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Jonathan Myers
ENG 1010
Professor Frogley
3/12/2012
There Must be the Look Ahead Rhetoric Analysis
In the article “There Must be a Look Ahead”, President Theodore Roosevelt spoke to
Congress, on December 3, 1907, about his concerns over the flagrant use of the land. He was
thoroughly convinced that America did not take conserving the abundant natural resources
available in North America as a priority. Roosevelt argued that if immediate measures weren’t
put into effect, greedy consumers could ruin resources for future generations. The President
also points out that certain avenues could be pursued to increase economic effectiveness. One
such avenue would be to develop the Mississippi river to create hydroelectric power and
increased irrigation for the fertile farmlands. Another would be to regulate control over grazing
land for future expansion, so as to not ruin the topsoil by excessive grazing of cattle. Roosevelt
also contended in favor of conservation of forests and regulations on the lumber industry to
keep precious wilderness from being ravaged. The author insisted strongly that the government
became highly involved to ensure that forthcoming generations could enjoy the land which
Americans call home.
The main claim that President Roosevelt is trying to say is that citizens have to work on
conserving the natural resources that are available to America. He says that if civilians skin and
exhaust the land instead of using it for efficiency, the children will not live in prosperity, but in
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poverty. Roosevelt continues by saying that over the past few years, the Government has tried
to put planned developments of America into place rather than merely looking for profit.
The purpose that Roosevelt has written about this issue is for Congress to pass
legislation to start the utilization of existing resources to help support the country. He proposes
several ideas that would help with the conservation of natural resources around North America.
Firstly, Roosevelt suggests that the Mississippi and the Columbia Rivers should be improved into
National water highways. The President believes that this will free up the railroad systems,
causing more effective transference of products. Roosevelt continues in saying that the
waterways should be likewise developed for irrigation and power. The water diverted would
increase water dispersal to the farmlands and create more electricity for the cities. Roosevelt
carries on to explaining that the Government should regulate the pastures for the use of
livestock. It would help keep the lands healthy and not ruin the ground from overgrazing. He
finishes up that we must protect our forests from being cut down. He contends that trees take
longer to grow back and that they are being cut down faster than they reproduce. If actions are
not taken, North America could lose the forests that it needs.
The situation is Roosevelt feels that if Government doesn’t intervene and protect the
land, it will be abused by greedy tycoons. He feels that the country has to preserve them for the
children and future generations. Roosevelt argues that some individuals see only money in
fragrant use of the land and he doesn’t wish this to happen. “But only a savage would, in his
private affairs, show such reckless disregard of the future.” This statement proves there are
those who only carry about lining their pockets for their own personal gain. He urges Congress
to pass laws to prevent such calamity and stop such evil schemes.
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Roosevelt’s audience is toward all people because he wants everyone to do their part in
conserving resources. He addresses Congress so they can create laws to help enforce and
protect the precious resources from being wasted. Roosevelt believes that everyone should
know that measures are being taken to help save natural resources for the children, but needs
everyone to assist in this endeavor.
Roosevelt puts up a convincing case of selfless conversation, but does it have merit? He
is very adamant about protecting the future of his country, but isn’t over-zealous it. Roosevelt
didn’t go to the extreme and banned the use of natural resources, but merely wishes to
regulate the gathering of them. This shows a concession to those individuals who have business
in harvesting resources. He follows up by explaining that there is a bigger picture than making a
profit. “It is this attitude which permits the self-interest of a very few persons to weigh for more
than the ultimate interest of all our people…” This gives an appropriate reason why continuous
mistreatment of the land hurts the people more than benefits them.
There are several examples of Ethos in this essay. President Roosevelt says in the essay
that an attitude of a few avaricious people isn’t in the greatest interest of all of our people. This
statement tells us that the president wants what is good for all people in America. As the
president helps govern the affairs of the country, he understands the intricacy of this issue.
Examples of Pathos are few in this paper, but still just as important. President Roosevelt
mentions future generations multiple times, proving that he wants to do this for the future of
our country for many years. He conveys a sense of truly caring for families and their futures in
America. His tone uses educated words, but explains their meaning so he can be understood by
the readers.
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I felt that this essay, though hard to understand at first, has opened my eyes further to
how necessary it is to be conservative. Roosevelt truly understood how to be conservative,
knowing where it needed to be done to prevent the extermination of forests and farmlands.
I’ve personally seen what a field looks like when it has been overgrazed by livestock and it isn’t
a pleasant site. It destroys that land for years, making it worthless for agricultural uses.
However, if the grazing is regulated very closely, it never gets to that point.
I never knew that it was Roosevelt who created plans to utilize the Mississippi as an
economical waterway. I’ve seen huge cargo ships going up and down that river when I visited
Nauvoo a few years ago. It truly is amazing to see how one man was able to inspire groups of
people to be more responsible with the resources in our disposal. I wish everyone was like that,
striving to make this land last.