichweremadetopunishcriminals，wereusedtoprotectthem，noscruplepreventedhimfromachievingthespiritofthelaw，althoughhemightdisregarditspervertedletter。 Ponderthisstrikingexample。TheCityofNewYorkforbadethesaleofliquortominors。ButthisordinancewassocompletelyunobservedthatalargeproportionofthecommondrunksbroughtbeforethePoliceCourtwereladsandevenyounggirls，towhomthebar-tenderssoldwithimpunity。Thechildren，oftenthelittlechildrenofdepravedparents，“rushedthegrowler“； factoryhandssenttheboysoutregularlytofetchtheirbottleorbucketofdrinkfromthesaloons。Everybodyknewofthesebreachesofthelaw，buttheframersofthelawhadtakencaretomakeitverydifficulttoprocurelegalevidenceofthosebreaches。Thepublicconsciencewasprickedalittlewhenthenewspaperstolditthatoneoftheyouthssentforliquorhaddrunksomuchofitthathefellintoastupor，tookrefugeinanoldbuilding，andthattheretheratshadeatenhimalive。 WhetheritwasbeforeorafterthishorrorthatChiefCommissionerRooseveltdecidedtotakethelawintohisownhands，Idonotknow，butwhathedidwasswift。ThePoliceengagedoneoftheminors，whohadbeeninthehabitofgoingtothesaloons，togoforanothersupply，andthentotestify。Thissummaryproceedingscaredtherum-dealersand，nodoubt，theyguardedagainstbeingcaughtagain。ButthevictimsofmoraldryrothelduptheirhandsinrebukeandoneofthecityjudgesweptmetaphoricaltearsofchagrinthatthePoliceshouldengageintheawfulcrimeofenticingayouthtocommitcrime。Therecorddoesnotshowthatthisjudge，oranyother，hadeverdoneanythingtocheckthepracticeofsellingliquortominors，apracticewhichinevitablyledthousandsoftheyouthofNewYorkCitytobecomedrunkards。 HowdoyoujudgeRoosevelt”sact？Doyouadmitthatalittlewrongmayeverbedoneinordertosecureagreatright？ Rooseveltheld，insuchcases，thatthewrongisonlytechnical，orablindsetupbythewickedtoshieldthemselves。Thedangerofallowingeachpersontoplaywiththelaw，aswithatoy，isevident。ThatwayliesJesuitry；buteachinfringementmustbejudgedonitsownmerits，andasRooseveltfollowedmoreandmoretheseshortcutstojusticeheneededtobemorecloselyscrutinized。Washisrealobjecttoattainjusticeorhisowndesires？ TheRooseveltsmovedbacktoWashingtoninMarch，1897，andTheodoreatoncewenttoworkintheofficeoftheAssistantSecretaryoftheNavyinthatamazingbuildingwhichJohnHaycalled“Mullett”smasterpiece，“wheretheNavy，War，andStateDepartmentsfoundshelterunderoneroof。TheSecretaryoftheNavywasJohnD。Long，ofMassachusetts，whohadbeenaCongressmanandGovernor，wasamanofcultivationandgeniality，andalawyerofhighreputation。Althoughsixtyyearsold，hewasbelievednevertohavemadeanenemyeitherinpoliticsorattheBar。ThosewhoknewthetwogentlemenwonderedwhetherthesomewhatleisurelyandconservativeSecretarycouldleashinhisrestlessyoungFirstAssistant，withhisTitanicenergyandhisheadfullofprojects。NoonebelievedthatevenRooseveltcouldstartleGovernorLongoutofhishabitualurbanity，buteveryonecouldforeseethattheymightsoclashinpolicythateithertheheadortheassistantwouldhavetoretire。 Nothingiswastethattouchesthemanofgenius。SothetwoyearswhichRooseveltspentinwriting，fifteenyearsbefore，the“Historyof-theNavalWarof1812，“nowservedhimtogoodpurpose；foritgavehimmuchinformationaboutthepastoftheUnitedStatesNavyanditquickenedhisinterestintheproblemsoftheNavyasitshouldbeatthattime。