From
the speech, Citizenship in a
Republic, 1910
By Theodore Roosevelt
The very
last thing that an intelligent and self-respecting member of a democratic
community should do is to reward any public man because that public man says he
will get the private citizen something to which this private citizen is not
entitled, or will gratify some emotion or animosity which this private citizen
ought not to possess.
Let me
illustrate this by one anecdote from my own experience. A number of years ago I
was engaged in cattle-ranching on the great plains of the western United
States. There were no fences. The cattle wandered free, the ownership of each
being determined by the brand; the calves were branded with the brand of the
cows they followed. If on the round-up an animal was passed by, the following
year it would appear as an unbranded yearling, and was then called a maverick.
By the custom of the country these mavericks were branded with the brand of the
man on whose range they were found. One day I was riding the range with a newly
hired cowboy, and we came upon a maverick. We roped and threw it; then we built
a little fire, took out a cinch-ring, heated it at the fire; and the cowboy
started to put on the brand. I said to him, “It is So-and-so’s brand,” naming
the man on whose range we happened to be. He answered: “That’s all right, boss;
I know my business.” In another moment I said to him: “Hold on, you are putting
on my brand!” To which he answered: “That’s all right; I always put on the
boss’s brand.” I answered: “Oh, very well. Now you go straight back to the
ranch and get what is owing to you; I don’t need you any longer.” He jumped up
and said: “Why, what’s the matter? I was putting on your brand.” And I
answered: “Yes, my
friend, and if you will steal for me you will steal from me.”
Now, the
same principle which applies in private life applies also in public life. If a
public man tries to get your vote by saying that he will do something wrong in
your interest, you can be absolutely certain that if ever it becomes worth his
while he will do something wrong against your interest.
