Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-11-17

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Industrial and political issues of the day,
think as they thought, feel as they felt,
get their point of view, we should be
compelled $50 great is the change
wrought in a hundred years., we should
be compelled to turn memory almost into
a blank and blot out recollection of our
times and customs.
The speaker next pictured the customs
| of that day, describing graphically the
ducking stool, the stock and other meth
DDS of punishment; referred to the ease
| with which the problem of municipal
| government was solved at that time;
compared the basis of representation of
| then and now, pointing out how far we
had advanced from the day when only
property holders had vote and repre-
sentation was based on taxation, and re-
called clearly the stories of the hard
ships of the poor debtor in the debtors
prison. .
Ideas of Government.
In speaking of the ideas of government
of the men of hundred years ago, DIR.
McMasters said that that it not con-
sidered in accordance with the principles of
a republican government that judges should
be appointed and allowed to remain in
office for lifetime. but that they were
elected were the legislatures and execu-
| tives and for only certain period of time
Continuing, he said:
Mole SeIlouS sui W the men Oh 1915 WIS
the assumption by the courts of the right
to declare law unconstitutional and void.
AS people who looked up to their lesfs-
latures as the true interpreters of their will.
they believed the three great branches of
the government-the legislative, executive
and iudicial-to be coordinate and sep
arate."
In conclusion, the speaker said
Despite our progress there are some rel
les of the past still with US So long as
there is part of the community taxed and
not enfranchised just so long is the old
doctrine of no taxation without representa-
ton violated. So long as there is one law
maker not elected by the direct vote of the
people just so long is government of the
people by the people unattained Our fore
fathers were much concerned with the DO
nucal rights of man. With us the problem
of the hour is the full determination of his
industrial rights. That in times to come
this new issue will be settled as justly and
fully and happily the old is absolutely
certain. and the man who doubts it mis-
reads the lessons of the past is blind to
signs of the times, has no faith in the prin-
ciples of our government and is not fit to
be called an American
Following DR.. McMasters Justice Harlan
introduced the President There was no
mention of either the Presidents or score
tary Hays remarks on the printed program
of the evening, but it was understood that
they would be called upon to take part in
the meeting. In introducing the President
Justice Harlan said
This occasion is honored by the presence
OF the President of the United States We
are grateful to him for coming. One of the
incidents in the history of this church is
that for many years prior to his death
Apraham Lincoln attended here. The
Identical pew is preserved. 1t is the one in
which his worthy successor sits LAp-
plause) We will not trouble him to come
to the platform, but we will be glad to hear
few words of congratulation to this
church on it's anniversary"
Rising in the pew, half way down the
church aisle, President Roosevelt responded
to the request. From time to time as he
spoke he turned about in order to face the
audience on all sides of him.
Presidents Address.
The President speech follows:
Mr.. Justice: Let me first express the an
probation that all of US feel to Prof.
McMasters for his exceedingly interesting
address. and the address showed what he
can justly claim to be-the historian of the
people of the United States. For what he
has told us was what the people did not
merely what the outward forms and oh
| servances We're, but what the life of the
people was a century ago. And Mr. Jus
tice, l think that the recital has left i'm the
minds of all of the feeling that while
we revere our ancestors we are not wholly
discontented that we live in the present
day.
To each generation comes its allotted
task, and no generation is to be excused for
failure to perform that task. No generation
can claim as an excuse for such failure tho
fact that it is not guilty of the sins of the
preceding generation. 1t was a surprise to
me, l suppose it was a surprise to many of
us, to realize that hundred years ago in
| the days Of the fathers the lot of the moor
debtor was SO hard. 1t seems incredible to us
now that there could have been such cal
| lousness to the undeserved human suffering
! then: l hope sincerely that = century hence
| 1t will seem equally incredible to the Ameri-
| can of that generation that there should be
| corruption in private life. and above all
corruption in public life. Applause) And
| remember you, the people of this govern
ment by the people. that while the public
servant, the legislator, the executive officer
the judge. are not to be excused If thew fall
short in their duty. yet that their doing
| their duty cannot avail unless you do yours
| In the last resort We had to depend upon
| the jury drawn from the people to convict
| the scoundrel who has tainted our public
life, and unless that jury does its duty, I'M
less 1t is backed by the public sentiment of
| the people all the work of legislato of
executive, of judicial officer. are for aught
Mr. Justice, Il man would be poor citizen
of this country, If he could sit in Abraham
| Lincolns pew and not feel the solemn sense
| of the associations borne in upon him: and
l wish to 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
| hope 1t will remain unchanged in this
| church as long as our country endures We
| have not too many monuments of the past,
and let us keep every little bit of associa-
| ton with that which is highest and best of
| the past as a reminder to us. equally of
| what we owe to those who have gone be-
| fore and of how we should show our appre-
citation. This evening / sit in this pew of
| Abraham Lincolns together with Abraham
| Lincolns private secretary. whom for my
| great good fortune now serves Secretary
| of State in my cabinet
| Sad, Patient, Mighty Lincoln.
| If ever there lived President who, DUR
| ing his time of service, needed all of con-
| ISOLATION and OF strength that he could
| draw from the unseen powers above him. it
| was Abraham Lincoln-sad. patient, mighty
| Lincoln, who worked and suffered for the
| people, and when he had lived for them to
/ good end gave his life at the end. If ever
| there was nan who practically applied
what is taught In our churches, ii was