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ency； had made a similar tour； but he did not excite a tenth of the popular interest and enthusiasm which Roosevelt excited。 Although Grant had the prestige of being the successful general of the most tremendous war ever fought in America； he had nothing picturesque or magnetic in his personality。 The peasants in the remote regions had heard of Roosevelt； persons of every class in the cities knew about him a little more definitely； and all were keen to see him。 Except Garibaldi； no modern ever set multitudes on fire as Roosevelt did； and Garibaldi was the hero of a much narrower sphere and had the advantage of being the hero of the then downtrodden masses。 Roosevelt； on the other hand； belonged to the ruling class in America； had served nearly eight years as President of the United States； and was equally the popular idol without class distinction。 And he had just come from a very remarkable exploit； having led his scientific and hunting expedition for twelve months through the perils and hardships of tropical Africa。 We Americans may well thrill with satisfaction to remember that it was this most typical of Americans who received the honors and homage of the world precisely because he was most typically American and strikingly individual。
Before he reached Italy on his way back； he had invitations from most of the sovereigns of Europe to visit them； and universities and learned bodies requested him to address them。 At Rome； as guest of King Victor Emanuel II； he received ovations of the exuberant and throbbing kind； which only the Italians can give。 But here also occurred what might have been； but for his common sense and courage； a hitch in his triumphal progress。 The intriguers of the Vatican； always on the alert to edify the Roman Catholics in the United States； thought they saw a chance to exalt themselves and humble the Protestants by stipulating that Colonel Roosevelt； who had accepted an invitation to call upon the Pope； should not visit any Protestant organization while he was in that city。 Some time before； Vice…President Fairbanks had incensed Cardinal Merry del Val； the Papal Secretary； and his group； by remarks at the Methodist College in Rome。 Here was a dazzling opportunity for not only getting even； but for coming out victorious。 If the Vatican schemers could force Colonel Roosevelt； who； at the moment； was the greatest figure in the world； to obey their orders； they might exult in the sight of all the nations。 Should he balk； he would draw down upon himself a hostile Catholic vote at home。 Probably the good…natured Pope himself understood little about the intrigue and took little part in it； for Pius X was rather a kindly and a genuinely pious pontiff。 But Cardinal Merry del Val； apt pupil of the Jesuits； made an egregious blunder if he expected to catch Theodore Roosevelt in a Papal trap。 The Rector of the American Catholic College in Rome wrote： 〃 'The Holy Father will be delighted to grant audience to Mr。 Roosevelt on April 5th； and hopes nothing will arise to prevent it； such as the much…regretted incident which made the reception of Mr。 Fairbanks impossible。' Roosevelt replied to our Ambassador as follows： 'On the other hand； I in my turn must decline to have any stipulations made or submit to any conditions which in any way limit my freedom of conduct。' To this the Vatican replied。 through our Ambassador： 'In view of the circumstances for which neither His Holiness nor Mr。 Roosevelt is responsible； an audience could not occur except on the understanding expressed in the former message。'〃 *
* Washburn； 164。
Ex…President Roosevelt did not； by calling upon the Pope； furnish Cardinal Merry del Val with cause to gloat。 A good while afterward in talking over the matter with me； Roosevelt dismissed it with 〃No self…respecting American could allow his actions or his going and coming to be dictated to him by any Pope or King。〃 That； to him； was so self…evident a fact that it required no discussion； and the American people； including probably a large majority of Roman Catholics； agreed with him。
》From Rome he went to Austria； to Vienna first； where the aged Emperor； Francis Joseph； welcomed him； and then to Budapest； where the Hungarians； eager for their independence； shouted themselves hoarse at sight of the representative of American independence。 Wherever he went the masses in the cities crowded round him and the people in the country flocked to cheer him as he passed。 Since Norway had conferred on him the Nobel Peace Prize after the Russo…Japanese War； he journeyed to Christiania to pay his respects to the Nobel Committee； and there he delivered an address on the conditions necessary for a universal peace in which he foreshadowed many of the terms which have since been preached by the advocates of a League of Nations。 In Berlin； the Kaiser received him with ostentatious friendliness。 He addressed him as 〃Friend Roosevelt。〃 Since the Colonel was not a monarch the Kaiser could not address him as 〃Brother〃 or as 〃Cousin；〃 and the word 〃Friend 〃disguised whatever condescension he may have felt。 There was a grand military review of twelve thousand troops； which the Kaiser and his 〃Friend〃 inspected； and he took care to inform Roosevelt that he was the first civilian to whom this honor had ever been paid。 An Imperial photographer made snapshots of the Colonel and the Kaiser； and these were subsequently given to the Colonel with superscriptions and comments written by the Kaiser on the negatives。 Roosevelt's impression of his Imperial host was； on the whole； favorable。 I do not think he regarded him as very solid； personally； but he recognized the results of the power which William's inherited position as Emperor conferred on him。
Paris did not fall behind any of the other European capitals in the enthusiasm of its welcome。 There； Roosevelt was received in solemn session by the Sorbonne； before which he spoke on citizenship in a Republic； and； with prophetic vision； he warned against the seductions of phrase…makers as among the insidious dangers to which Republics were exposed。
His most conspicuous triumph； however； was in England。 On May 6th； King Edward VII died； and President Taft appointed Colonel Roosevelt special envoy； to represent the United States at the royal funeral。 This drew together crowned heads from all parts of Europe； so that at one of the State functions at Buckingham Palace there were no fewer than thirteen monarchs at table。 The Colonel stayed at Dorchester House with the American Ambassador； Mr。 Whitelaw Reid； and was beset by calls and invitations from the crowned personages。 I have heard him give a most amusing account of that experience； but it is too soon to repeat it。 Then； as always； he could tell a bore at sight； and the bore could not deceive him by any disguise of ermine cloak or Imperial title。 The German Kaiser seems to have taken pains to pose as the preferred intimate of 〃Friend Roosevelt；〃 but the 〃Friend〃 remained unwaveringly Democratic。 One day William telephoned to ask Roosevelt to lunch with him； but the Colonel diplomatically pleaded a sore throat； and declined。 At another time when the Kaiser wished him to come and chat； Roosevelt replied that he would with p