ThecloseoftheCivilWarin1865lefttheUnitedStateswithaformidablefleet，whichduringthenextquarterofacenturydeteriorateduntilitcomprisedonlyacollectionofrottingandunserviceableships。 Thencameareaction，followedbytheconstructionofanup-to-datefleet，andbytherecognitionbyCongressthattheUnitedStatesmustpursueamodernpolicyinnavalaffairs。 RoosevelthadalwaysfeltthedangertotheUnitedStatesofmaintainingadespicableoraninadequateNavy，andfromthemomentheenteredtheDepartmenthesetaboutpushingtheconstructionoftheunfinishedvesselsandofimprovingthequalityofthepersonnel。 Hewasimpelledtodothis，notmerelybyhisinstincttobringwhateverheundertookuptothehigheststandard，butalsobecausehehadapremonitionthatacrisiswasathandwhichmightcallthecountryataninstant”snoticetoprotectitselfwithallthepowerithad。Tworecenteventsarousedhisvigilance。InDecember，1895，PresidentClevelandsenttoEnglandamessageupholdingtheMonroeDoctrineandwarningtheBritishthattheymustarbitratetheirdisputewithVenezuelaoveraboundary，orfight。ThissledgehammerblowatEngland”spridemightwellhavecausedwarhadnotsoberpatriotsonbothsidesoftheAtlantic，aghastatthisshockingpossibility，smoothedthewaytoanunderstanding，andhadnottheBritishGovernmentitselfacknowledgedtherightnessofthedemandforarbitration。 Sothedangervanished，butRoosevelt，andeveryotherthoughtfulAmerican，saidtohimself，“SupposeEnglandhadtakenupthechallenge，whathadwetodefendourselveswith？“AndwecomparedthelongrollofthegreatBritishFleetwiththepaltrylistofourownships，andrealizedthatweshouldhavebeenhelpless。 TheotherfactwhichimpressedRooseveltwastheinsurrectioninCubawhichkeptthatislandinperpetualdisorder。Thecruelmeans，especiallyreconcentrationandstarvation，bywhichtheSpaniardstriedtoputdowntheCubansstirredthesympathyoftheAmericans，andthenumberofthosewhobelievedthattheUnitedStatesoughttointerfereinbehalfofhumanitygrewfrommonthtomonth。Asparkmightkindleanexplosion。Obviously，therefore，theUnitedStatesmusthaveaNavyequippedandreadyforanyemergencyintheCaribbean。 Duringhisfirstyearinoffice，AssistantSecretaryRooseveltbusiedhimselfwithallthedetailsofpreparation；heencouragedtheenthusiasmoftheofficersoftheNewNavy，forhesharedtheirhopes；headded，whereverhecould，toitsefficiency，aswhenbysecuringfromCongressanappropriationofnearlyamilliondollars——whichseemedthenenormous——fortargetpractice。 Hepromotedaspiritofalertness——andallthewhilehewatchedthehorizontowardsCubawherethesignsgrewangrierandangrier。 ButtheyoungSecretaryhadtoactwithcircumspection。InthefirstplacethepolicyoftheDepartmentwasformulatedbySecretaryLong。InthenextplacetheNavycouldnotcomeintoactionuntilPresidentMcKinleyandtheDepartmentofStategavetheword。ThePresident，desiringtokeepthepeaceuptotheveryend，wouldnotcountenanceanymovewhichmightseemtotheSpaniardseitherathreatoraninsult。Astheopenspeeding-upofnavalpreparationswouldbeconstruedasboth，nothingmustbedonetoexcitealarm。Intheautumnof1897，however，someoftheSpaniardsatHavanatreatedtheAmericanresidentstherewithsomuchsurlinessthattheAmericanGovernmenttooktheprecautiontosendabattleshiptotheHavanaHarborasawarningtothemenacingSpaniards，andasaprotection，incaseofoutbreak，toAmericancitizensandtheirproperty。 Butwhatwasmeantforaprecautionprovedtobetheimmediatecauseofwar。EarlyintheeveningofFebruary15？？