The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1902-09-19
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 1909.
PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT PUT To
THE BLUSH.

September 18th. last Saturday, being
the anniversary of the death Of Presi-
dent Mckinley. President Roosevelt
asked Rev. DR.. Henry H Washburn,
rector of Christ Episcopal church in
Oyster Bay, which church the president
attends when at home. to deliver a me-
mortal sermon on the late president at
the morning service the next day. The
news of his got abroad and consequent
" there was an immense congregation
present. The president and Mrs. Roose-
welt were there of curse. The rector
had not submitted his sermon to Mr..
Roosevelt or intimated to him the tenor
of his remarks. lac he done so we
venture to say the latter would have
seriously objected or even absented
himself. AS it was the president was
much disconnected by the sermon, most
of which was devoted to e~xtravagant
praise OF himself. which struck every
one as being most untimely and out of
place On this occasion. The first part
of the sermon was devoted to eulogiz-
ing the dead president. Then the rec
" uAAC llo =" 49, SNN~N1
sor who was sitting before him. We
are told that the presidents face flush
I'd, and as the sermon was closed he
turned to Mrs. Roosevelt and whispered
He ought not to ave done that"
DIR. Washburn's text was Galatians
iv: 4-"But when the fullness of time
was come, God sent for His Son, made
z- III, - low -
deem them that were under the law,
that we might receive the redemption OF
sins"
After the part euIogizing President
Mckinley and before beginning his full
some praise of the present president
the rector turned his attention to trusts,
devOting considerable space to the
possibility of danger coming by and
through the u~nguarded use of great
wealth concentrated in the hands of q
few" but he consoled his congregation
with the statement that "if ever events
indicated that one was placed %providen-
TALLY in the hands of the nation then
the events that attended the promotion
of Mr.. Roosevelt so Indicated" The
reverend gentleman evidently believes
in the earnest desire and ability of the
president to break up the bad trusts"
With this prelude the preacher began
the laudation of the chief one of his au-
dience in the following language:
But who can tell why Mr.. Mckinley
was so suddenly taken from the earth
in the hour apparently of his greatest
usefulness? Who could fill his place?
Fortunately a David was Vice Presl-
dent. How anne he to be vice presi-
dent? Was it by accident? How much
planning and how many miShapS did -
take to create that accident? Many
said he was too youthful to be president
that youth is apt to be impulsive. nor
stayed to consider that, already, If
middle life, his experiences had been
wide and varied. He has been in office
less than a year. How the love of him
is filling the hearts of the people! What
one serious mistake has he made? His
honesty. his bravery, his positive queS-
tions, his resolute purpose, his frank
ness, his independence, his ability ana
willingness to look at every side OF a
question, his kindness of heart and his
democratic ways challenge the respect
of every rank. Only in n thing do
some of his friends fear he is making a
mistake. that is regarding the trusts.
He had better let them have a free
hand, they say, to work out their ends.
But he had studied the trust methods
and is convinced that the good of all
demands that the trusts be brought un-
der control of the national
Is it not sound Judgment? Is 1t not a
conservative proposition? How can one
have any knowledge Of human nature
and not see the possibility of danger
coming by this ~unguarded use of great
wealth concentrated in the hands of a
few? You hear of good trusts and
bad trusts What does this mean IL
the head of trusts are planning meth
DDS to cheat, rob and Cypress? what
course will the generality OF business
men pursue when they see wealth with
i'm the reach of their grasp? To hold
that no danger may come through great
accommodations of wealth is TO ignore
the teachings of the Holy scripture
From Genesis to Revelation, the Bible Is
filled with precepts and warnings r.
sarding the power and use of wealth.
1t declared that the 10 OF money IS
the root of all evil. Evidently the pres
ident sees and is convinced or the pos
sibility of danger. There can De no
backward steps toward former business
methods. Shall trusts nave tneir own
way. or come under control of the ma
tional government? Shall trust meth
DDS be in the hands of the few or the
MANY? Business certainly sees danger
ahead. The first u~tteranceS OF the
president favoring governmental con-
troll. have brought upon him caustic
criticism. This shows the animus OF
the power he is seeking to control
Meanwhile, slowly but surely, we are
marching toward a new event Ii
words mean anything his motives con-
template the good OF all. From past eS-
p~eriences with him we know that ne
viii towards hat end, come what
may. Every consideration calls upon
fair-minded men throughout the u
try to hold up his hand.