Such an appeal in the first place revolts the more high-minded and far-sighted among the persons to whom it is addressed, and in the second place tends to arouse a strong antagonism among all other classes of citizens, whom it therefore tends to unite against the very organization on whose behalf it is issued.
On the record
Source
gutenberg.orgEditor's note · Context
Roosevelt explains how class-based appeals can alienate high-minded individuals and unite other classes against them.
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