New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-06-12
NEW DANGER TO STATE.
NARROW, CITIZENSHIP.
Roosevelt Says Specialists Should
Not Forget Country.

Washington June 11.-President Roosevelt to-
day accepted on behalf Of the government a
heroic bronze statue Of Benjamin Rush. the
eminent physician and statesman and signer of
the Declaration OF Independence The statue Is
the gift Of the American Medical Association,
erected In the grounds Of the United States
Naval Museum Of Hygiene and Medical School.
formerly the naval observatory. The unveiling
ceremonies took place at . p. m in the presence
Of fiye hundred persons. representing the medi-
cal association and officials OF the government
and their friends
The presentation was made by DR.. J. c. VIII
son. OF Philadelphia. in an extended address
eulogistlc Of Dr. Rush. DIR j. H. Musser. Of
Philadelphia introduced DIR. Wilson. President
RooseveIt's acceptance was contained in a brief
speech in which he called attention TO the grow
ing tendency toward specialism, and warned
against forgetfuIness Of the duties OF citizen
ship The President was accompanied by Mrs.
Roosevelt. who sat with the guests OF honor.
Just behind him on the platform. during the
ceremonies.
In accepting the statue President Roosevelt
said;
accept on behalf of the nation the gift 50
fttingly bestowed BY one Of the great profess
slons-this statue Of a man who was eminent
not only in that profession. but eminent in his
service 10 the nation as II whole. We have
listened 10 the interesting study OF the life OF
brought home To each OF Us here that his career
derives its peculiar significance in part from the
greatness of his pioneer work az physician on
this continent, in part from the way IN which
he combined with arduOLs ana tncessant labor
i'm his profession the greatest devotion even out
side of that profession to the welfare OF his
fellow cOuntrymen.
Here at the nationa! capital. it is earnestly
to be hoped that We shall finally see commemo-
rated, as the services of Rush are hencetorth to
be commemorated by this statue, all the great
Americans who. working in widely different
lines. by the aggregate Of their work make the
sum OF achievement Of America In the world L
thank and congratulate you of the medical pro-
fession to-day upon what you have done, not
merely in commemOrating the foremost pioneer
in your own profession. but in adding AT the
national capital a figure to the gallery OF great
Americans who should be here commemorated'
Ks YOU said. Dr. Benjamin Rush was not a
specialist In the modern sense. He could not be-
There were not any specialists IN the modern
sense. as you pointed out There was no poSsl-
bility of there being such. But l would like. IN
this age Of specialization. to say one Word IN
the way of a short sermon to eminent special
lists To-day no specialist in democratic coun-
try like ours can afford 10 be SO exclusively
specialist as to forget that one part OF ms duty
Is his duty TO the general public and 10 the state
Where government Is the duty oI ar II oi
course means that it is the duty or each, and
the minute that the average man sets 10 lnllk- n
ing that government is the duty OF some eoouy
else that minute the Republic VIII begin 10
go down 1t is n fortunate thing FOR our couh-
~, that we should have before us the lives or
men like Rush, who could take part IN our
Ii,huc life as DISTINGUISHED as is implied by
havine, been n slgner Of the Declaration or lnde-
pendence and vet do IL without a particular
neglect of the mans own proper duties zap
plause) .,- .,,t,
l would earnestly plead. In addressing TINS
audience and especially the members or the
high and honorable profession which has given
this gift to the nation. that you never for one
moment permit yourselves to forget the TACT
that the we'll being of the Republic ultimately
deDepds upon the wav in which, rule and
ha5ituaIly the best citizen Of the Republic does
his duty TO the State (applause); and that we
have n right not merely to expect but 10 demand
from our hardest worked men, from the leaders
OF the great professions. the full performance
of that public service which consists In a zeal
ous Intelligent and fearless performance of the
ordinary duties OF public life by the ordinary
private citizen (Applause)
| thank YOU for having presented to the ma
tional capital TO the people OF the United
States the statue OF a man who foremost
as leader and a pioneer in his profession. who
was q great physician and a great American.