theodore roosevelt-第26章
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cs and Big Business； and who was hopelessly 〃altruistic〃 in caring for the poor and down trodden and outcast。 Even Platt knew that； while it would not be safe for him to try to dominate the popular hero against his own preference and that of the public； still to shelve Roosevelt in the office of Vice…President would bring peace to the sadly disturbed Boss； and would restore jobs to many of his greedy followers。 So he talked up the Vice…Presidency for Roosevelt； and he let the impression circulate that in the autumn there would be a new Governor。
Roosevelt； however； repeated to many persons the views he wrote to Platt in the letter quoted above； and his friends and opponents both understood that he wished to continue as Governor for another two years； to carry on the fight against corruption； and to save himself from being laid away in the Vice Presidencythe receiving…tomb of many ambitious politicians。 In spite of the fact that within thirty…five years； by the assassination of two Presidents； two Vice…Presidents had succeeded to the highest office in the Nation； Vice…Presidents were popularly regarded as being mere phantoms without any real power or influence as long as their term lasted； and cut off from all hopes in the future。 Roosevelt himself had this notion。 But the Presidential conventions； with criminal disregard of the qualifications of a candidate to perform the duties of President if accident thrust them upon him； went on recklessly nominating nonentities for Vice…President。
The following extract from a confidential letter by John Hay； Secretary of State； to Mr。 Henry White； at the American Embassy in London； reveals the attitude towards Roosevelt of the Administration itself。 Allowance must be made； of course； for Hay's well…known habit of persiflage：
HAY TO HENRY WHITE
Teddy has been here： have you heard of it？ It was more fun than a goat。 He came down with a sombre resolution thrown on his strenuous brow to let McKinley and Hanna know once for all that he would not be Vice…President； and found to his stupefaction that nobody in Washington； except Platt； had ever dreamed of such a thing。 He did not even have a chance to launch his nolo episcopari at the Major。 That statesman said he did not want him on the ticketthat he would be far more valuable in New York and Root said； with his frank and murderous smile； 〃Of course notyou're not fit for it。〃 And so he went back quite eased in his mind； but considerably bruised in his amour propre。
In February； Roosevelt issued a public notice that he would not consent to run for the Vice…Presidency； and throughout the spring； until the meeting of the Republican Convention in Philadelphia； on June 21st； he clung to that determination。 Platt； anxious lest Roosevelt should be reelected Governor against the plans of the Machine； quietlyworked up a 〃boom〃 for Roosevelt's nomination as Vice…President； and he connived with Quay to steer the Pennsylvania delegation in the same direction。 The delegates met and renominated McKinley as a matter of course。 Then； with irresistible pressure； they insisted on nominating Roosevelt。 Swept off his feet； and convinced that the demand came genuinely from representatives from all over the country； he accepted； and was chosen by acclamation。 The Boss…led delegations from New York and Pennsylvania added their votes to those of the real Roosevelt enthusiasts。
Happy； pious Tom Platt； relieved from the nightmare of having to struggle for two years more with a Reform Governor at Albany！ Some of Roosevelt's critics construed his yielding； at the last moment； as evidence of his being ruled by Platt after all。 But this insinuation collapsed as soon as the facts were known。 As an episode in the annals of political sport； I should like to have had Roosevelt run for Governor a second time； defy Platt and all his imps； and be reelected。
As I have just quoted Secretary Hay's sarcastic remarks on the possibility that Roosevelt might be the candidate for Vice…President； I will add this extract from Hay's note to the successful candidate himself； dated June 21st：
As it is all over but the shouting； I take a moment of this cool morning of the longest day in the year to offer you my cordial congratulations 。。。。 You have received the greatest compliment the country could pay you； and although it was not precisely what you and your friends desire； I have no doubt it is all for the best。 Nothing can keep you from doing good work wherever you arenor from getting lots of fun out of it。*
* W。 R。 Thayer： John Hay； II； 343。
The Presidential campaign which followed； shook the country only a little less than that of 1896 had done。 For William J。 Bryan was again the Democratic candidate； honest moneythe gold against the silver standardwas again the issuealthough the Spanish War had injected Imperialism into the Republican platformand the conservative elements were still anxious。 The persistence of the Free Silver heresy and of Bryan's hold on the popular imagination alarmed them； for it seemed to contradict the hope implied in Lincoln's saying that you can't fool all the people all the time。 Here was a demagogue； who had been exposed and beaten four years before； who raised his heador should I say his voice？with increased effrontery and to an equally large and enthusiastic audience。
Roosevelt took his full share in campaigning for the Republican ticket。 He spoke in the East and in the West； and for the first time the people of many of the States heard him speak and saw his actual presence。 His attitude as a speaker； his gestures； the way in which his pent…up thoughts seemed almost to strangle him before he could utter them； his smile showing the white rows of teeth； his fist clenched as if to strike an invisible adversary； the sudden dropping of his voice； and leveling of his forefinger as he became almost conversational in tone； and seemed to address special individuals in the crowd before him； the strokes of sarcasm； stern and cutting； and the swift flashes of humor which set the great multitude in a roar； became in that summer and autumn familiar to millions of his countrymen； and the cartoonists made his features and gestures familiar to many other millions。 On his Western trip； Roosevelt for a companion and understudy had Curtis Guild； and more than once when Roosevelt lost his voice completely； Guild had to speak for him。 Up to election day in November； the Republicans did not feel confident； but when the votes were counted； McKinley had a plurality of over 830；000； and beat Bryan by more than a million。
By an absurd and bungling practice； which obtains in our political life； the Administration elected in November does not take office until the following March； an interval which permits the old Administration； often beaten and discredited； to continue in office for four months after the people have turned it out。 As we have lately seen； such an Administration does not experience a death…bed repentance； but employs the moratorium to rivet upon the country the evil policies which the people have repudiated。 This interval Roosevelt spent in finishing his work as Governor of New York State； and in removing to Washington。 Then he had a foretaste of the life of inactivity to which the Vice…Presidency doomed him。
After being sworn in on March 4； 1901； his only stated duty was to preside over the Senate； but as the Senate did not usually sit during the hot weather； he had still more leisure thrust upon him。 Of course； he could write； and there never was a time； even at his busiest； when he had not a book； or addresses； or articles on the stocks。 But writing alone was not now sufficient to exercise his very vigorous faculties。 Perhaps； for the first time in his life； he may have had a foreboding of what ennui meant。 He consulted Justice White； now Chief Justice of the Supreme Court； whether it would be proper for him to enroll himself as a student in the Washington Law School。 Justice White feared that this might be regarded as a slight to the dignity of the Vice…Presidential office； but he told Roosevelt what law…books to read； and offered to quiz him every Saturday evening。 Before autumn came； however； when they could carry out their plan； a tra
