The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-02-23
ur. RooxeyeIt's Address.

Mr. Kohlsaat then introduced the Hon.
Theodore Roosevelt, of New York, as lone
of the chiefest apostles of this renaissance"
He was received with great enthusiasm, and
after the applause subsided spoke as fol-
lows:
Among the great men Of all time. the
very few who were the greatest or the
great have necessarily been both statesmen
and soldiers, for II Is in statecraft and war;
craft, the two arts through which COM
monwealths are founded, governed, defend
ed and perpetuated, that the ability of the
past found, and for long fin the future must
continue to find, its greatest expression.
Without statesmen and soldiers no country
can ever achieve the highest rank.
1T is true also that with only statesmen
and soldiers the highest and greatest cam
not be achieved There must be in addition
men of letters, men of art. men of science,
writer's of great books. builders of mighty
and beautiful buildings. the deft workers on
canvas or i'm marble, the men of scientific
research who interpret the book of nature
and discover and utilize for the benefit of
their fellows the tremendous natural forces
that pay blindly about US. Moreover all of
which to work a broad basis Of material
prosperity.
THE architects of this prosperity, begin
ming with the greatest merchants. bankers,
railway men, and continuing through the
line to the least toiling handicraftsman in
the fields or in the shops, must be strong,
honest. healthy, intelligent and hard-work-
ing, or the State which stands on their
broad shoulders will topple. A great State
must contain men who exec. in all the null
titudinous paths Of labor and of art, and
her citizens must do their full duty in all
the necessary and commonplace paths of
everyday work If they are to fit them
selves for facing the great emergencies
The time may come when all men shall be
imbued with the spirit of justice and mercy.
When that time does come and all men love
one another there will be small need Of
government and no need of war, and the
greatest citizen will be neither a statesman
nor a warrior. But such time Is long
ages distant
who succeeds and who does good to his fel-
lows can only succeed and can only do
good by striving nightly and by holding
his own with ready hand in the war for
righteousness. And yet need wise laws
we'll administered, to keep the wicked in
check and to prevent the wreck OF decent
men: and yet we need. as every nation
and our interest with the sword if We are
to occupy a place of note in the world,
and to do our work well in that grim and
painful, but necessary, struggle through
which AL Of U.s. individuals and nations
alike, are moving slowly forward toward
the unknown goal which the future shrouds
from the most farsighted.
A PRECIOUS HERITAGE.
washington was not only one of the
worlds greatest men. he was also the best
such a man is a very precious heritage to
the Nation If cherished Alright. He who
reads Of Washington's deeds, and remembers
them that he may become wiser and bet
ter citizen, is paying good heed to his MEM
ory. The politician and the solder who try
to live up to the principles which he illus
trated by word and deed alike are showing
themselves fit to be called his countrymen.
-l--l-
does not show that the Decalogue and the
Golden Rule should form the standard for
public men above all others, and he proved
by what he accomplished that it was no
mere empty dream, but a successful life
work of our greatest man to make politics
better, to make statesmanship purer, and to
make greater the Nation which he had In a
"Washingtons name stands for rigid hon.
esty. No talent In public man can atone
for dishonesty. and no community should
whose personal integrity there is a reason
able doubt. Again. washington's name
stands for exact truthfulneSs toward friend
and foe alike He never hesitated to con-
evil; but he was incapable of falsehood and
slander. Washington stood and now stands
for the elemental moralities; for the sle.
virtues OF honesty, truth, straightforward
ness, courtesy and fear;essness in denounc-
Ing all evil and upholding good. But. be-
for hard work; he did the little things well
when there was no big things to do.
Like that other great American. the
mighty. son OF. Illinois. Abraham lincoln.
ne never refused to do the best possible
merely because he did not think II was the
ideal best He was the greatest of patriots.
the greatest OF reformers. but with him
both patriotism and reform took an active
and practical shape. He did not merely talk
about what was to be done. but still less did
he confine himself to mere criticism OF the
doers. Whoever wished to achieve resul ts
in the field of civic reform. whoever desires
to make our civic life better aud desires 10
see his efforts bear practical fruit. will do
we'll to saturate himself with some Of Wash
fngton's practical common sense. no less
than with his courage and with bis capacity
for striving steadily toward lofty and dis
tant goal-'
Nov. is II enough to have merely COM
mon sense and virtue. We must have
strength and courage as well. No man is
good citizen OF the community who lacks
either the ,vill or the capacity TO wage
rough warfare against lawless1ss5 atsd
sgainst the foes OF %, order. no less than
mfn ma fr vary Hef1o dancer Of iYrznnV