McKINLEY AND ROOSEVELT- 1891-1904 241 



the rivulets, thence pass into the streams, and finally into 

 the great Father of Waters, until they reach the Gulf of 

 Mexico. Mr. Speaker, on this plateau are now raised the 

 great men of the Republic. Formerly Virginia was the 

 mother of statesmen ; that is so no longer. The mother of 

 statesmen in these days, and of the men who are to control 

 the destinies of this Republic, is Minnesota. ' ' 



Never before had I any conception of the height to which 

 ' ' tall talk ' ' might attain. It was the apotheosis of blather ; 

 but as my eye wandered over the assemblage, I noticed 

 that many faces wore smiles, and it was clear to me that 

 the members had merely wished to exhibit their most 

 amusing specimen. 



I felt that if they could stand it I could, and so, having 

 bidden the Speaker and Mr. Donnelly good-bye, passed out 

 and made the acquaintance of the neighboring city of St. 

 Paul, which struck me as even more beautiful than Edin- 

 burgh in the views from its principal streets over hills, 

 valleys, and mountains. 



At the University of Michigan, in view of my recent 

 visit, I did not again stop, but at Harvard and Yale I 

 addressed the students, and returned home from the excur- 

 sion with new faith in the future of the country. James 

 Bryce is right when he declares that in our universities lie 

 the best hopes of the United States. 



Early in the year following the election I was ap- 

 pointed by the President ambassador to Germany. I had 

 not sought the position; indeed, I had distinctly declined 

 to speak of the matter to any of those who were supposed 

 to have the management of political affairs in the State. 

 It came to me, directly and unsought, from President 

 McKinley; I therefore prized it, and shall ever prize the 

 remembrance of it. 



While it was announced as pending, I was urged by 

 various friends to speak of the subject to Mr. Platt, who, 

 as the only Republican senator from New York and the 

 head of the Republican organization, was supposed to 

 have large rights in the matter. It was hinted to me that 



I.-16 



