The Gisborne Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. TUESDAY, JUNK 30, 1908. A GREAT AMERICAN.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2230, 30 June 1908, Page 2

The Gisborne Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. TUESDAY, JUNK 30, 1908. A GREAT AMERICAN.

Easily first among the numerous appreciations of Theodore Roosevelt and his work lint have appeared of la to is the article contributed by Mr. James Creelman to the current number of “Poartfon’s.” Tho well-known American journalist writes as one having ail intelligent sympathy with the Roosevelt ’ charioter, intimate knowledge of what aro generally termed “inside facts,’’ and a-sincerity that will impress most readers as real. -His article is eulogistic, but his pr.aisp of the President is deft and diserminating. and his argument lucid and well supported. In a sense, Mr. Creelman Ins furnished us with a kov to tlm “Roosevelt problem,” and in a low pages bn.s mule clear what volumes of speculation, gossip, and theory have only served to render more obscure.

•Far from being orratic, a creature of impulse, tho real Roosevelt, Mr. Creelman shows us, is a. man of unconquerable and inflexible purpose, making over for his chosen goal, most cheerful when the press of opposition is heaviest and rejoicing as a strong man in the shock of conflict. His oloction night pledge of four years ago that ho would not accept another term of office was not the child of a moment's emotion, but the fruit of long hours of deliberation, announced to Ilia intimates weeks before the election. In order to carry through tho •task ho had set for himself, it was necessary to convinco tho people of his disinterestedness and sincerity. His promise not to accept a third term, if made in the heat of the campaign, would 'have been regarded as a political play, a hid for votes. “By waiting until his election was acknowledged,” writes Mr. Creelman, "Mr. Roosevelt intended that his renunciation should operate as a notice to the corrupt party bosses that their enmity or opposition would in no way affect tho future ho had chosen for himself and an assurance t 0 the people, in every part of the country and of every shade of opinion, that their hearty support- would in no way tend to aggrandiso his personal fortunes.”

Personal success was less dear to him than the success of tho cause ho had clioson. Like a shrewd and daring soldier, ho discarded tho liopo of further preferment as a cumbersome bit of baggage and went into the fight in light marching order. His selfabnegation robbed his foes of their favorite weapon,, frequently and successfully used against others, and won him the popular confidence out of which ho lias forged a weapon against which the corruptionists have not vet found a defence..

Mr. Roosevelt- inaugurated his pu!> lie career in New York with a warfare on the political b«w. It was not lung boforo ho found that these corruptionists were mere pawns in the game, -that they obeyed “tho secret orders of men who towered up in the community as representatives of order and progress.” Ho determinedwhen tho time came, to launch his attack straight at tho corruption strongholds. Instinctively the “men -higher lip” feared him. To get him out of tho NeW York gubernatorial chair and in the hope of burying him, they forced the Vice-Presidency upon him and thereby gave him, by the accident of McKinley's death, his great opportunity. The declaration of war against “the conspiracy of dollars” followed and the rest lias become a part of the country’s history. Mr. Roosevolt’s determination, as outlined in his speeches and messages and summarised by Mr. Creelman, is to break “the new sovereignty of dollars,” to bring “all forms of wealth or power, regardless of persons or parties, -under the control of the law,” to deal with “lawless corporations and millionaires as- sternly and openly -as lawless labor union rioters;” to make tho power of the public supreme in the nation. To accomplish those ends he has niado a masterful fight and a fair beginning, somo mistakes, thousands of enemies, millions <J friends, and a permanent placo for himself in tho national history. The war is not over and for that, roason ho geeks to influence tho choice of his successor. But his determination not to accept another term for himself stands unshaken. The public might tiro of him and grow lukewarm in the cause. Popular heroes have frequently grown unpopular before, and the fruits of their Labors have been lost to their people because tho fancied themselves and their own fortunes of more importance than tlieir cause. Mr. Roosevelt is resolved to make no such mistake. His cause is greater than he. Hie ambition lies in its success rather than his own preferment.