theodore roosevelt-第53章
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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 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 Josep
