New-York tribune., 1906-07-05
SPIRIT OF CITIZENSHIP.
President Speaks to His NeighbOrs
at Oyster Bay.
LBy Telegraph to The Tribune.l


Oyster Bay, Long Island, July 4.-When Pres
ident RooseveIt's friends throughout the coun-
try learn how he passed the Fourth Of July they
will be very much inclined to think he is not
receiving square deal He came down here
to rest. This is the way he rested to-day:
In the morning he disposed of large pile of
official and social correspondence. with Secre-
;ary Loeb's assistance. i'll the library at Saga
more Hill. Half an hour after finishing that
work he was standing on a platform delivering
an hours speech half of it in a driving rain. to
his friends and neighbors of oyster Bay. Hast
ening home for dry clothing and luncheon, he
devoted another hour to business with his secre-
tary. dressed for dinner and ended the day by
acting as host with Mrs. Roosevelt at a party.
1t has been the custom at Sycamore Hill for
many years to invite a few Of the old family
friends and the near relatives 10 enjoy display
of fireworks in the evening Of the Fourth OF
July. The grown-ups as we'll the children,
look forward to the fireworks party" with the
keenest pleasure. and not for any consideration
would either the President or Mrs. Roosevelt
discontinue the annual programme.
To-nights party almost an exact dupl-
cate of many that have gone before.
The Independence Day celebration at Locust
Grove was begun under most favorable weather
dress, however a thunderstorm poured deluge
of water over the scene. and within five minutes
every person in the pretty natural amphitheatre
was drenched. Some one on the stand attempted
20 hold an umbrella over the Presidents head,
but he Iaughingly waved off the protection He
allowed a macintosh to be placed over his
shoulders, but took it off when the first shower
ceased. and did not resume 1t when second
downpour came.
Il don't need it," he exclaimed, and continued
his address while streams OF water coursed
down his face and poured from his chin. At
times ne was obliged fairly TO shout in order to
raise his voice above the rattle Of the rain on the
sea Of umbrellas spread out before him, but he
did not allow the personal discomfort he must
have felt TO shorten his speech by single word
He said what he had planned to say. and it is
safe to say that not fve persons in that great
throng quit the place before the President had
concluded. They had come there to hear what
he wished to say TO them. and were eager 20
stay there as long as he cared to speak.
President Roosevelt said:
Mr.. Chairman and you. my old friends and
neighbors. you among whom / brought up
and with whom l have lived for so many years.
Il is a real and great pleasure To have the chance
of being with YOU to-day. to say a few words OF
greeting to YOU, and In a sense 20 give
count Of my stewardship. l say in a sense,
friends because after all the stewardship really
has to give an account OF itself. If man needs
10 explain Overmuch what he has done. il Is
pretty sure proof that he ought TO have done
il little differently. and 50 regards most
OF what I have done. I must let II speak for
itself
But there are two or three things about which
want to talk to YOU TODAY: and II in the pres
ence OF doniinies / may venture To speak from
text shall take as my text the words OF
Abraham Lincoln, which he SPOKE in a remark
able little address delivered to a band of people
who were serenading him at the White House
just after his reelection TO the Presidency. He
said: Il quote from memory Only1
in any great national trial hereafter the men
of that day as compared with those O this VIII