American Ideals, and Other Essays, Social and Political

American Ideals, and Other Essays, Social and Political is a collection of essays by Theodore Roosevelt. A section headed PHASES OF STATE LEGISLATION has a part called THE ALBANY LEGISLATURE, which says that few persons realize the magnitude of the interests affected by State legislation in New York. The text says that there is at Albany a little home rule parliament which presides over the destinies of a commonwealth more populous than any one of two thirds of the kingdoms of Europe.

The writer tells of a committee before which came a perfectly proper bill in the interest of a certain corporation, and says the majority of the committee, six in number, were thoroughly bad men who opposed the measure with the hope of being paid to cease their opposition. The text says that we must make up our minds once for all to the fact that it is too late to make ready for war when the fight has once begun. The text says that every man who wishes well to his country is in honor bound to take an active part in political life.