，1898，thebattleshipMaine，peaceablyridingathermooringsintheharbor，wasblownup。Twoofficersand266enlistedmenwerekilledbytheexplosionandinthesinkingoftheship。Nearlyasmanymore，withCaptainCharlesD。Sigsbee，thecommander，wererescued。ThenextmorningthenewspaperscarriedthereporttoallpartsoftheUnitedStates，and，indeed，tothewholeworld。 Atidalwaveofangersurgedoverthiscountry。“Thatmeanswar！“ wasthecommonutterance。Someofus，whoabhorredthethoughtofwar，urgedthatatleastwewaituntiltheguiltcouldbefixed。 Thereportsofthecatastropheconflicted。Wastheshipdestroyedbytheexplosionofshellsinitsownmagazine，orwasitblownupfromoutside？Ifthelatter，whosetoffthemine？TheSpaniards？Itseemedunlikely，iftheywishedwar，thattheyshouldresorttosoclumsyaprovocation！Mightnottheinsurgentsthemselveshavedoneit，inordertoforcetheUnitedStatestointerfere？Whilethecountrywaited，theangergrew。AtWashington，nobodydeniedthatwarwascoming。Allthatourdiplomacyattemptedtodowastostaveofftheactualdeclarationlongenoughtogivetimeforournavalandmilitarypreparation。 IdoubtwhetherRoosevelteverworkedwithgreaterrelishthanduringtheweekssucceedingtheblowing-upoftheMaine。Atlasthehadhisopportunity，whichheimprovednightandday。TheNavyDepartmentarrangedinhothastetovictualtheships；toprovidethemwithstoresofcoalandammunition；tobringthecrewsuptotheirfullquotabyenlisting；tolayoutaplanofcampaign；toseetothenavalbasesandthelinesofcommunication；andtocooperatewiththeWarDepartmentinmakingreadythelandfortificationsalongtheshore。OfcoursealltheselaborsdidnotfallonRoosevelt”sshouldersalone，butbeingatirelessandwillingworkerhehadmorethanoneman”sshareinthepreparations。 Butthegreatfactthatwarwascoming——war，thetest——delightedhim，andhissenseofhumorwasnotallowedtosleep。Forthepeace-at-any-pricefolk，thedenouncersoftheNavyandtheArmy，thepreachersofthedoctrinethatasallmenaregooditwaswickedtobuilddefensesasifwesuspectedthegoodnessofourneighbors，nowrushedtotheGovernmentforprotection。Acertainladyofimportance，whohadaseasidevilla，beggedthatabattleshipshouldbeanchoredjustoutsideofit。Seaboardcitiesfranticallydemandedthatadequateprotectionshouldbesenttothem。ThespokesmanforoneofthesecitieshappenedtobeapoliticianofsuchimportancethatPresidentMcKinleytoldtheAssistantSecretarythathisrequestmustbegranted。 Accordingly，Rooseveltputoneoftheoldmonitorsincommission，andhadatugtowit，attheimminentriskofitscrew，totheharborwhichitwastoguard，andtherethewater-loggedoldcraftstayed，tothereliefoftheinhabitantsofthecityandtheself-satisfactionoftheCongressmanwhowasabletogivethemsoshiningaproofofhispowerwiththeAdministration。 ManyfrightenedBostonianstransferredtheirsecuritiestothebankvaultsofWorcester，andthey，too，clamoredfornavalwatchandward。RooseveltmusthavebeenmadeunusuallymerrybysuchtidingsfromBoston，thecitywhichheregardedasparticularlyprolificin“themenwhoformedthelunaticfringeinallreformmovements。” Itdidnotastonishhimthatthefinanciersandthebusinessmen，whowereamassinggreatfortunesinpeace，shouldfrownonwar，whichinterruptedtheirfortune-making；buthelaughedwhenherememberedwhattheyandmanyothervaguepacifistshadbeensolemnlyproclaiming。TherewastheSenator，forinstance，whohaddeniedthatweneededaNavy，because，iftheemergencycame，hesaid，wecouldimproviseone，and“buildabattleshipineverycreek。”