Lodge "rugged."
Mr. Lodge's principles, it has been observed, are inflexible and
rest on solid foundation, but like good steel they can bend without
breaking. An ardent civil service reformer, a champion of public
morality, so long as offices were being awarded to the faithful, he
saw no reason why he should be the victim of his own self denying
ordinance. Early in his career he became a very successful purveyor
of patronage, developing a keen scent for vacant places or a post
filled by a Democrat. As a theoretical civil service reformer Mr.
Lodge left nothing to be desired; as a practical spoilsman he had
few equals. A Senator's usefulness to his friends is much greater
than that of a member of the House, and if a Senator works his pull
for all that it is worth he can accomplish much. Mr. Lodge was not
idle.
With his grandfathers and his fortune Mr. Lodge inherited a violent
and bitter dislike of England. Probably no man--not even the most
extreme Irish agitator--is more responsible for the feeling
existing against England than Mr. Lodge; because the outspoken
Irish agitator is known for what he is and treated accordingly;
carrying out Mr. Roosevelt's thought, he will be execrated by
decent people; but Mr. Lodge, posing as the impartial historian and
the patriotic statesman, is applauded.
Just as Mr. Lodge gained a certain fame when he was a member of the
House from the Force Bill, which his own party repudiated, so he
signalized his admission into the Senate by proposing to force
England to adopt free silver.
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