The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-03-15
THE HELPING HAND
Roosevelt Before the
Tract Society.
Great Fortunes Are Nothing in Them
selves Save as They Are Used
Well or III BY Their
Possessors.
P0ssessOrs.

washington, March 13.-President
Roosevelt delivered an address yester-
day morning to large audience at the
Grace Dutch Reformed Church. the
Rev. DIR. Shick, pastor, of which Mr..
Roosevelt is a member, The occa-
sion was the Washington meeting of
the American Tract Society. Justice
Brewer, of the United States Supreme
court, presided and made brief adj
dress and DR.. Swift, of New York, sec
rotary of the Tract Society, made
report on the work of the society at
Ellis Island. The President said:
Il am glad, on behalf of this church,
to say Amen to the appeal that has
been made by DR.. Swift on behalf OF
the great society, to the account OF
whose work you have been listening.
Mr.. Justice, you quoted the ADVICE OF
a poet, to be doors rather than
dreamers.' In the book of all books
there is a sentence to the same effect,
BE We doors of the Word and not
hearers only Let us show ourselves
TODAY doors of the Word, upholders III
fact of what has been preached to US
by DR.. Swift.
HE has set forth the needs of the
society and he has set forth the great
field over which it works. / wish to
field, but. after all, the portion that
most concerns us-the need here at
home. here in this country, of further
ing in every way the work of the So
ciety. the work of all kindred societies,
both among the native born ana
among the thousands who come to
these shores from abroad. And there
ia a peculiar propriety in such an APP
peal being made to this church, for, as
/ have said here before, this church,
more than most others, should ever
keep before it as part of its duty, as
one of the chief parts of its duty,
that of caring in all ways, but espe-
cialIy in spiritual ways, for the peo-
pie who come to us from abroad
THE United States government does
endeayor to do it's duty by the immi-
grants who come to these shores; and
/ am glad, DIR. Swift, to listen to what
YOU said as to the work that is being
done on Ellis Island, for it is just
tribute to that work. But unless pc
pie have had some experience With lie
dangers and difficulties surrounding
the newly arrived immigrant, they can
hardly realize how great they are.
The Immigrant comes here almost UNI
protected; he does not as rule know
our language; he is wholly unfamiliar
with our institutions, our customs, oul
Its of life and ways of thought;
49, there are, am sorry to say, those
- hope to make their livelihood by
ting on them He is exposed to
nmerable temptations, innumerable
" expressions, on almost every
d, and unleSs some one is there to
neIp him he literally has no idea
where to turn.
NO greater work can be done by
a philanthropic or religious society
than to stretch out the helping hand
to the man and the woman who come
here to this country to become citi-
zens and the parents of citizens, and
therefore to do their part in making
up for veal or woe the future of
our land. If we do not take care of
them, If we do not try TO uplift them,
then as sure as fate our own children
will pay the penalty. If we do not
see that the immigrant and the chill
dren of the immigrant are raised up
most assuredly the result will be that
our own children and children's chill
dren are pulled down. Either they
will rise or we shall sink.
1.-The level of wellbeing in this
country will be level for all of us.
We cannot keep that level down for
part and not have it sink more or
less for the whole. If we raise it for
a part we shall raise it to certain
extent for the whole. Therefore it
means much, not merely to the immi-
grants but to every good American,
that there should be at Ellis Island
the colporteurs of this society and the
representatives of other religious and
philanthropic societies to try to care
for the immigrants body and above
all to try to care for the immigrants
soul.
1t is of course unnecessary to say
that the things of the body must be
cared for; that the first duty of any
man. especially of the man who has
others dependent upon him, is to take
care fthem, and to take care of
himself. Nobody can help others If
he begins by being burden upon 9TH
ers. Each man must be able to pull
his own weight, to carry his own
weight; and therefore each man must
show the capacity to earn for himself