Page:The Presidents of the United States, 1789-1914, v. IV.djvu/127

THEODORE ROOSEVELT 95 say that he does not count party allegiance among the Ten Commandments, it is nevertheless his be lief that breaking with one s party should be a step of the last resort ; that in nine cases out of ten more effective good can be rendered by remaining with one s party even while not in total agreement with it. Mr. Roosevelt declined to join that movement of republicans which elected Mr. Cleveland. The enmity from former friends which he incurred by this has been as bitter, and sometimes almost as harmful, as the enmity which he has always had from purse politicians. Before this time Roosevelt had traveled in the West. He now returned there and became a ranch man at Medora on the Little Missouri. Of his ex periences in the Rocky Mountains much has been said; it is enough to say here that they made a picturesque episode in Roosevelt s life, added to his knowledge and his love of the American people and to their knowledge and love of him. From these years he also drew the inspiration and the material for his books about western life, which were the first complete picture of this life that had appeared in literature. Mr. Roosevelt re turned East in 1886. He was now again called into the world of politics, and became a candidate for mayor of New York. He had accepted an independent nomina tion, and upon this was indorsed by the republican