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to the head of the American Bar； he had been attorney for powerful corporations； and that being the time when the Government was fighting the Corporations； it was not supposed that his candidacy would be popular。 So Taft was preferred to him。
The Republican Machine accepted Taft as a candidate with composure； if not with enthusiasm。 Anyone would be better than Roosevelt in the eyes of the Machine and its supporters； and perhaps they perceived in Secretary Taft qualities not wholly unsympathetic。 They were probably thankful； also； that Roosevelt had not demanded more。 He allowed the 〃regulars〃 to choose the nominee for Vice…President； and he did not meddle with the make…up of the Republican National Committee。 One of his critics； Dean Lewis； marks this as Roosevelt's chief political blunder； because by leaving the Republican National Committee in command he virtually predetermined the policy of the next four years。 Only a very strong President with equal zeal and fighting quality could win against the Committee。 In 1908 he had them so docile that he might have changed their membership； and changed the rules by which elections were governed if he had so willed； but； just as before the election of 1904； Roosevelt had doubted his own popularity in the country； so now he missed his chance because he did not wish to seem to wrest from the unwilling Machine powers which it lost no time in using against him。
The campaign never reached a dramatic crisis。 Mr。 Bryan； the Democratic candidate； who still posed as the Boy Orator of the Platte； although he had passed forty…eight years of age； made a spirited canvass； and when the votes were counted he gained more than a million and a third over the total for Judge Parker in 1904。 But Mr。 Taft won easily by a million and a quarter votes。
Between election and inauguration an ominous disillusion set in。 The Rooseveltians had taken it for granted that the new President would carry on the policies of the old； more than that； the impression prevailed among them that the high officials of the Roosevelt Administration； including some members of his Cabinet； would be retained； but when Inauguration Day came； it appeared that Mr。 Taft had chosen a new set of advisers； and he denied that he had given any one reason to believe that he would do otherwise。
March 4； 1909； was a wintry day in Washington。 A snowstorm and high winds prevented holding the inaugural exercises out of doors as usual on the East Front of the Capitol。 President Roosevelt and President…elect Taft drove in state down Pennsylvania Avenue； and Mr。 Taft； having taken the oath of office； delivered his inaugural address in the Senate Chamber。 The ceremonies being over； Mr。 Roosevelt； instead of accompanying the new President to the White House； went to the railway station and took the train for New York。 This innovation had been planned some time before； because Mr。 Roosevelt had arranged to sail for Europe in a few days； and needed to reach Oyster Bay as soon as possible to complete his preparations。
Many an eye…witness who watched him leave； as a simple civilian； the Hall of Congress； must have felt that with his going there closed one of the most memorable administrations this country had ever known。 Roosevelt departed； but his invisible presence still filled the capital city and frequented every quarter of the Nation。
CHAPTER XX。 WORLD HONORS
What to do with ex…Presidents is a problem which worries those happy Americans who have nothing else to worry over。 They think of an ex…President as of a sacred white elephant； who must not work； although he has probably too little money to keep him alive in proper ease and dignity。 In fact； however； these gentlemen have managed； at least during the past half…century； to sink back into the civilian mass from which they emerged without suffering want themselves or dimming the lustre which radiates from the office。 Roosevelt little thought that in quitting the Presidency he was not going into political obscurity。
Roosevelt had two objects in view when he left the White House。 He sought long and complete rest； and to place himself beyond the reach of politicians。 In fairness； he wished to give Mr。 Taft a free field； which would hardly have been possible if Roosevelt had remained in Washington or New York； where politicians might have had access to him。
Accordingly； he planned to hunt big game in Africa for a year； and in order to have a definite purpose； which might give his expedition lasting usefulness； he arranged to collect specimens for the Smithsonian Institution in Washington。 His second son； Kermit； then twenty years of age； besides several naturalists and hunters； accompanied him。 His expedition sailed from New York on March 23d； touched at the Azores and at Gibraltar； where the English Commander showed him the fortifications； and transshipped at Naples into an East…African liner。 He found his stateroom filled with flowers sent by his admiring friend； Kaiser William II； with a telegram of effusive greeting； and with messages and tokens from minor potentates。 More important to him than these tributes； however； was the presence of Frederick C。 Selous； the most famous hunter of big game in Africa； who joined the ship and proved a congenial fellow passenger。 They reached Mombasa on April 23rd； and after the caravan had been made ready； they started for the interior。
We need not follow in detail the year which Roosevelt and his party spent in his African hunting。 The railroad took them to Lake Victoria Nyanza； but they stopped at many places on the way； and made long excursions into the country。 Then from the Lake they proceeded to the Albert Nyanza and steamed down the Nile to Gondokoro； which they reached on February 26； 1910。 On March 14th at Khartoum； where Mrs。 Roosevelt and their daughter Ethel awaited them； Roosevelt emerged into civilization again。 He and Kermit had shot 512 beasts and birds； of which they kept about a dozen for trophies； the rest going to the Smithsonian Institution and to the museums。 A few of their specimens were unique； and the total product of the expedition was the most important which had ever reached America from Africa。
After spending a few days in visiting Omdurman and other scenes connected with the British conquest of the Mahdists； less than a dozen years before； the Roosevelts went down the river to Cairo； where the ex…President addressed the Egyptian students。 These were the backbone of the so…called Nationalist Party； which aimed at driving out the British and had killed the Prime Minister a month before。 They warned Roosevelt that if he dared to touch on this subject he； too； would be assassinated。 But such threats did not move him then or ever。 Roosevelt reproved them point…blank for killing Boutros Pasha； and told them that a party which sought freedom must show its capacity for living by law and order； before it could expect to deserve freedom。
》From Egypt； Roosevelt crossed to Naples； and then began what must be described as a triumphal progress through Central and Western Europe。 Only General Grant； after his Presidency； had made a similar tour； but he did not excite a tenth of the popular interest and enthusiasm