Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-03-14
THE PRESIDENT
Delivers An Interesting
Address in Washington
At Convention Of National Con-
gress of Mothers.
Mrs. Schoff. President of the Society
Also Speaks.

Washington, March 13.-An address
by President Roosevelt was the feature
of the evening session of the National
Congress Of Mothers now holding its
triennial convention at the Metropoli-
tan Nj. r. Church. Anticipating the
presidents appearance. there WAS an
immense crowd At the church COM
posed largely of women, and when Mr.
Roosevelt. accompanied by Secretary
Lood arrived about Il quarter past 9
O'Clock. he received IL cordial reception
The President WIS formally introduced
To the audience by Mrs. Frederic
SCnof. of Philadel ,jhia, the president
of the Congress.
He read his speech from a copy
which, ne held III his hands. but now
ana then departcd from the text and
INTERCEPTED some eXtemporaneous re-
marks when he wished to emphasize a
point. The President spoke as follows:
In our modern industrial civilization
there are mary and grave dangers to
counterbaianse the splcnGGiS and the
triumphS. 1t is not 4 good thing to see
cities grow AT disproportionate speed
relatively to the country: for the small
land owners. the men who own their
little homes, and therefore to very
large extent tie men who till farms,
the men of he soil. have hitherto made
IN" foundation OF lasting national life
in every state: and. if the foundation
becomes either too weak or too narrow
the sUperstr!icturc. no matter how at
tractive. is III imminent danger Of
falling.
But far moe important than the
question of the occupat ion of our citi-
zcns is the Question of how thci,,
family life is onducted. No matter
what that occupation may be. as long
as there is a rea; home anG as long as
those who make up that home do their
duty to one another, to their neighbors
and to the state, it is of minor conse-
1uence whether the mans trade is
piled i'll the country or the city.
whether it calls for the work of the
hands or for the work of the head.
But the Nation is ir u bad way if
there is no re;ll home. if the family is
not of the right kind; if the man is not
a good husband and father. if he is
brutal or cOwardly Or selfish. if the
woman has lost her sense of duty. if
she is sunk III vapid self-ir diligence or
las let her nature be twisted so that
she prefers sterile pseudo intel
lectuality to that great and beautiful
development Of character which comes
only TO those whose lives know the
fulness of duty dona. Of effort made
and self sacrifice undergone.
In the last analysis the welfare of
the state depends absolutely ur,on
whether or not Tie average family. the
average man and woman and tbai,-
children. represent III" kind Of citizen
ship fit for the foundation of a great
nation: and If we fail to appreciate this
"" fail to appreciate the root morality
unon which all health civilization is
based.
No pilcd-up wealth. no splendor of
material growth. no brilliance of arts
tic development. will permanently
avail any people unless its home life is
healthy, unless the average man pos
ScSScS honesty. courage. common
sense, and d"rrncy. unless he works
hard and is willing at need to fight
hard; and unless the average woman
is a good wife, good mother. able AMI
willing to perform the first and great
"St duty OF womanhood. able and
willing to bea". and to bring up as they
should be brought up healthy children.
sound in body. mind, ana character.
aud numerous enough so that the race
shall increase and no. decrease
There are certain old truths which
will be true IL; long as this world en-
dures. and which no amount of pro-
Sress can alter. One % these is the
truth that the primary duty of the
husband is to DC tho home maker the
bread-Winner for his wife and children.
and that tn. primary Guty Of the
woman is to he the heIpmect tn
housewife. AMI mother. The woman |
:hould have ample educational ad-
Vantages; but saw in exceptional |
cases the man mus. he. and she need |
not be, and generally ought not to be, |
trained for a lifelong career as the |
family Lreadwinne.': and. therefore.
efter 4 certain point the training Of |
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