The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1903-04-10
CIVIC VIRTUE.
The Foundation Of II Peoples
Well-beins Says President
Roosevelt al Aberdeen.

| L CSluChu ISoooCNSIU LII Ills
various addresses made at the
different points along his wes-
tern trip has touched upon the
political questions of the present
time, and presented his views
upon these questions with a
frankness and fearlessness that
is commendable, and in a manner
that will solidify public opinion
on proper lines as these ques-
tions come before the people for
final settlement. But the presi-
dent is particularly happy when
presenting the ethics of political
action and the necessity for civic
virtue. 1t was on these lines
that his address at Aberdeen
was made. After being intro
duced by Senator Lawson, the
president said:
."I deeply appreciate the cordiality
with which you have greeted me this
evening. All day long have travelled
through the heart of your state,
through the heart of the great wheat
belt of the northwest, and now |
know that South Dakota not only
grows the finest wheat and raises the
finest horses and cattle, but that her
men and women are of the finest type
also. Here you have laid the founda
tiOns of statehood deep and broad,
but no matter how broad and deep the
found dations may be, the superstruc-
ture can only be safe when honesty
| is it's prevailing feature. Nothing
during my trip struck me SO forcibly
and held out such promise for the
future as the numerous institutions
of learning [ have observed in your
state, colleges, academies and the
country schoolhouses dotting the
prairies plainly betokening the high
est type of citizenship. Many of
| those before me have endured all the
trials of pioneer life, and many more
have followed closely in the footsteps
| of the pioneers. We must not forget
however, while giving credit to these
| people, to give credit also to the ed
ucators, teachers and clergymen, who
have come in to help fill the higher
ranks and to promote good citizen
ship. In the qualifications for good
citizenship | would place honesty
first, then strength, then courage.
These are the qualities that make a
man. This is no place for weaklings.
None but courageous men could have
come here and framed this common
wealth. 1t was necessary to have
men to do the work. In addition to
being men, however they must be de-
cent men, and strong. Decency can
not avail without strength, and
| nil
Mere smartness unbalanced by men,
tai strength makes that man curse.
The rugged virtues make the man.
The man to be trusted in public po-
sition is the man who is honest in his
dealings through life, the man who is
good neighbor and good friend.
There is no royal road to good citizen
ship, any more than there is royal
road to learning. What we need is
the sturdy honesty and uprightness
that we read about in copy books but
do not always remember. In the
management of public affairs the same
fundamental virtues are necessary as
in the management of our homes and
our private business. There is no pa
tented way in which the state or ma
tion can make the people happy or
prosperous. The state and nation
can only enact laws and SO admins
ter them that each man under them
can have the best chance to exercise
his qualities--to show the stuff he is
made Of If there is no Stuff in him
no law can bring it out. No law ever
devised can make fool wise, a weak
ling strong or coward brave. We
must develop courage, honesty and
strength of purpose. No law can
give these qualities to man if he
does not possess them fundamentally.
Something can be done by law-to
give man a proper chance to devel-
Op what is in him. When man needs
helping hand it should be stretch
ed out to him. If man lies down
you can't carry him. You can help
him if he stumbles, but he must have
a.desire to walk of his own account.
The most that can be done is tC
smooth the path somewhat for the
man who is willing and anxious to
walk.
"For some years past this nation
has enjoyed great prosperity. This
prosperity, in a general sense, de-
pends. under Providence, to wise laws
If the hand of the Lord is heavy up
on us-if we are afflicted with
fliction-disaster must come. But
believe that in the absence of these
things prosperity will abide with us
if we continue to live under wise fl
nancial, tariff and other laws, properly
J Enthusiastically that will enable III
to do good work, to make the most o
what is in us. But it is more importan
than all that we do good work for our
selves. Bad laws can put stop tt
prosperity. Good laws can give u!
chance. Our tariff laws give tn,
best chance to all. I have an abid
ing faith that if the American people
are given a fair chance they will tak'
full advantage of it and make th'
most of it.
81 am particularly glad to have me
the men and women of South Dakota
I want to congratulate them also up
on the quality and quantity of theil
children, and it will be admitted tina
am an expert in the matter o
children.
81 repeat that in public life mar
should have the same qualities O