TherewerealsothespreadeagleAmericans，theswaggerersandbraggarts，whoamusedthemselvesintail-twistingandinsultingothernationssolongastheycoulddothiswithimpunity；butnowtheywerebroughttobook，andtheirfearsmagnifiedthepossibledangertheymightrunfromtheinvasionofirateSpaniards。TheirimaginationpicturedtothemthepooroldSpanishwarshipViscaya，ashavingasgreatpossibilityfordestructionastheentireBritishFleetitself。 AtallthesethingsRooseveltlaughedtohimself，becausetheyconfirmedthegospelofmilitaryandnavalpreparedness，whichhehadbeenpreachingforyears，thegospelwhichtheseveryopponentsreviledhimfor；butinsteadofcontentinghimselfbysayingtothem，“Itoldyouso，“hepushedonpreparationsforwaratfullspeed，determinedtomaketheutmostoftheexistingresources。TheNavyhadclearlytwotasksbeforeit。ItmustblockadeCuba，whichentailedthepatroloftheCaribbeanSeaandtheprotectionoftheAtlanticports，anditmustpreventtheSpanishFleet，knowntobeatthePhilippines，fromcrossingthePacificOcean，harassingourcommerce，andthreateningourharborsonourWesterncoast。 ThroughRoosevelt”sinstrumentality，CommodoreGeorgeDeweyhadbeenappointedintheprecedingautumntocommandourAsiaticSquadron，andwhile，intheabsenceofGovernorLong，RooseveltwasActing-Secretary，hesentthefollowingdispatch： Washington，February25”98。Dewey，HongKong： Orderthesquadron，excepttheMonocacy，toHongKong。Keepfullofcoal。IntheeventofdeclarationofwarSpain，yourdutywillbetoseethattheSpanishsquadrondoesnotleavetheAsiaticcoast，andthenoffensiveoperationsinPhilippineIslands。KeepOlympiauntilfurtherorders。 ROOSEVELT IwouldnotgivetheimpressionthatRooseveltwasthedictatoroftheNavyDepartment，orthatall，ormost，ofitsnotableachievementscamefromhissuggestion，buttheplainfactis，whereveryoulookatitsmostactiveandfruitfulpreparationsforwar，youfindhimvigorouslyassisting。TheorderhesentCommodoreDeweyleddirectlytothechiefnavaleventofthewar，thedestructionoftheSpanishFleetbyourAsiaticSquadroninManilaBay，onMay1st。Longbeforethisvictorycametopass，however，RoosevelthadresignedfromtheNavyDepartmentandwasseekinganampleroutletforhisenergy。 HavingaccomplishedhisdutyasAssistantSecretary——apostwhichhefeltwasprimarilyforacivilian——hethoughtthathehadarighttoretirefromit，andtogratifyhislong-cherisheddesiretotakepartintheactualwarfare。Hedidnotwish，hesaid，tohavetogivesomeexcusetohischildrenfornothavingfoughtinthewar。AshehadinsistedthatweoughttofreeCubafromSpanishtyrannyandcruelty，hecouldnotconsistentlyrefusetojoinactivelyintheliberation。Amanwhoteachesthedutyoffightingshouldpaywithhisbodywhenthefightingcomes。 GeneralAlger，theSecretaryofWar，hadagreatlikingforRoosevelt，offeredhimacommissionintheArmy，andeventhecommandofaregiment。Thisheprudentlydeclined，havingnotechnicalmilitaryknowledge。Heproposedinstead，thatDr。 LeonardWoodshouldbemadeColonel，andthatheshouldserveunderWoodasLieutenant-Colonel。Byprofession，Woodwasaphysician，whohadgraduatedattheHarvardMedicalSchool，andthenhadbeenacontractsurgeonwiththeAmericanArmyontheplains。Inthisservicehewentthroughtheroughestkindofcampaigningand，beingambitious，andhavinganinstinctformilitaryscience，hestudiedthemanualsandlearnedfromthemandthroughactualpracticetheprinciplesofwar。Inthiswayhebecamecompetenttoleadtroops。