The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-08-30
NJ, W|TTE THANKS
NEWSPAPER MEN
Fays Tribute to Correspondents
at Portsmouth
THANKS THEM FOR FAV0RS
Says He Believes in Power of Press,
Especially the American Branch,
and Apologies for Refus-
ing to Talk.
THANKS THEM FOR FAV0RS

Portsmouth. N. H., August ON. Witte
paper correspondents. His reception was
simply a continuation of the ovation
he had been receiving all day. He adj
dressed them as follows:
, Gentlemen: Having heard that some
of you are leaving Portsmouth tomor-
row, 1 asked you to meet me here to-
night in order that I might have the
pleasure of shaking hands with you all
and thanking you cordially for your kind
cooperation If punctuality be the po-
likeness of monarchs, impartality is the
courtesy of newspaper men, and to my
thinking one of the most valuable quail
ties they could pen. And If you will allow
me to say so, you gentlemen, have man
ifested it and when l say you mean all
here, American and foreign coSfespon-
dents in a degree which provokes my
unfeigned admiration.
Power of Press Recognized.
II belong to the ever-increasing number
of statesmen who recognize the vast
power of the newspaper press in general,
and the American branch in particular.
am qualified therefore, to guage Alright
the value Of the services you have rem
dered to the cause of peace, and human
ity in presenting to the world the various
stages of evolution through which tha
peace negotiations passed before they at
tanned the wished-for result
Under considerations Of which your
cooperation forms a certain part. work
has been accomplished which am quail
A., Tor {e Caldnn1
good self-critic 1 should like. however.
to state that my action was in complete
harmony with the instructions which l.
received from my imperial master, and
was in fact the direct outcome OF these
Instructions
Tried to Do His Duty.
s'The primary duty of man who un-
dertakes any task is to do that task hon
orably and well, and that is what l set
myself to achieve. Whatever Judgment
the historian may pass upon the concrete
result, I shall comfort myself with the
reflection that l endeavored to fulfill TO
the best of my ability the mission con-
fided to me by his majesty, the Gear, and
sought further the highest interest Of my
country and my people. From whatever
angle of vision men may look upon pass
ing events, all people are as one in hold
ing that the discharge Of ones duty and
the love of ones country are, SO to say,
the salt of human society
Now, gentlemen that we are about to
part, l should like to say that l owe you
a debt of gratitude which l openly ac-
knowledge, and which 1 gladly would
repay Since the day on which you first
honored me with your presence on the
steamer on which 1 reached New York,
l have often wished tp tell you this. but
various causes. mainly the pressure OF
work, compelled me to put 1t off until
now. I fear that in consequence OF that
same stress of work, or the effects OF In
disposition l may at times perhaps have
spoken to you less freely, less attentive
ly, less often than you and l would have
liked. If so, l now apologize frankly
and assure you that every such act gross
ly misinterpreted my intention, which
was to show you all the consideration due
from one honest worker to another.
"GenUemen, accept for yourselves and
convey to your colleagues throughout the
pue sNueul lIe1lIssu 6u 'seasls psaIun
my best wishes