按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
f lives。 At Montauk Point he was the most popular man in America。
This concluded Roosevelt's career as a soldier。 The experience introduced to the public those virile qualities of his with which his friends were familiar。 He had not endured the hardships of ranching and hunting in vain。 If life on the Plains democratized him； life with the Rough Riders did also； indeed； without the former there would have been no Rough Riders and no Colonel Roosevelt。 He learned not only how to lead a regiment according to the tactics of that day； but alsoand this was far more importanthe learned how disasters and the waste of lives； and treasure； and the ignominy of a disgracefully managed campaign； sprang directly from unpreparedness。 This burned indelibly into his memory。 It stimulated all his subsequent appeals to make the Army and Navy large enough for any probable sudden demand upon them。 〃America the Unready〃 had won the war against a decrepit； impoverished； third…rate power； but had paid for her victory hundreds of millions of dollars and tens of thousands of lives； what would the count have mounted to had she been pitted against a really formidable foe？ Would she have won at all against any enemy fully prepared and of nearly equal strength？ Many of us dismissed Roosevelt's warnings then as the outpourings of a jingo； of one who loved war for war's sake； and wished to graft onto the peaceful traditions and standards of our Republic the militarism of Europe。 We misjudged him。
CHAPTER VIII。 GOVERNOR OF NEW YORKVICE…PRESIDENT
While Roosevelt was at Montauk Point waiting with his regiment to be mustered out； and cheering up the sick soldiers； he had direct proof that every war breeds a President。 For the politicians went down to call on him and； although they did not propose that he should be a candidate for the Presidencythat was not a Presidential yearthey looked him over to see how he would do for Governor of New York。 Since Cleveland set the fashion in 1882； the New York governorship was regarded as the easiest stepping stone to the Presidency。 Roosevelt's popularity was so great that if the matter had been left in the hands of the people； he would have been nominated with a rush； but the Empire State was dominated by BossesSenator David B。 Hill； the Democratic State Boss； Senator Thomas C。 Platt； the Republican State Boss； and Richard Croker； Boss of Tammany；who had intimate relations with the wicked of both parties； and often decided an election by throwing their votes or withholding them。
Senator Platt enjoyed； with Senator Quay of Pennsylvania； the evil reputation of being the most unscrupulous Boss in the United States。 I do not undertake to say whether the palm should go to him or to Quay； but no one disputes that Platt held New York State in his hand； or that Quay held Pennsylvania in his。 By the year 1898； both were recognized as representing a type of Boss that was becoming extinct。
The business…man type； of which Senator Aldrich was a perfect exponent； was pushing to the front。 Quay； greedy of money； had never made a pretense of showing even a conventional respect for the Eighth Commandment； Platt； on the other hand； seems not to have enriched himself by his political deals； but to have taken his pay in the gratification he enjoyed from wielding autocratic power。 Platt also betrayed that he dated from the last generation by his religiosity。 He used his piety as an elephant uses his proboscis； to reach about and secure desired objects； large or small； the trunk of a tree or a bag of peanuts。 He was a Sunday…School teacher and； I believe； a deacon of his church。 Roosevelt says that he occasionally interlarded his political talk with theological discussion； but that his very dry theology was wholly divorced from moral implications。 The wonderful chapter on 〃The New York Governorship；〃 in Roosevelt's 〃Autobiography；〃 ought to be read by every American； because it gives the most remarkable account of the actual working of the political Machine in a great American State； the disguises that Machine wore； its absolute unscrupulousness； its wickedness； its purpose to destroy the ideals of democracy。 And Roosevelt's analysis of Platt may stand alongside of Machiavelli's portraits of the Italian Bosses four hundred years beforethey were not called Bosses then。
Senator Platt did not wish to have Roosevelt hold the governorship； or any other office in which the independent young man might worry the wily old Senator。* But the Republican Party in New York State happened to be in such a very bad condition that the likelihood that it would carry the election that autumn was slight： for the public had temporarily tired of Machine rule。 Platt's managers saw that they must pick out a really strong candidate and they understood that nobody at that moment could rival Roosevelt's popularity。 So they impressed on Platt that he must accept the Rough Rider Chief； and Mr。 Lemuel Quigg； an ex…Congressman； a journalist formerly on the New York Tribune； a stanch Republican； who nevertheless recognized that discretion and intelligence might sometimes be allowed a voice in Machine dictation； journeyed to Montauk and had a friendly； frank conversation with the Colonel。
* Platt and Quay were both born in 1833。
Quigg spoke for nobody but himself； he merely wished to sound Roosevelt。 Roosevelt made no pledges； he defined his general attitude and wished to understand what the Platt Machine proposed。 Quigg said that Platt admitted that the present Governor； Black； could not be reelected； but that he had doubts as to Roosevelt's docility。 Republican leaders and local chairmen in all parts of the State； however； enthusiastically called for Roosevelt； and Quigg did not wish to have the Republican Party split into two factions。 He believed that Platt would accede if he could be convinced that Roosevelt would not 〃make war on him。〃 Roosevelt； without promising anything； replied that he had no intention of making 〃war on Mr。 Platt； or on anybody else； if war could be avoided。〃 He said：
'that what ＇he＇ wanted was to be Governor and not a faction leader； that ＇he＇ certainly would confer with the organization men； as with everybody else who seemed to ＇him＇ to have knowledge of and interest in public affairs； and that as to Mr。 Platt and the organization leaders； ＇he＇ would do so in the sincere hope that there might always result harmony of opinion and purpose； but that while ＇he＇ would try to get on well with the organization； the organization must with equal sincerity strive to do what ＇he＇ regarded as essential for the public good； and that in every case； after full consideration of what everybody had to say who might possess real knowledge of the matter； ＇he＇ should have to act finally as ＇his＇ own judgment and conscience dictated； and administer the State Government as ＇he＇ thought it ought to be administered。' *
* Autobiography； 295。
Having assured Roosevelt that his statements were exactly what Quigg expected； Quigg returned to New York City； reported his conversation to Platt； and； in due season； the free citizens of New York learned that； with Platt's consent； the Colonel of the Rough Riders would be nominated by the Republican