HewasabouttwoyearsyoungerthanRoosevelt，withanironframe，greattenacityandendurance，amanoffewwords，butofclearsightandquickdecision。 WhileRooseveltfinishedhisbusinessattheNavyDepartment，ColonelWoodhurriedtoSanAntonio，Texas，therendezvousoftheFirstRegimentofVolunteerCavalry。Acallforvolunteers，issuedbyRooseveltandendorsedbySecretaryAlger，spreadthroughtheWestandSouthwest，anditmetwithaquickresponse。 NoteveninGaribaldi”sfamousThousandwassuchastrangecrowdgathered。Itcomprisedcow-punchers，ranchmen，hunters，professionalgamblersandrascalsoftheBorder，sportsmen，mingledwiththesocietysports，formerfootballplayersandoarsmen，polo-playersandloversofadventurefromthegreatEasterncities。Theyallhadonequalityincommon——courage——andtheywereallboundtogetherbyonecommonbond，devotiontoTheodoreRoosevelt。Nearlyeveryoneofthemknewhimpersonally； someoftheWesternmenhadhuntedorranchedwithhim；someoftheEasternhadbeenwithhimincollege，orhadhadcontactwithhiminoneofthemanyvicissitudesofhiscareer。Itwasaremarkablespectacle，thisflockingtoamannotyetfortyyearsold，whosechiefworkuptothattimehadbeeninthesupposedcommonplacepositionofaCivilServiceCommissionerandofaNewYorkPoliceCommissioner！ButRoosevelt”snamewasalreadyknownthroughoutthecountry：itexcitedgreatadmirationinmany，gravedoubtsinmany，andcuriosityinall。Hisfriendsurgedhimnottogo。Itseemedtosomeofusalmostwantonlyrecklessthatheshouldputhislife，whichhadbeensovaluableandevidentlyheldthepromiseofstillhigherachievement，attheriskofaSpanishbullet，orofyellowfeverinCuba，forthesakeofacausewhichdidnotconcernthesafetyofhiscountry。Butheneverconsideredrisksorchances。HefeltitasadutythatwemustfreeCuba，andthateveryonewhorecognizedthisdutyshoulddohisshareinperformingit。Nodoubttheexcitementandthenoblesideofourwarattractedhim。Nodoubt，also，thatherememberedthatthereputationofasuccessfulsoldierhadoftenprovedaladdertopoliticalpromotioninourRepublic。Everyreaderofourhistory，thoughhewerethedullest，understoodthat。Butthatwasnotthechiefreason，orevenanimportantone，inshapinghisdecision。HewenttoSanAntonioinMay，andworkedwithoutrespiteinlearningtherudimentsofwarandinteachingthemtohismotleyvolunteers，whowerealreadycalledbythepublic，andwillbeknowninhistory，asthe“RoughRiders。”Hefeltrelievedwhen“Teddy”sTerrors，“oneofthenicknamesproposed，didnotsticktothem。AttheendofthemonththeregimentproceededtoTampa，Florida，whencepartofitsailedforCubaonthetransportYucatan。ItsufficientlyindicatesthestateofchaoswhichthenreignedinourArmypreparations，thathalftheregimentandallthehorsesandmuleswereleftbehind。ArrivedinCuba，，thefirsttroops，accustomedonlytothesaddle，hadtohobblealongasbesttheycould，onfoot，sothatsomewagrechristenedthem“Wood”sWearyWalkers。” Therestoftheregiment，withthemounts，camealittlelater，andatLasGuasimastheyhadtheirfirstskirmishwiththeSpaniards。Eightofthemwerekilled，andtheywereburiedinonegrave。Afterward，inwritingthehistoryoftheRoughRiders，Rooseveltsaid：“Therecouldbenomorehonorableburialthanthatofthesemeninacommongrave——Indianandcowboy，miner，packer，andcollegeathlete——themanofunknownancestryfromthelonelyWesternplains，andthemanwhocarriedonhiswatchthecrestsoftheStuyvesantsandtheFishes，oneinthewaytheyhadmetdeath，justasduringlifetheyhadbeenoneintheirdaringandtheirloyalty。”* *TheRoughRiders，120。