Roosevelt with all sorts of crimes because he had the
courage to speak out, and have even accused him of unfriendliness
to this country because of his criticisms. Happily the British
people as a whole are not so foolish. Instinctively they have
recognized and thoroughly appreciated the good feeling of Mr.
Roosevelt's speech. Only true friends speak as he spoke.... The
barrel-organs, of course, grind out the old tune about Mr.
Roosevelt's tactlessness. In reality he is a very tactful as well
as a very shrewd man. It is surely the height of tactfulness to
recognize that the British people are sane enough and sincere
enough to like being told the truth. His speech is one of the
greatest compliments ever paid to a people by a statesman of
another country.... Mr. Roosevelt has made exactly the kind of
speech we expected him to make--a speech strong, clear, fearless.
He has told us something useful and practical, and has not lost
himself in abstractions and platitudes.... The business of a
trustee is not to do what the subject of the trust likes or thinks
he likes, but to do, however much he may grumble, what is in his
truest and best interests. Unless a trustee is willing to do that,
and does not trouble about abuse, ingratitude, and accusations of
selfishness, he had better give up his trust altogether.
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