ut Major George Putnam recalls that he did little except suggest wonderful projects； which 〃had to be sat down upon。〃 Already a love of writing infected him。 Even before he left Harvard he had begun 〃A History of the Naval War of 1812；〃 and this he worked on eagerly。 The Putnams published it in 1882。
One incident of Roosevelt's canvass must not be overlooked。 The Red Indians of old used to make their captives run the gauntlet between two lines of warriors： political bosses in New York in 1880 made their nominee run the gauntlet of all the saloonkeepers in their district。 Accordingly； Jake Hess and Joe Murray proceeded to introduce Roosevelt to the rum…sellers of Sixth Avenue。 The first they visited received Theodore with injudicious condescension almost as if he were a suppliant。 He said he hoped that the young candidate； if elected； would treat the liquor men fairly； to which the 〃suppliant〃 replied that he intended to treat all interests fairly。 The suggestion that liquor licenses were too high brought the retort that they were not high enough。 Thereupon； the wary Hess and the discreet Joe Murray found an excuse for hurrying Roosevelt out of the saloon； and they told him that he had better look after his friends on Fifth Avenue and that they would look after the saloon…keepers on Sixth Avenue。 That any decent candidate should have to pass in review before the saloon…keepers and receive their approval； is so monstrous as to be grotesque。 That a possible President of the United States should be the victim needs no comment。 It was thoroughly characteristic of Roosevelt that he balked at the first trial。
He says in his 〃Autobiography〃 that he was not conscious of going into politics to benefit other people； but to secure for himself a privilege to which every one was entitled。 That privilege was self…government。 When his 〃kid…glove〃 friends laughed at him for deliberately choosing to leap into the political mire； he told them that the governing class ought to govern； and that not they themselves but the bosses and 〃heelers〃 were the real governors of New York City。 Not the altruistic desire to reform； but the perfectly practical resolve to enjoy the political rights to which he had a claim was his leading motive。 It is important to understand this because it will explain much of his action as a statesman。 Roosevelt is the greatest idealist in American public life since Lincoln； but his idealism； like Lincoln's； always had a firm； intelligent； practical footing。 Roosevelt himself thus describes his work during his first year in the New York Assembly：
I paid attention chiefly while in the Legislature to laws for the reformation of Primaries and of the Civil Service and endeavored to have a certain Judge Westbrook impeached； on the ground of corrupt collusion with Jay Gould and the prostitution of his high judicial office to serve the purpose of wealthy and unscrupulous stock gamblers； but was voted down。
This brief statement gives no idea of either the magnitude or quality of his work in which； like young David； he went forth to smite Goliath； the Giant Corruption；； entrenched for years in the Albany State House。 I do not believe that in at tacking the monster； Roosevelt thought that he was displaying unusual courage； much less that he was winning the crown of a moral hero。 He simply saw a mass of abuse and wickedness which every decent person ought to repudiate。 Most decent persons saw it； too； but convention； or self…interest； party affiliation； or unromantic； every…day cowardice； made them hold their tongues。 Being assigned to committees which had some of the most important concerns of New York City in charge； Roosevelt had the advantage given by his initiation into political methods as practiced in the Twenty…first District of knowing a little more than his colleagues knew about the local issues。 Three months of the session elapsed before he stood up in the Chamber and attacked point…blank；one formidable champion of corruption。 Listen to an anonymous writer in the Saturday Evening Post：
It was on April 6； 1882； that Roosevelt took the floor in the Assembly and demanded that Judge Westbrook； of New bury； be impeached。 And for sheer moral courage that act is probably supreme in Roosevelt's life thus far。 He must have expected failure。 Even his youth and idealism and ignorance of public affairs could not blind him to the apparently inevitable consequences。 Yet he drew his sword and rushed apparently to destructionalone； and at the very outset of his career； and in disregard of the pleadings of his closest friends and the plain dictates of political wisdom。 That speechthe deciding act in Roosevelt's careeris not remarkable for eloquence。 But it is remarkable for fear less candor。 He called thieves thieves； regardless of their millions； he slashed savagely at the judge and the Attorney General； he told the plain unvarnished truth as his indignant eyes saw it。*
* Riis； 54…55。
