The Washington times., 1906-05-30
PAIRlOTS OF TODAY PRAISE The PATRIOTS OF THE PAST
LEADERS OF TRUE MEN
THE NATIONS POWER

nhIlonal success or sOing down 70 na-
tional disaster.
Leadership is necessary in order that
we may get really good results out Of a
high average or individual character
but without the high character in the
average individual the leadership by
| itself can avail but little.
Now 1t is easy TO say this in words
which shall imply merely fiattery Of the
average voter or OF the average enlisted
man. / certainly do not intend my
words to be % taken. II is a sure sign
or weakness In any man II he is always
: wanting to be hattered, and especially
II he let's his head be turned by hattery.
The average voter needs 10 learn and
TO keep steadily in mind the fact that
h In the last resort the real power is
! his. so in the last resort the real re
sDonsibility is his. He can not cast on
! on anyone else the responsibility for our
governmental shortcomings.
Bound to Come Out in End.
the people are all right but that the
, politicians are all wrong As a matt. T
OF fact politics, and therefore politicians,
VIII in the long run represent faithfully
either the wishes or the indifference OF
the people: and IL the people are in
different the results are just about as bad
as II they deliberately choose 10 go
wrong So it is with the enlisted man.
When / call attention TO the high place
he holds, and must ever hold IN the
esteem Of every sensible man. I do it
less with the intention Of emphasizing
the respect due him by outsiders than
with the intention OF making him realize
the burden OF honorable obligation rest
ing upon his shoulders BY unwearied
effort he must learn to. do his duty,
.h Mhhether mat duty lies ahoat or ashore
whether X lies IN the cavalry or the In
fantry, in the gun turret or in the en-
glne room He must be able 10 handle
himself and 10 handle the formidable
and delicate mechanism intrusted 10 his
care IN such manner that II ever II be-
comes his fortune TO take part In battle
tor the nag another page shall be added
lone honor roll OF American history.
Noble in Time of Disaster.
In closing I ask your attention to the
fact that our soldiers and sailors are
able TO do their duty IN great emergen-
cies even other than those Of war. Re
Gently the most appalling disaster that
has ever befallen any city in our Coun-
try, the most appalling disaster that has
befallen any city of the same size for
century past. befell the great and
beautiful city OF San Francisco. In the
-
pathy the rest OF our people were rend-
cred proud and glad by the courage. the
self-reliance, the self-comHand shown
by the men and women OF san Francisco
themselves under the sudden and awful
calamity which had bcfalten them We
had yet another source of pride I'm the
fact that the first Americans outside the
city who were able 10 extend relief and
help were the officers and enlisted men
OF the garrison and the ships in The I'm
mediate neighborhOod Of San Francisco.
The alertness. the insant response TO the
demand made upon them. the mixture OF
self-reliant initiative with orderly obedf-
ence and conference Of action, the high
personal valor and the steady endurance
and strength shown by the soldiers and
sailors Of the regular army and navy
In coping with this disaster. were as
great as II shown in time OF battle.
Theirs a Proud Record.
Such record should make every true
American proud Of the army and navy
and should make every true American
rseolute TO see that through our national
authorities al Washington we make such
provision by law for the maintenance,
the support. and the training OF the
army and the nay that they shall ever
stand I'm the forefront Of their respective
professions.