The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-02-15

Few public addresses made in this country within the memory of men now living have awakened in Birmingham, at ieast' interest so keen, or so widespread as did the speech delivered Monday night Ill New York by President Roosevelt on the occasion of the anniversary of Abra- ham Lincoln's birthday. Comments heard yesterday in club houses, in hotel lobbies, In business establishments and in all other places where persons congregate, as well as in the homes of the people here, indicate that this address of the Fresident's has evoked commendation which, in the light of earlier criticism. seems little less than startling.
 Among all classes of people. irrespective ot partisan sympathies the feeling was indeed strong that the President. in this latest speech of his. has, to use his happy and effective phrase. risen level to a great national need''-that he has at length, quite divested himself of the Nessus-like trappngs of provinciaism and of sectionalism and disclosed a breadth and a depth of patriotic feeling of which, to be somewhat candid, not few of his critics here believed him, till recently. to be quite incapable.
 It means not little to the south and to the whole country that this speech has been made, and that 1t has been made at this time by him who is the nations chief magistrate. Among Amer jeans of the south-and the day surely is not far distant when the word "southerner" as well as the word "northerner" will be relegated to the limbo room of politics-Mr. Roosevelt s address awakens the iveliest emotions. It revives happy memories. It quiclSens healthful hopes. It reminds Mir Roose. velt's countrymen at the south that they were not mistaken when. in the early days of his administration. they believed, and frankly professed the belief. that the time was at length come when the people of this section would be regarded by a republican administration as the children and not as the "step children of the republic, It encourages them not only to hope but actually to expect that, in days to come. they vii receive, in the administration of the federal government equal and exact justice.
 More than this, the people of the south | should not, and do not, wish. With less than this they will not be-nor should they be-satisfied. All that they ask is that the principle of "equal benefit and equal burden" be vigorously applied tc them and to all their countrymen. The closing words of Abraham Lincoln's second inaugural address breathe the spirit of magnanimity They were spoken by a man who had been freshly entrust- ed with grave responsibility and with great power, and who had highly re solved that he would use rather thar abuse this power and that he would discharge rather than neglect this re- sponsibility. The hour was one when truly great men were touched by the better angels of their nature"
 Though there is no exact analogy be- tween national conditions that obtained l forty years ago and those that obtain to- day. there is nevertheless need now al there was need fheh. for alertness promptitude, resolution breadth of view 1 and tolerance of opinion in all personi to whom it is given to solve vital social and economic problems. We need now even as we needed two score years ago