President Roosevelt

TO THE EDITOR OF THE TIMES.

     Sir,—The refusal to prejudge the President of the United States in his attitude towards England and Europe, as voiced in this morning’s issue of The Times, is most gratifying to all Americans now in this country. During the last few days a large portion of the English Press has ventured to foreshadow a change in the foreign policy of the Republic. It is prophesied that President Roosevelt will not strive to preserve the most amicable relation now existing between the two Anglo-Saxon Governments.
     These forebodings seem to be based on the report of a speech made by the President only a few days before the transpiration of the mournful tragedy that placed him at the head of the nation. I have been unable to obtain a full report of the speech, and hence cannot judge of the soundness of the inferences that have been made. But whatever may have been its import, in view of the calamitous changes that have since taken place it is greatly to be regretted that such an utterance should be the occasion of embarrassing predictions as to the policy of the new Administration. Many of my fellow-countrymen now in England have spoken of this in my hearing and have deplored it. Such a view, if widely prevalent, would certainly have a reactionary influence.
     It is extremely improbable that any changes in the policy of the late President will take place during the remainder of the present term. Indeed, an official announcement to the contrary is before the public. The people, as a whole, would be decidedly opposed to such a change, and any supposition that the President favours it is wholly gratuitous. His diversified career has been strangely distorted through the medium of the metropolitan papers of New York. Aside from his independence of political leaders, which the English public is wont to magnify into an unreasoning autocracy, he is a man of sound judgment, of great learning, and of political sagacity. I do not think it any exaggeration to say that the vast majority of voters would have chosen, had the opportunity for it been necessary, Theodore Roosevelt as the most fit of all men in the United States to receive the mantle of the murdered Chief Executive. A part of that fitness is not only the ability and the determination but the willingness to continue the kindly relations with “Our Old Home” across the sea.
     Permit me, Sir, to add one more to the thousand of expressions of gratitude of the American citizens for the unfeigned sympathy of the English people in this blackest hour of the apostate assassin’s rage.

Yours, with great respects,

FRANK Y. GLADNEY.     

     Leamington Spa, Sept. 17.