theodore roosevelt-第50章
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nreserve。 He took it for granted that those to whom he spoke would regard his frank remarks as confidential； being honorable himself； he assumed a similar sense of honor in his listeners。 In one instance； however； he was deceived。 Among the guests at the White House were a gentleman and his wife。 The latter was a convert to Roman Catholicism； and she had not only all the proverbial zeal of a convert； but an amount of indiscretion which seems incredible in any one。 She often led the conversation to Roman Catholic subjects； and especially to the discussion of who was likely to be the next American Cardinal。 President Roosevelt had great respect for Archbishop Ireland； and he said； frankly； that he should be glad to see the red hat go to him。 The lady's husband was appointed to a foreign Embassy； and they were both soon thrown into an Ultramontane atmosphere； where clerical intrigues had long furnished one of the chief amusements of a vapid and corrupt Court。 The lady； who； of course； could not have realized the impropriety； made known the President's regard for Archbishop Ireland。 She even had letters to herself beginning 〃Dear Maria；〃 to prove the intimate terms on which she and her husband stood with Mr。 Roosevelt； and to suggest how important a personage she was in his estimation。 Assured； as she thought； of her influence in Washington； she seems also to have aspired to equal influence in the Vatican。 That would not be the first occasion on which Cardinals' hats had been bestowed through the benign feminine intercession。 Reports from Rome were favorable； Archbishop Ireland's prospects looked rosy。
But the post of Cardinal is so eminent that there are always several candidates for each vacancy。 I do not know whether or not it came about through one of Archbishop Ireland's rivals； or through 〃Dear Maria's〃 own indiscretion； but the fact leaked out that President Roosevelt was personally interested in Archbishop Ireland's success。 That settled the Archbishop。 The Hierarchy would never consent to be influenced by an American President； who was also a Protestant。 It might take instructions from the Emperor of Austria or the King of Spain； it had even allowed the German Kaiser； also a Protestant； indirectly but effectually to block the election of Cardinal Rampolla to be Pope in 1903； but the hint that the Archbishop of St。 Paul； Minnesota； might be made Cardinal because the American President respected him； could not be tolerated。 The President's letters beginning 〃Dear Maria〃 went gayly through the newspapers of the world； and the man in the street everywhere wondered how Roosevelt could have been so indiscreet as to have trusted so imprudent a zealot。 〃Dear Maria〃 and her husband were recalled from their Embassy and put out of reach of committing further indiscretions of that sort。 Archbishop Ireland never became Cardinal。 In spite of the President's forebodings； the 〃Dear Maria〃 incident did not cling to him all his life； but sank into oblivion； while the world； busied with matters of real importance； rushed on towards a great catastrophe。 Proofs that a man or a woman can do very foolish things are so common that 〃Dear Maria〃 could not win lasting fame by hers。 I do not think； however； that this experience taught Roosevelt reticence。 He did not lose his faith that a sense of honor was widespread； and would silence the tongues of the persons whom he talked to in confidence。
No President ever spoke so openly to newspaper men as he did。 He told them many a secret with only the warning； 〃Mind； this is private；〃 and none of them betrayed him。 When he entered the White House he gathered all the newspaper men round him； and said that no mention was to be made of Mrs。 Roosevelt； or of any detail of their family life； while they lived there。 If this rule were broken； he would refuse for the rest of his term to allow the representative of the paper which published the unwarranted report to enter the White House； or to receive any of the President's communications。 This rule also was religiously observed； with the result that Mrs。 Roosevelt was spared the disgust and indignity of a vulgar publicity； which had thrown its lurid light on more than one 〃First Lady of the Land〃 in previous administrations； and even on the innocent Baby McKee； President Harrison's grand…child。
We cannot too often bear in mind that Theodore Roosevelt never forgot the Oneness of Society。 If he aimed at correcting an industrial or financial abuse by special laws。 he knew that this work could be partial only。 It might promote the health of the entire body； but it was not equivalent to sanifying that entire body。 There was no general remedy。 A plaster applied to a skin cut does not cure an internal disease。 But he watched the unexpected effects of laws and saw how that influence spread from one field to another。
Roosevelt traced closely the course of Law and Custom to their ultimate objects； the family and the individual。 In discussing the matter with Mr。 Rhodes he cordially agreed with what the historian said about our American rich men。 He insisted that the same thing held true of our politicians； even the worst： that the average Roman rich man； like the average Roman public man； of the end of the Republic and of the beginning of the Empire； makes the corresponding man of our own time look like a self…denying； conscientious Puritan。 He did not think very highly of the American multi…millionaire； nor of his wife； sons； and daughters when compared with some other types of our citizens； even in ability the plutocrat did not seem to Roosevelt to show up very strongly save in his own narrowly limited field； and he and his womanhood； and those of less fortune who modeled their lives upon his and upon the lives of his wife and children； struck Roosevelt as taking very little advantage of their opportunities。 But to denounce them with hysterical exaggeration as resembling the unspeakable tyrants and debauchees of classic times； was simple nonsense。 Roosevelt hoped he had been of some assistance in moving our people along the line Mr。 Rhodes mentioned； that is； along the line of a sane； moderate purpose to supervise the business use of wealth and to curb its excesses； while keeping as far aloof from the policy of the visionary and demagogue as from the policy of the wealthy corruptionist。
CHAPTER XIX。 CHOOSING HIS SUCCESSOR
Critics frequently remark that Roosevelt was the most masterful politician of his time； and what we have already seen of his career should justify this assertion。 We need； however； to define what we mean by 〃politician。〃 Boss Platt； of New York； was a politician； but far removed from Roosevelt。 Platt and all similar dishonest manipulators of votersand the dishonesty took many formsheld their power； not by principles； but by exerting an unprincipled influence over the masses who supported them。 Roosevelt； on the other hand； was a great politician because he saw earlier than most men certain fundamental principles which he resolved to carry through whether the Bosses or their supporters liked it or not。 In a word he believed in principles rather than in men。 He was a statesman； and like the statesman he understood that half a loaf is often better than no bread and that； though he must often compromise and conciliate； he must surrender nothing essential。
As a result； his career as Assemblyman； as Civil Service Commissioner； as Police Commissioner of New York City； as Governor of New York State； and as President； seems a continuous rising scale of success。 We see the achievement which swallows up the baffling difficulties and the stubborn opposition。 These we must always remember if we would measure the extent of the victory。 It was Roosevelt's persistence and his refusal to be baffled or turned aside which really made him seem to triumph in all his work。
He never doubted； as I have often said； the necessity of party organization in our political system； although he recognized the tendency to corruption in it； the unreasoning loyalty which it bred and its substitution of Party for Country in its teaching。 He had known something of political machine methods at Albany。 After he became President； he knew them through and through as they wer
