The Triumphant Life of Theodore Roosevelt edited by J. Martin Miller

132 HOW ROOSEVELT BECAME PRESIDENT
in a dubious year; dubious because of the new issue of over-sea
expansion, and voters were to pass upon it for the first time.
In the Republican National Convention of igoo, when the
roll of States was called for the nomination of candidates for
president, Alabama yielded to Ohio, and Senator Foraker took
the platform and placed the name of William McKInley in
nomination. When he had finished, Governor Roosevelt took
the platform to second the nomination, and there was wild
shouting and cheering which lasted for several minutes. The
Governor waited patiently, but the greeting did not come to
an end until he raised his hand and indicated his wish that the
tumult should subside. He spoke in part as follows:
GOVERNOR ROOSEVELT SECONDS THE NOMINATION
I rise to second the nomination of William McKinley, because with him as leader
this people has trod the path of national greatness and prosperity with the strides of
a giant, and because under him we can and will succeed in the election. Exactly as
in the past we have remedied the evils which we undertook to remedy, so now when
we say that a wrong shall be righted, it most assuredly will be righted.
We stand on the threshold of a new centurj*, a century big with the fate of the
great nations of the earth. It rests with us to decide now whether in the opening
years of that century we shall march forward to fresh triumphs, or whether at the
outset we shall deliberately cripple ourselves for the contest. Is America a weakling,
to shrink from the work that must be done by the world-powers? No! The young
giant of the West stands on a continent, and clasps the crest of an ocean in either
hand. Our nation, glorious in youth and strength, looks into the future with eager
and fearless eyes, and rejoices, as a strong man, to run the race. We do not stand
in the craven mood, asking to be spared the task, cringing as we gaze on the contest.
No. We challenge the proud privilege of doing the work that Providence has
allotted us, and we face the coming years high of heart and resolute of faith that to
our people is given to win such honor and renown as has never yet been granted to
the oeoples of the earth.
When the applause following his speech had subsided, it
was a foregone conclusion that his name would occupy the