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AMERICAN IDEALS
AND OTHER ESSAYS
SOCIAL AND POLITICAL
By Theodore Roosevelt
Author of “The Winning of the West,” “The WildernessHunter,” “Hunting Trips of a Ranchman,” etc.
WITH A BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH BY
GEN. FRANCIS VINTON GREENE
G. P. PUTNAM’S SONS
NEW YORK AND LONDON
The Knickerbocker Press
1904
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[Illustration]
Copyright 1897
BY
G. P. PUTNAM’S SONS
Entered at Stationers’ Hall, London
The Knickerbocker Press, New York
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TO
HENRY CABOT LODGE
October 1897
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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH
Few names are more widely known at the presentmoment than that of Theodore Roosevelt,so that in one sense any introduction issuperfluous. But in this sense he is known chieflyas the “Rough Rider” of the Santiago campaign;whereas those who read these books will see thathis experience as a volunteer officer in the war withSpain is only one incident in a life which has beensingularly varied in thought and accomplishmentand useful in many fields.
Roosevelt was born in New York City, October27, 1858. On his father’s side he is descendedfrom a Dutch emigrant of the seventeenth centuryand the intermediate generations have been prudent,hard-working, successful merchants, prominentat all times in the commercial and social life ofNew York. His father’s mother was from Pennsylvania,of Irish stock. His own mother wasfrom Georgia, a daughter of James DunwoodieBullock, whose family was of Scotch and Huguenotorigin, and had been prominent in public lifein the South.
During his childhood, Roosevelt was in such[Pg vi]bad health that it was doubtful if he would evergrow to manhood, and his robust strength andextraordinary capacity for physical endurance werenot acquired until after his outdoor life in theWest. He was educated at private schools in NewYork City, whence he went to Harvard Universityin 1876, graduating in the usual course in 1880.His tastes were for literary work, but the very yearafter leaving college he was elected to the Legislatureas a representative of one of the City Assemblydistricts; and in the same fashion that hassince characterized him, he plunged at once intothe thick of the fight as an ardent reformer, particularlywith reference to legislation affecting NewYork City. His youth and lack of experience weremore than counterbalanced by his earnestness andaggressive energy, so that he speedily became apower which had to be recognized. He was theleader