But the War Department and the President would have none of Mr.
Roosevelt's services. The President replied that the high officers
of the Army advised him against it, which was undoubtedly true. It
is also extremely likely that the high officers of the Democratic
Party would advise against letting Mr. Roosevelt serve his
country, as they still feared him, and still vainly hoped that
they could lessen his influence with the American people. Unlike
President Lincoln, who would gladly accept the services of any man
who could serve the country, Mr. Wilson could work only with men
who were personally pleasing, who thought as he did on all
subjects. The officer of the Army best known to European soldiers,
and the one who trained one of the best divisions, was Roosevelt's
old commander, General Leonard Wood. But he, like a statesman, had
been advising preparedness for years, and he was therefore
displeasing to the politicians who only began to prepare after war
was declared. America and the Allies did not have the benefit of
this distinguished officer's services in France.
Against the slothfulness of the Government in these years,
Roosevelt voiced the true opinion of America. He did not merely
criticize, for he offered his own services, and when he
disapproved of what was being done, he pointed out what might be
done by way of improvement.
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