taught his associates a more stern and righteous code of morals, he had occasion to repel their charges of insincerity by telling them they should not violate the ninth commandment.

It must not be understood that Mr. Roosevelt was so strict a constructionist as to preclude the possibility of his securing practical results. Sometimes he found the best-the absolute right -not at the hour attainable; and he had as little patience with that band of irreconcilables who would have nothing unless they could have all, as he had for the graceless scamp who took without regard to title. "The weakling and the coward cannot be saved by honesty alone; but without honesty the brave and able man is simply a civic wild beast who should be hunted down by every lover of righteousness." He says in another place: "We need absolute honesty in public life; and we shall not get it until we remember that truth-telling must go hand in hand with it, and that it is quite as important not to tell an untruth about a decent man as it is to tell the truth about one who is not decent."

Yet, speaking of the extremists who would reject every tender of partial betterment as "a compromise with the Devil, a covenant with

Hell," he has said: "They are morally worse instead of better than the moderates. Under very rare conditions their attitude may be right; and because it is thus right once in a hundred times they are apt to be blind to the harm they do in the other ninety-nine cases. These men need to realize above all things that healthy growth cannot come through revolution. Hysteria in any form is incompatible with sane and healthy endeavor."

There is no concession to wrong in this. It is simply the wisdom of a man who understands the world, and who knows that miracles have ceased. As even the Creator allots a hundred years to the maturity of an oak, so that man who would build higher the temple of his country's liberties must move by degrees; he must take advantage of available blessings, and gather the strength to be obtained from combat with foes.

The religious life and example of Mr. Roosevelt seem above all things to be of that reasonable sort which makes men better; which tends to a higher type of statesmanship; which encourages a better officialdom; which makes American citizenship and Christian citizenship more nearly convertible terms.

CHAPTER IX.

CRUSADE FOR THE MERIT SYSTEM.

ROOSEVELT'S WORK IN THE NEW YORK LEGISLATURE BEARS FRUIT-APPOINTED CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSIONER BY PRESISHOWS GREAT PREPARATION FOR THE WORK-OFFENDS SPOILSMEN OF BOTH PARTIES-ABLY SUPPORTED IN THE SENATE AND HOUSE.

DENT HARRISON

For several years after his defeat for the office of mayor of New York Mr. Roosevelt took no prominent part in politics. Not that he ever lost interest in the legislation of his city, State or country. His nature and education prohibited such a course. A man who should neglect to perform the duties of citizenship from any cause he held in less esteem even than the man who made a business of politics for the advancement of his own personal ends. There is no mistaking his utterances on this point. "It is unfortunately true," he declares, "especially throughout New England and the Middle States, that the general tendency among people of culture and high education has been to neglect and even to look down