The Washington times., 1903-11-17
PRESIDENT PATTON
TO SPEAK TONIGHT
viii Address Congregation
Of n. Y. Avenue Church.
president IN LINCOLN PEW
Members of Cabinet and of the Su-
preme Court in Historic Build
ing Last Evening.

ptene SOuII IN 61SkOTlC bullO-
ing Last Evening
The Hon. James Wilson, Secretary Of
Agriculture. will preside at the meeting
tonight at the New York Avenue
Church, in the course of the centennial
celebration, which commenced Sunday
morning. The address Of the evening
is to be made by President Patton, OF
Princeton Theological Seminary
Perhaps the most important feature
Of the celebration took place last night,
when President Roosevelt. members of
the Cabinet. and men prominent in Of
fcial life at the Capital attended the
service.
Every seat in the edifice was occupied
when the President arrived. at 7:45. and
was escorted TO the Lincoln pew Ho
was accompanied by the Secretary OF
State. Mr. Hay: Secretary Loeb, and
General Breckinridge.
Justice Harlan Presides.
Justice Harlan presided and the prin-
cipal address OF the evening was deliv-
cred by DR.. John Bach McMasters. OF
the University of Pennsylvania, who
spoke on The American of 1909" Shor;
addresses were made by Justice Harland
and Secretary Hay. but chief interest
centered in the remarks Of President
Roosevelt. who spoke from the Lincoln
pew. The President said:
TO each generation comes its allotted
task, and no generauoE is to be excused
for failure TO perform that task. Nc
generation can claim as an excuse for
such failure the fact that il Is not guilty
Of the sins Of the preceding generation
II was a surprise TO mel suppose II
was surprise TO many OF us-to realize
that a hundred years ago in the days
of our fathers the lot of the poor debtor
was so hard It seems incredible to Us
low that there could have been such q
CallOUsness to the undeserved human
suffering then. hope sincerely that q
/ century hence it Will seem equally in,
credible 10 the American Of that genera
ton that there should be corruption and
venality IN public life.
Corruption N Public Life.
I'VE can divide. and must divide. on
party lines as regards certain Ques-
tons, as regards the deepest as re-
gArds the vital questions. We cannot
afford TO divide, and l have the right to
challenge the best effort Of every
american worthy Of the name to putting
down by every means IN his power cor
ruption IN private life, and above all.
corruption in public life. And, remem-
Der you. the people of this government
by the people. that while the public ser.
want, the legislator. the executive Of
ficer. the judge. are not to be excused
Il they fail short of their duty, yet
that their doing their duty cannot araH
unless you do yours
In the last resort we have to de-
pend upon the jury drawn from the
people 70 convict the scoundrel who has
/ tainted our public life, and unless that
jury does it's duty. unless II is backed
y public sentiment OF the people, all
me work OF Iegisl ator. OF executive off,
Ger. OF judicial officer. are for naught
The Lincoln Pew.
''dr. Justice. a man would be a poor
citizen Of this country II he could
sit In Abraham Lincoln's pew and not
feel the solemn sense Of the associa-
dons borne In upon him. and I wish 10
thank the people Of this church for that
reverence for the historic past. for the
sense Of historic continuity which has
made them keep this pew unchanged
and 1 hope il viii remain unchanged IL
this church as long as our country en-
dures. We have not too many monu-
Inents Of the,past. aud let US keep every
litsle bit Of association with that which
Is highest and best OF the past as a re-
mlnder 70 Us equally Of what we owe
q those who have gone before and Of
kow we should show our appreciation
This evening 7 sit in this pew OF Abra-
ham LincC ms together with Abraham
Lincoln's private secretary, whom for
my great good fortune now serves as
Secretary OF State IN my Cabinet.
II ever there lived a President who
duFinE his time Of service needed all
e consolation and OF strength that ne
could draw from the unseen powers
above him II was Abraham Lincoln 20
sad, patient. mighty Lincoln, who
worked and suffered for the people. and
when he had lived for them 70 good end
gave his life at the end. II ever there
was d man who practically applied what
~ taught IN our churches. 81 was Abra-
haia Lincoln.
Absence of Bitterness
'-Che other day I was re-reading-o
the suggestion OF Mr Hay-a little
speech not often quoted Of his, yet which
seems 70 me one OF the most remarkable
! that he ever made-delivered right after
y ms re-e4ecllOl, LLlilks 70 a DDQy OF ser
/ enaders who had come, If my memory
] is correct, from Baltimore or Maryland
and called for an address from him from
the White House. 1t is aordiaary
to read that speech ana TO realize that
/ the man who made it had just come
/ Successful through a great political con
test, ia which he felt that so much Wa
at stake for the nation that he had =
time to think whether or not anything
was az stake for himself.
1.-THE speech Is devoid OF the least
shade Of bitterness. There is not q
word OF unseemI triumph over those
who have been. defeated. There IS not
a word Of glori6cauon Of himself. o.
IN any improper sense OF sis party
: There IS an earnest appeal. now thai
the election Is over; now that the ciFiC
strife has been completed. for all decent
men who love the country TO join 70
/ gether in service 10 the country: and n
( the speech he uses a thoroughly Lin
4 coln-like phrase when he says: L hav,
not willingly planted "A thorn in III,
/ breast Of any man, thus trying TO max,
/ clear that he has nothing to say agains
any opponent; no bitterness toward any