Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-11-23
The Presidents Tributes.

rh,s c,tv Witnessed a remarkable scene
,,as,arsav one calculated to create a
thought current for the bettermene Oh 'ne
,,,es of men Theodore Roosevelt, Presi-
dent of the United States, stepped asiue
from his official task to Introduce lee
turer to a large and impressively composed
audience That action was of itself unique
Rut the Presidents introduction of MI.
Wagner. whose name Is now virtually
household word in the United states, was
in terms which must arrest the thought Oh
the community Charles Wagner himseil
Is an interesting personality, and his mes
sage Is a wholesome one which the world
can well AFFORD to pause to heed. 1t Is the
message of pure living. of high thinking, OF
moral and mental advancement, of con-
tentment which does not destroy righteous
ambition 1t is the message of progress
and peace and prosperity, and 1t strikes the
note which uplifts and which. moreover
can be heard and understood by all classes,
It is no anomaly that message Of this
kind should appeal strongly to man OF
Mr.. Roosevelts temperament He Is TO be
sure, an advocate Of what he calls the
strenuous life. He does things vigorously
whether 1t is hunting wild game or riding
or writing, or talking. He goes straight to
his mark and does not loiter on the way.
But there Is nothing irreconcilable between
this view and manner and the doctrine
preached by Mr.. Wagner. 1t is, after all.
merely a question OF the medium through
which the truth Is revealed. Both men see
1t alike. They stand for purity of living
and strength of purpose. for high ideals
and their greatest approximate attainment.
The President yesterday disclosed his own
Ioy,, toll
Of the simple life'' In his Illustrations of
the practical goodness of modern workers.
In his view the great object is to do good,
to make the way of others smooth, to re-
duce the friction caused by circumstances
and to bring men into closer and more
harmonious relations.
There are two ways, says the President OF
doing good. through associations such as
the Y. NJ. c. A, and through individual
efforts. It was characteristic of Mr.. Roose-
welt and of the doctrine he breaches that
he did not hesitate to speak publicly and
loudly the name of one man who has done
great good as a single worker for the bet
terment of the condition of the poor and
the unfortunate This tribute to William
II. Downey was the more deserved and the
more appropriate because of the mans own
modesty and the transformations manner of
his works. He is a high type of the practi-
cal Christian. whose right hand is no
watcher upon the gfvings of his left. who
labors intelligently with the best agencies
to reach the hearts and consciences of those
who are inclined to err and the needs OF
those whom poverty has weakened in the
fight for sustenance. His is indeed the
simple life' IL simplicity means self-abne-
cation and thought for others. charity and
wholesome influence. His is a citizenship
such as makes the republic great and
strong and enduring. And yet he is but one
man, quiet business man in a large COM
munity. trying to do his duty to his fell
lows in terms of the greatest Of all teach
ings.
1t was well that the President cited this
instance. 1t will be better If the people of
the United States. to whom his words were
addressed, take the case to heart and fol-
low 1t as a shining example OF right living.