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.  In spite of much condemnation of his course, his suggestions were nearly all adopted—­six months or a year later.  His offer to raise a division showed how many men were eager to fight, and spurred the Government into action.

The Germans and their friends in this country, the peace-at-any-price folk who defended or apologized for the worst crimes of the Germans, and all the band of disloyal persons who think that patriotism is something to be sneered at,—­all these hated Roosevelt with a deadly hatred.  It was not a proud distinction to be numbered with these, and all who joined with them have made haste to forget the fact.

In his own family, his eldest son, Theodore Roosevelt, Jr., became first a Major and later a Lieutenant-Colonel of Infantry; Kermit and Archibald were both Captains; and Quentin was a Lieutenant in the Aviation force.  His son-in-law, Dr. Richard Derby, was a Major in the Medical Corps.  All of them sought active service, made every effort to get to the front, and succeeded.  Two of them were wounded, and Quentin was killed in a battle in the air.

The death of his youngest son was a terrible blow to him, but he would not wince.  His son had been true to his teaching; he had dared the high fortune of battle.

“You cannot bring up boys to be eagles,” said he, “and expect them to act like sparrows!”

Some distinguished Japanese visitors calling on Mr. Roosevelt at this time came away deeply affected.  To them he recalled the Samurai, with their noble traditions of utter self-sacrifice.

Throughout his life, but now as never before, he told his countrymen, there was no place in America for a divided loyalty.  No German-Americans, nor Irish-Americans, nor Scotch-Americans.  He would have no man try to split even, and be a “50-50 American.”

Shortly after war had ended, he sent this message to a patriotic meeting: 

There must be no sagging back in the fight for Americanism merely because the war is over.  Any man who says he is an American, but something else also, isn’t an American at all.  We have room for but one flag, the American flag, and this excludes the red flag, which symbolizes all wars against liberty and civilization, just as much as it excludes any foreign flag of a nation to which we are hostile.  We have room for but one language here, and that is the English language, for we intended to see that the crucible turns our people out as Americans, of American nationality, and not as dwellers in a polyglot boarding-house; and we have room for but one soul loyalty, and that is loyalty to the American people. [Footnote:  Hagedorn, p. 384.]

It was practically his last word to the country he had loved and served so well.  That was on January 5, 1919.