Astonishment verging on consternation filled the Assemblymen； who； through long experience； were convinced that Truth was too precious to be exhibited in public。 Worldly wisdom came to the aid of the veteran Republican leader who wished to treat the assault as if it were the unripe explosion of youth。 The callowness of his young friend must excuse him。 He doubtless meant well； but his inexperience prevented him from realizing that many a reputation in public life had been shattered by just such loose charges。 He felt sure that when the young man had time to think it over； he would modify his language。 It would be fitting； therefore； for that body to show its kindliness by giving the new member from New York City leisure to think it over。
Little did this official defender of corruption understand Mr。 Roosevelt； whose business it was then to uphold Right。 That was a question in which expediency could have no voice。 He regarded neither the harm he might possibly do to his political future nor to the standing of the Republican Party。 I suspect that he smarted under the leader's attempt to treat him as a young man whose breaks instead of causing surprise must be condoned。 Although the magnates of the party pleaded with him and urged him not to throw away his usefulness； he rose again in the Assembly next day and renewed his demand for an investigation of Judge Westbrook。 Day after day he repeated his demand。 The newspapers throughout the State began to give more and more attention to him。 The public applauded； and the legislators； who had sat and listened to him with contemptuous indifference； heard from their constituents。 At last； on the eighth day； by a vote of 104 to 6 the Assembly adopted Roosevelt's resolution and appointed an investigating committee。 The evidence taken amply justified Roosevelt's charges； in spite of which the committee gave a whitewashing verdict。 Nevertheless the 〃young reformer〃 had not only proved his case； but had suddenly made a name for himself in the State and in the Country。
Before his first term ended he discovered that there were enemies of honest government quite as dangerous as the open supporters of corruption。 These were the demagogues who； under the pretense of attacking the wicked interests； introduced bills for the sole purpose of being bought off。 Sly fellows they were and sneaks。 Against their 〃strike〃 legislation Roosevelt had also to fight。 His chief friend at Albany was Billy O'Neil； who kept a little crossroads grocery up in the Adirondacks； had thought for himself on American politics； had secured his election to the Assembly without the favor of the Machine； and now acted there with as much independence as his young colleague of the Twenty first District。 Roosevelt remarks that the fact that two persons； sprung from such totally different surroundings； should come together in the Legislature was an example of the fine result which American democracy could achieve。
The session came to a close； and although Roosevelt had protested the year before that he was not going into politics as a career； he allowed himself to be renominated。 Naturally； his desire to continue in and complete the task in which he had already accomplished much was whetted。 He would have been a fool if he had not known； what every one else knew； that he had made a very brilliant record during his first year。 A false standard which comes very near hypocrisy imposes a ridiculous mock modesty on great men in modern times： as if Shakespeare alone should be unaware that he was Shakespeare or that Napoleon or Darwin or Lincoln or Cavour should each be ignorant of his worth。 Better vanity； if you will； than sham modesty。 There was no harm done that Roosevelt at twenty…three felt proud of being recognized as a power in the Assembly。 We must never forget also that he was a fighter； and that his first contests in Albany had so roused his blood that he longed to fight those battles to a finish； that is； to victory。 We must make a distinction also in his motives。 He did not strain every nerve to win a cause because it was his cause； but having adopted a cause which his heart and mind told him was good； he strove to make that cause triumph because he believed it to be good。
So he allowed himself to be renominated and he was reelected by 2000 majority； although in that autumn of 1882 the Democratic candidate for Governor； Grover Cleveland； swept New York State by 192；000 and carried into office by the momentum of his success many of the minor candidates on the Democratic ticket。
The year 1883 opened with the cheer of dawn in New York politics。 Cleveland； the young Governor of forty…four； had proved himself fearless； public…spirited； and conscientious。 So had Roosevelt； the young Assemblyman of twenty…three。 One was a Democrat； one a Republican； but they were alike in courage and in holding honesty and righteousness above their party platforms。
Roosevelt pursued in this session the methods which had made him famous and feared in the preceding。 He admits that he may have had for a while a 〃swelled head；〃 for in the chaos of conflicting principles and no…principles in which his life was thrown； he decided to act independently and to let his conscience determine his action on each question which arose。 He flocked by himself on a peak。 He was