The San Francisco call., 1905-03-14


dress by President Roosevelt was the
feature of the evening session of the
National Congress of Mothers, now
holding its triennial convention at the
Metropolitan Methodist Episcopal
Church. There was an immense crowd
at the church, composed largely of
W omen, and when Mr.. Roosevelt, ac-
companied by Secretary Loeb arrived
he was given a cordial reception.
He read his speech, but now and
then interjected some extemporaneous
remarks when he wished to emphasiz
a point. The President spoke in part
as follows:
In our modern Industrial civilization there
are many and grave dangers to counterbalance
the splendors and the triumphs. 1t is not
good thing to see cities grow at dispropor-
tionate speed relatively to the country; for
the small land owners, the men who their
little homes and therefore to very large
extent the men who till farms. the men of
the soil have hitherto made the foundation of
lasting national life in every state; and. If
the foundation becomes either too weak or
too narrow the superstructure, no matter how
attractive is in Imminent danger of falling.
But far more important than the question
ton of how their family life is conducted. No
matter what that occupation may be, long
as there is real home and as long as those
another to their neighbors and to the state,
it is of minor consequence whether the mans
whether it calls for the work of the hands
or for the work of the head.
But the nation u Is in in ; bad way W It there ere
right kind If the man is not a good hus-
band and father, if he is brutal or cow
sense OF duty, If she is sunk in vapid self
indulgence or has let her nature be twisted
so that she prefers sterile pseudo-intellect.
of character which comes only to those whose
lives know the fullness of duty done. of effort
made and self-sacrifice undergone.
STATE DEPENDS ON FAMILY.
In the last analysis the welfare of the state
depends absolutely upon whether not the
average family, the average man and woman
zenship fit for the foundation of a great
nation; and if We fail to appreciate this we
fail to appreciate the root morality upon
which all healthy civilization is based.
No piled up wealth, no splendor material
growth, brilliance of artistic development,
will permanently avail any people unless it's
home life is healthy unless the average man
possesses honesty, courage, common and
deceney, unless he works hard and is willing
at need to fight hard, and unless the average
woman is good wife, good mother. able and
willing to perform the first and greatest duty
of womanhood, able and willing bear and
TO bring up they should be brought up
healthy children. sound in body. mind and
character, and numerous enough SO that the
race shall increase and not decrease.
The woman should have ample educational
/ advantages; but save in exceptional cases the
man must be- and she need not be. and gen
/ orally ought not to be. trained for life
long career the family breadwinner; and,
. therefore. after certain point the training
of the two must normally be different because
the duties OF the two are normally different.
MOTHERS GRAVE DUTIES.
Inasmuch 1 speaking to assemblage
of mothers 1 shall have nothing whatever to
say in praise of an easy life. Yours is the
, work which is never ended. No mother has
an easy time, and most mothers have very
hard times; and yet what true mother would
! barter her experience of joy and in
exchange for life of cold selhshness, which
avoidance of care, and which often finds its
I mt dwelling place in some fiat designed to
effort the maximum of comfort and of luxury
but III which there is literally no place for
children?
1 do not in the least believe in the patient
Griselda type of woman. in the woman who
! submits to gross and long continued Ill treat
ment any more than 1 believe In a man who
tamey submits to wrongful = aggression. 1,
regard marriage partnership, in which
each partner is In honor bound to think Of the
rights of the other as well as of his or her
own. But l think that the duties are even
more important than the rights; and in the
, and greater for duty well done than for the in
sistence upon individual rights, necessary
is hard your responsibility great: but greatest
of all is your reward I do not pity you in
the least. On the contrary. 1 feel respect and
admiration for you.
Into the woman's keeping is committed the
destiny of the generations to come after US
remember that while II is essential to be
loving and tender ii is no less essential to be
wise and firm. II you mothers through weak
ness bring up your sons to be selfish and to
think only of themselves, you will be
sponsble for much sadness among the women
who are TO be their wives In the future II
you let your daughters grow up idle, perhaps
under the mistaken impression that you
yourselves have had to work hard they shall
know only enjoyment, you are preparing them
to be useless to others and burdens to them
selves. Teach boys and girls alike that they
are not to look forward to lives spent in
avoiding difficulties but to lives spent in over
coming them.
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