Points of Similarity in the Two Rulers Noted by Poultney Bigelow.
From tHe " New York Trues."
Speech of Poultney Bigelow at the grand tauquet of the American colony of Munich on the Fourth of July in proposing the toast ut the President of the United States Theodore Roosevelt and William of suggesting Ibeit the one rales by right divine—the other represents democracy.
Both are about the same age—both itted with remarkable physical strength—if not health, Both were educated under approximately analogous conditions—ihe Emperor has sat on the same benches at thd public school with sons of average German izens, and like: Roosevelt he attended the university like any. other stu Both entered heartily int" the sports as well as the studies of their fellows—both have left behind them a record for mavliness and goodfellowship—the one at Bonn, the other at Harvard.
Buth early. displayed pronounced com-native tendencies, which, however, has nothing t do with quirrelsomeness. On the contrary, both early showed: an almost girlish shrinking from saying or doing anything which could wound the feelings of Both have thrown themselves heart and soul into wilitacy exercises whea the opportunity offered. Roosevelt entered the New York State Militia immediately after leaving the university and on the outbreak of the war with Spain raised a cavalry regiment and led it gallantly in rho Dattle which gave Cuba her independence Both have an almost equal onthasi for all that pertains to: the sea. The Emperor and his sailor brother og children manned the little toy frigate which ornaments the waters about Potsdam—a little frigate no longer than a mau-o'-war's gig—a present from an English sovereign some eighty years ago—a craft. which had been lying idle until the son of an English Princess wakened it into usefulness.
Roosevelt was brought up to salt water Oyster Bay, a favorite yachting renvous on Long Island Sound, and he, no. less than the war lord of Germany, has urged persistently the prime importance navy equal to any probable emergency.
Both are' mon. vastly, different from their predecessors for several generations. Both have an eye over the whole world: a " Weltblick; expressively. Both are men both are incliited to secure their information first hand, and not merely out. of books. Both realise that their interests are not bounded by the Custom-houses of their respective countries.
Both are orators—both owe much of their popularity to the vigour of thei publio utterances and magnetism of thei personality.
No ruler of Germany has ever come into contact with so large a number of his subjecte—none has ever known personally large " number of eminent men of all countries. There is no subject to day which the Emperor has not-consulted the men best able to give him information. Name any subject you choose, - wireless telegraphy, American yachts, Babylonian inscriptions, cold. storage plants, operatic accessories, British men-o'-war, the construction of @-Hohenzollern drama, barracks for Klaochou—name a hundred more and you will find that even though he may not have written a monograph on the subject he has been prepared for such a task by mon of the first authority.
And of Roosevelt the same may be said, No foreigner-of interest comes to the United States that does not find in our President a sympathetic if not a patient listener. Theodore Roosevelt has, like William of Germany, " singular faculty for absorbing new facts and combinations, and with it all a remarkable honesty in weighing evidence and reaching a judicial conclusion, And like many of his ance say, when ho has once made up his mized no bulldog holds on more tenaciously.
Both are good editors if not journalists; both appreciate the, importance of educat, ing the peopl" on subjects.of public interest. _Both in a way are uthora of distinction, and both have the happy faculty' of' terseness. Neither could. say or write anything dull, albeit each' has occasionally—writton and anid what diplomatists might regard as highly indiscreet. But it is this very indiscretion which endears them to uy, for it is the seal of their human quality, of their capacity to commit errore like the rest of us, We do not'mind mistakes, when we see & readiness to make ainendy William LI would cheerfully recall the cable he sent to President Kriger. Pro. sident Roosevelt has la his memorandum bouk many similar notes.
Both are impulsive, nervous, and with such natures it, would be a miracle if they did not occasionally spill over." Both Gnally stand for what is most admirable in any country; both daily give the object lesson to millions of fellow-creatures that family happiness is within the reach of all, even of Presidents and Eniporors, and 80 here's to out imperial President. God bless him
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.