Omaha daily bee., 1896-02-23
MORALS FROM A NOBLE LIFE
Life and Character of Washington as an
Example of Today,
WAS FOR AMERICA AGAINST THE WORLD
Theodore Roosevelt Addresses the
Chicago Union League CIub-Pub-
lie Morals Awakening TO
the Evils of Today.

|
the celebrations here in commemoration OF
Washington's birthday were the exercises
of the Union League club which began this
afternoon at the Auditorium and ended to-
| night in a banquet at the Union League club
Theodore Roosevelt, New York commissioner
OF police, was the principal speaker at the
Auditorium, where the Recital hall was
crowded to its capacity. He was introduced
by H. II. Kohlsaat, president Of the day. who
also delivered an address. President Kohl
saat referred briefly to the patriotism OF
Washington, but soon turned to affairs of to-
day. He asserted that the whole
land Is departed from righteousness.
but that the people are awakening
and the public pulse is quicken
ing on every hand. there being dlssatsfac
tion with present conditions Bring to us
from the life Of Washington he said
lessons calculated to revive sound principles
OF honesty and uprightness in every path Of
life. Teach the people how to live; teach
the leaders to be examples to the people
Teach all the sacredness of law. Tell them
that patriotism does not consist in tracing
back ones ancestry to gentleman. but in
ooeylng the statutes of the land in their
spirit"
Continuing, he said the life of the nation
was In jeopardy, not from foreign foes, but
from the declined, immoral principles of
her citizens. But. happily. a revival of the
principles OF rs was under way and the
heart OF the masses was touched with re-
morse, whence always comes bettermen,
Mr. Roosevelt was received with great en-
thusiasm He paid mastery tribute to
the memory of Washington and his asso-
ciates of the revolutionary period. Though
stating that the greatest of the great men of
all time had been both statesmen and SOL
diers and that without statesmen and SOL
diers no country can ever achieve the high
est rank, the speaker emphasized the fact
that with only statesmen and soldiers the
highest greatness cannot be achieved, and
that men who excel in every profession and
industry, and men and women in every walk
OF life. must be relied upon in the upbuild-
ing Of a great nation. And yet, with all
these, we need wise laws well administered
to Keep the wicked In check and TO prevent
the wreck Of decent men; and yet we need
TO stand ready to defend our power and our
interests with the sword If we are to occupy
a place of note in the world.
VALUE OF WEALTH AND EDUCATION
Mr.. Roosevelts speech, as a whole, YVES
plea for the best men i'm all public places.
high and low. In conclusion, referring again
to Washington's many noble qualities he
said: Wealth is a good thing but it is
i'll to acquire 1t at the cost of losing the
power to see that there are other things
WHICH are even Detter. refinement and cul-
tiyation are also good things; they are quail
tiles which we should strive in every way
to acquire, and We feel nothing but contempt
for the fool who jeers at education, but
this fool is partially justified by the worse
folly of the man who really does strive to
shape education SO it shall eliminate the
manly qualities. Cultivation and refine
ment are too dearly purchased IL they are
Dought at the cost of the loss of the great
nghting virtues. or at the cost of the loss
OF spirit OF intense Americanism.
washington was an American in every
fibre Of his body. HIS whole being was
American; his instincts and habits of thought
were American. and he was for the interests
OF America as opposed to those of any and
every foreign nation. We can best show
our appreciation of his character If we our
selves remember in all our words and deeds |
to be Americans, and Americans only, and
If we make our statesmen and representa- |
tives feel that while we wish honorable |
peace with all the world, yet that there is |
no nation in the world from whom we would |
shrink for single moment. If, in controversy |
with her, 1t became necessary to uphold our |
honor by an appeal to the supreme arbitra- |
ment Of the sword.
At this evenings banquet covers were laid |
for 400 persons and the affair was brilliant |
in the extreme. President Kohlsaat pre-
sided The following were the toasts and |
responses: "The Enforcement of Law" |
Theodore Roosevelt of New York; washing
ton and the West" Edward G. Mason Chi |
cago; washington and the American Idea" |
Rev. A. H. Cleveland Of Mankato, Mimi
Union" Prof. Barrett Wendell, Harvard |
university. |