theodore roosevelt-第58章
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ivalent to public approval of his first term。 Mr。 Taft； therefore； stood out as the logical candidate of the Conservatives。 The great majority of the Progressives desired Roosevelt； but； since he would say neither yes nor no； they naturally turned to Senator La Follette。 And La Follette launched a vigorous campaign for the nomination and was undoubtedly gaining ground except in the East； where some of his views had been regarded as too extreme even for the Liberals。 To his great misfortune； in a speech at Philadelphia on February 2； 1912； he showed signs of a temporary mental collapse and； although his friends protested that this mishap was not serious； much less permanent； he never got back into the running。
Meanwhile； Roosevelt's nearest zealots not only urged upon him the duty of coming out squarely as the Progressive aspirant； but they set up throughout the country their propaganda for him。 He received letters by the bushel and every letter appealed to his patriotism and to his sense of duty。 The Progressives were in dead earnest。 They believed that the country； if not civilization； had reached a crisis on the outcome of which would depend the future health and peace of Society。 They had a crusade； not a mere political campaign； ahead of them； and they could not believe that Roosevelt； their peerless champion； would fail them。
The average person； who calmly sits back in his easy…chair and passes his verdict on the acts of great men； does not always allow for the play of emotions which may have influenced them。 What sort of reaction must appeals like these have stimulated？ How can the unimaginative man； who has never been urged by his fellow townspeople to be even Trustee of the Town library or graveyard； put himself in the place of a Leader； who is told by millions of persons； possibly fanatics but not flatterers； that the destiny of the Nation depends upon his listening to their entreaties？
Everything conspired to win Roosevelt over： La Follette being eliminated； there was no other Progressive whom the majority would agree upon。 The party spoke with only one voice； and uttered only one name。 And； presently； the Governors of seven StatesBass of New Hampshire； Hadley of Missouri； Osborn of Michigan； Glasscock of West Virginia； Carey of Wyoming； Aldrich of Nebraska； and Stubbs of Kansasissued an appeal to him which seemed to give an official stamp to the popular entreaties。 Roosevelt's enemies insinuated that the seven Governors had been moved to act at his own instigation； and they tried to belittle the entire movement as a 〃frame…up；〃 in the common phrase of the day。 No doubt he was consulted in the general direction of the campaign； no doubt； being a very alert student of political effects； he suggested many things； but the rush of enthusiasts to him was genuine and spontaneous。
I happened to spend the evening of February 25； 1912； with him at the house of Judge Robert Grant in Boston。 Judge Grant and I were not politicians； and I； at least； had never voted for a Republican Presidential candidate。 But both of us were very old personal friends of the Colonel； and for five hours we three talked with the utmost frankness。 He knew that he could trust us； and； I think； he planned to get the views of non…partisan friends before announcing his final decision。 Three days earlier； at Columbus； Ohio； he gave a great speech； in which he proclaimed a new charter for Democracy and vigorously advocated the Initiative； Referendum； and Recall。 We discussed these from every side； he got the Outlook in which his speech was printed and read to us passages which he thought corrected popular misunderstanding of it。 When I objected to the platform in general； because it would tend to destroy representative government and substitute therefor the whims of the populace at the moment； he replied that we had no representative government。 〃I can name forty…six Senators；〃 he said； 〃who secured their seats and hold them by the favor of a Wall Street magnate and his associates； in all parts of the country。 Do you call that popular； representative government？〃 he asked。
The evening wore on； and in similar fashion he parried all our criticism。 We urged him not to be a candidate； because； we said； we thought that the public ought to be reined in and disciplined； instead of being encouraged to be more lawless and self…willed。 I defended our judiciary system and said that the American people needed most of all to be taught respect for the Courts。 He explained that his Recall of Judicial Decisions did not mean； as the Opposition alleged； the Recall of Judges。 Then we urged him； for the sake of his own future； not to engage in a factional strife which might end his usefulness to the country； but he brushed aside every argument based on his selfish advantage。 〃I wish；〃 he said to me； 〃to draw into one dominant stream all the intelligent and patriotic elements； in order to prepare against the social upheaval which will other wise overwhelm us。〃 〃A great Central Party； such as Cavour founded for the liberation of Italy？〃 said I。 〃Exactly；〃 said he。
The thing which mainly struck me at the time； and which I still vividly remember； was the Colonel's composure throughout all this debate。 Vehement he wasbecause he could not describe even a butterfly without vividness which easily passed into vehemence… …but he was in no sense mentally overwrought； nor did he continually return to one subject like a man with an obsession。 His humor flashed out； even at his own expense； but he had throughout the underlying gravity of one who knows that he is about to make a very important decision。 I mention these facts because at the time； and afterward； Roosevelt's enemies circulated the assertion that his mind was unbalanced； and that this fact accounted for his break with the regular Republicans。 I have in my hand a printed circular； issued by a Chicago lawyer； offering five thousand dollars apiece to each of several hospitals and other charitable institutions； if Roosevelt would allow himself to be examined by competent alienists and they did not pronounce him to be a 〃madman〃！ No！ he was not mad； but he had the fervor； the courage； the impatience of a Crusader about to undergo ordeal by battle。
》From notes of the conversation Judge Grant made at the time I quote the following。 Judge Grant asked：
〃Will any of the party leaders support you？〃
〃No；〃 he said； 〃none of them； not even Lodge； I think。 I don't see how he can。 My support will come from the people； officered by a few lieutenantsyoung men principally like Governor Bass； of New Hampshire。〃 He said that he realized that the probabilities were all against his nomination； that a President in office had all the machinery on his side； but that of course it wouldn't do to admit outside that he expected to lose； that if he could reach the popular vote through direct primaries； he could hope to win。 It was manifest that he believed that it was indispensable for the future good of the Republican Party that he should make the breach。 When he said as much； I asked； 〃But the situation is complex； I suppose？ You would like to be President？〃 〃You are right；〃 he replied。 〃It is complex。 I like power； but I care nothing to be President as President。 I am interested in these ideas of mine and I want to carry them through； and feel that I am the one to carry them through。〃 He said that he believed the most important questions today were the humanitarian and economic problems； and intimated that the will of the people had been thwarted in these ways； especially by the courts on constitutional grounds； and that reforms were urgent。
As I went out into the midnight； I felt sad； as one might after bidding farewell to a friend who has volunteered to lead a forlorn hope。 I did not realize then the moral depth from which Roosevelt's resolve came； or that he would rather die for that cause than be victorious in any other。
The next day； Monday； February 26th； he announced to the country that he was a candidate for the Republican nomination。
CHAPTER XXII。 THE TWO CONVENTIONS
During the weeks while Roosevelt had been deliberating over 〃throwing his hat into the ring；〃 his opponents had been busily gathering delegates。
