Fear God and Take Your Own Part

by Theodore Roosevelt

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1916 edition. Excerpt: ... thought, if any European or Asiatic military power concludes to take from us the Panama Canal or Hawaii or Porto Rico or to seize and hold for ransom New York or San Francisco. Moreover, this war has made it evident that armies of hundreds of thousands of men can be transported not only across the narrow but across the broad seas. England's great navy has made the ocean a barrier to her foes, and a highway for herself, and it is only Britain's navy which has saved her from utter disgrace. Let us profit alike by Belgium's heroic example in the present, and by the terrible fate brought on her by her lack of forethought and preparedness in the past. At present, in spite of the shattering disasters of the last year and a quarter, and although only a tiny fraction of her territory is left unconquered, Belgium's army is stronger and more efficient than ever before. It numbers about 120,000 fighting men, with over 400 guns and thousands of machine guns and in addition first-class services of aviation, food supply, sanitation, manufacture of ammunition and the like. There are fourteen centers for the drilling of recruits, and excellent schools for the officers. The morale of the army is extraordinary. I know of nothing finer in history than the way in which this army has been raised and maintained by the Belgian nation in the midst of a cataclysm well-nigh unparalleled in the history of nations. But this cataclysm, this frightful and crushing disaster to Belgium, occurred precisely because no such effort was put forth before the event. The splendid heroism of the present can only repair a small part of the horrible damage due to the unpreparedness of the past. Belgium has suffered the last extremities of woe; and she would have gone almost...

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Politics, Philosophy, Religion

90 pages, Paperback

First published December 31, 1915

About the author

Theodore Roosevelt, Jr., also known as T.R., and to the public (but never to friends and family) as Teddy, was the twenty-sixth President of the United States, and a leader of the Republican Party and of the Progressive Movement.

He fathered Alice Roosevelt Longworth, a daughter.

He became the youngest President in United States history at the age of 42. He served in many roles including Governor of New York, historian, naturalist, explorer, author, and soldier (posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor in 2001 for his role at the Battle of San Juan Hill in the Spanish-American War).

Roosevelt is most famous for his personality: his energy, his vast range of interests and achievements, his model of masculinity, and his "cowboy" persona.

Reviews

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a brilliantly written, very deep and heartfelt book by a President of the United States who felt very strongly about patriotism and defending our country. If you consider yourself a patriot, I challenge you to read this book because your idea of patriotism will be shaken and hopefully built more strongly. If you like your history and politics to be politically correct, then you won't be able to handle this book. Theodore Roosevelt doesn't mince words and has no compunctions about calling out other politicians (including the then President Wilson). Though it took me a while to get through the book, I was sidetracked by all the references to historical events which I had to then look up and learn about, I thoroughly enjoyed this book even though it is outside my normal pervue.

[Jake Nihart · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a compilation of articles Theodore Roosevelt wrote in 1915 and 1916 for Metropolitan Magazine where he, for the most part, trolls Woodrow Wilson over America's inaction in the wake of the Lusitania's sinking in May 1915 and Germany's violation of Belgium's neutrality in August 1914.

As a novice collector of vintage books and one who holds Teddy Roosevelt in reverence and awe, I read my 1916 copy (it was like reading in a Time Machine). I highly recommend at least reading a few of the articles herein (they tend to get repetitive) as supplementary reading to anyone interested in understanding WW1. A greater appreciation for the ideological dynamic on the American home-front is gained; this dynamic undoubtedly contributed to our delayed entry into the "Great European War."

Chapter (article) titles include "America First - A Phrase or Fact?", "International Duty and Hyphenated Americanism," "Uncle Sam's Only Friend is Uncle Sam," and "Warlike Power - The Prerequisite For The Preservation of Social Values."

Themes presented include peace and war relative to the end goal of righteousness, the immorality of neutrality in the presence of a malignant threat (internationally and domestically), American preparedness for war as a means to promote the peace, and the meaning of Americanism. The following excerpt is an adequate representation of the work as a whole:

"Failure to perform duty to others is merely aggravated by failure to perform duty to ourselves. To pay twenty-five million dollars blackmail to Colombia does not atone for our timid refusal to do our duty by Belgium. It merely aggravates it. Moreover, it should always be remembered that in these matters the weak cannot be helped by the weak; that the brutal wrongdoer cannot be checked by the coward or by the fat, boastful, soft creature who does not take the trouble to make himself fit to enforce his words by his deeds. Preparedness
means forethought, effort, trouble, labor. Therefore soft men, selfish, indolent men, men absorbed in money-getting, and the great mass of well-meaning men who shrink from performing the new duties created by new needs, eagerly welcome a political leader who will comfort them, and relieve their secret sense of shame, by using high-sounding names to describe their shortcomings.

An adroit politician can unquestionably gain many votes in such fashion, if he exalts unpreparedness as a duty, if he praises peace and advocates neutrality, as both in themselves moral -- even although the "peace" and "neutrality" may be conditioned on the failure to do our duty either to others or to ourselves. Such a politician, if he excels in the use of high-sounding words, may win votes and gain office by thus pandering to men who wish to hear their selfishness, their short-sightedness or their timidity exalted into virtues. But he is sapping the moral vitality of the people whom he misleads.
It has been an evil thing that this nation, which for five years has been strutting as the champion of peace and holding conferences to denounce war and praising its wealthy citizens for founding peace leagues, has contented itself with these futile activities and has not dared to strike a blow, has not dared even to say a word for righteousness in the concrete, while wrong has been at least temporarily triumphant during the past eighteen months. It is an even worse thing that during this last eighteen months we have wholly failed to prepare to defend our own homes from disaster."

[Qwenton · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good read. I really liked Roosevelt’s approach to emphasizing the importance of nationalism and civic duty. Throughout the book he also criticizes the Wilson administration to show the consequences of passiveness and lack of preparation. It was great to read his way of thinking and opinions of that time period.

[Cws]

327.73

[Stephen Broeker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Published by Geroge H. Doran Company.
Copyright 1916.

[Ana · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a collection of essays based on politics, but there is several cool things about this. For one, my copy is from 1918, and it is by a past president. Also it is cool to compare then and now.

[Grace Best-Page · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wish this guy were around today!